New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-11
ART EXHIBITIONS,

OLD MASTERS AT THE UNION LEAGUE
CLUB-AMERIcAN PAINTINGS AT THE
ALPHA DELTA PHI cLUB-MR MIL
LET'S MURAL DECORATION.
The Union League Club has Unexpectedly r..
sumed the practice OF holding monthly exhibitions
which for so msny years provided New-York with
one OF Its most interesting artistic features Last
year the scheme seemed as II 1t had been perma-
nently abandoned Every one who had known the
attractive little shows regretted what appeared to
be an irrevocable decision. But the well-lishted
gallery is once more hung with pictures. and for
the initial exhibition the Art Committee has OBJ
talned less than twenty-one old masters rang
ing from Martin Schoen to Richard Dadd. 1t may
be observed, In passing. that the presence Of the
latter individual is somewhat puzzlng. His loosely
painted Warrior 10 the most irrelevant thing In
the world. BIT its mediocrity may be overlooked
There are two three paintings shown which put
everything ese into the background.
Conspicuous among them. through the greatness
Of the painters name. and through its intrinsic
merits, Is the Rembrandt recently brought to this
country by Mr.. George Gould. 1t leaves. first. an
ambiguous impression The eye roves In vain across
the canvas for the transparent. mellow tones Of
the masters perfect moments. The background
Is more than sombre It Is almost opaque, and lacks
life. The color around the head Is too suggestive
Of those btuminous effects which abound In the
modern school. because Ribera used them and be.
cause Rembrandt himself had fondness for some
thing very like them. Yet when the painting has
been silently ceasured for Its uneven quality. and
when the memory has come back from better pict-
ures by the same hand In American and European
galleries the first spoken word Is inevitably ono Of
admiration. This is not a consummate masterpiece
but 1t is the kind Of portrait that only Rembrandt
could paint. We must not expect. after all. that
~ ma es o.
lions an absolutely glorious thing. No man could
do Il. Rembrandt could not do II. This STANDARD
Bearer Of his stands for labors that did not quite
reach their aim. But how far those iabors went!
The modelling Of the head Is superb the color Is
rich II not glowing. and in the frmfooted attitude
OF the man portrayed in the lively expression on
his face. in the individuality which he discloses
you feel the hand Of Rembrandt Enthusiastically
Two portraits OF Franz Halls which have already
appeared ct the Durand-Rue gallery. are hung In
this collection. and there are two others given 10
Romney and Reynolds, respectively, which arrest
attention. Points OF interest are visible In the
large portrait b. Pourbus. In the View At Hemp
stead" by John Constabe-which Is not happily
fused but has characteristic qualities never
theess-and in the two pictures given 10 Lucas
Cranach and Bronzino But tho one painting In this
exhibition which. after the Rembrandt takes the
foreground imperatively. and keeps II. Is the We
netian scene by francesca Guard. This Is splen-
did example OF a painter who is rarely seen At his
best IN this country. He has been copied over and
over again. This Is copy. The style OF the
picture, q whole. would proclaim TINS. ano SUI
more would the student recognise the masters
touch in the numerous figures moving about on
the broad Pazzetta. Each figure. no matter how
obscure Is a little miracle OF observation Q utte
masterpiece Of execution. II the club had only had
this picture and the Rembrandt for It's nrst sx-
hbltion It could have rested satisfied. Next mootn
American pictures will be shown.
At the Alpha Delta Phi Club there are some
American pictures drawn from local studios which
make small but pleasant exhibition. In previous
years the club has adorned Its walls to better eject.
but there is still much good work to be SEEN This
Is especially true where the landscape and marine
painters are concerned The figure studies are. on
the whole unimportant. Save for the Flemish sub
feet by Mr.. Edwards. which Is broad and pictur-
esaue: the japanese group by Mr. Weldon. tns
fantasies by Mr. Church and Mr. Barse. ana the
Mexican study by Mr.. Gaul. there are no pictures
IN this field which call for specific comment OK
these the only one that Is really striking - me
Mexican Door Yard" Of Mr.. Gaul. His dry stao-
cato method has fitted well the nature OF bis ma
teria His color is limited In scale. but it frsah
and strong and the snappy style Is suggestive OF
knowledge and power.
The painters OF sea and sky. Of field and forest,
are in considerable force. and they give the OBJ
server some agreeable experiences. In one case The
find his meter these several years past, and ac-
cordingly one has been surprised by his changes
OF accent; but in the picture which We may sup
pose represents his latest impulse. French 6un-
set" he has a solid charm that It Is to be hoped, he
will continue to cultivate His Dutch scene u less
gratifying Jongkind has done this sort Of thing
before and much better has he made It. Mr..
Charles Melville Dewey Is present In an excellent
landscape, picture with dramatic force and great
depth OF tone. He. too. has been passing through
transitional stages. His various steps seem to be
judlcously taken. Here and there among tho re-
naming pictures there are few which have this
engaging quality OF newness-the tawny sketch OF
Long Island sand dunes by Mr.. Prelwitz. the shore
scene by Mr.. w NJ. Rice. and the spirited marine
by Mr. Kost full OF vigor and Of good. rich. unct-
uous color-but In the numerous canvases by famil-
lar names which It is profitable TO inger there
are merits which have grown almost commonplace
In the annual exhibitions. The public knows well
by this time the kind OF work TO be expected Of
Mr. Bruce Crane Mr. r. c. Minor. Mr.. Shurtlen
and Mr. Ranger 1t Is good work. It 10 good upon
the present occasion. but II is not provocative OF
description or criticism. These pictures
will remain on the clubhouse walls until December
l5 when a reception for ladies Will be held Then
tho collection will be withdrawn
At tho American Art Galleries there may be seen
a large semi-c.rcular decoration painted by Mr..
Frank D. Mllet for bank building in Pittsourg.
II is entitled "Thesmophoria." and is designed to
represent, the harvest festival in honor OF Ceres A
OF children and maidens passes across
the scene with massy fields Of wheat banked Just
behind them and with tall expresses lifting tho
vision TO the classical temples on the heights be-
yond certain popular interest is given TO tho
scheme by the fact that some OF the figures are
painted from persons more less celebrated. Mrs.
Phil May Miss Fairfax. Miss Dixon. Nine. Dc
Navarro MARY Anderson). Lady Elcho. Mrs Alma
Tadema. Lady Bloomfield and Mrs. Millet are al
portrayed On its purely artistic side the work
falls TO rouse enthusiasm for the color lacks force
and variety, and the workmanship suffers Ia tho
same way But the composition is admirable, the
space is effectively filled. and when the canvas gets
its proper architectural setting II will undoubtedly
he impressive by virtue OF Its dignity and pictorial