The times., 1897-04-02

scenes IN France or Germany, England or
Italy, but which has been inspired by
paintable meadow, woodland or river
view in the neighborhood OF Washington
Hence much Of this landscape work is
vigorous, faithful to nature and spon-
taneous, often strongly and simply painted
ana several of the canvases in this instance
are OF 50 high an order that they might
hold their own in any exhibition. Next
in Importance or at least in quantity is
the portrait work. III many cases a great
advance upon last years output. There
are also several well painted pictures
founded upon historic incidents or chardC-
Ter which rank high.
Lastly d number OF the younger artists
have indicated a degree OF technical skill
and fine quality of ina gination in the
production of high order of decorative
work. which shows a tendency TO depart
from the more realistic highways for the
poetic hypaUhs Of fancy, ami though it is
true that the artist may occasionally lose
! himself III obscurity, these same bypaths
often prove his title to original and in
liyidual views The number OF large can
vases in the exhibition indicate another
tendency, which the hanging committee
| have occasionally deplored, but if some
| of the best pictures are by no means the
| biggest, at least several OF those requiring
the most wall space are well worth it.
Max Weyl, whose name ana whose work
| are alike dear to the people of Washington,
| is represented by two large ana one small
| canvas Potomac Marshes shows
cleanly painted peaceful outdoor mood,
! with fine mudulations of half-tone and
! delightful effect OF atmosphere Through
! out is simplicity. and certainly knowledge
| which one associates with Mr.. WeyIs
| best work.
| 4 woodland scene is MOI striking. but
not more true and lovely, While a third
| picture is not much more than on" Of those
broad, dashing sketches which Mr.. Weyl
is getting TO paint with almost leprehen-
Sble ease. and which would be the making
Of some younger man, but which, ala 5, only
comes with achievement and experience.
Less striking perhaps than many of
Hobart Nichols other pictures, but to |
many minds quite the most masterful |
landscape he has vet produced, Is small. |
unprctending canvas which hangs on the |
line about the middle OF the south wall.
A broad roadway. with water cleaning |
in its rutS 4 flock Of geese waddllng ma |
iestically about. and in the rear gray |
wall, lovely in tone; some trees, and
distant line OF thinly painted woods which |
fade quietly into the cloudy sky-this is |
all. and yet with such sure touch aud |
reserve is this little picture painted that |
it seems to me worthy of Comparison with |
any of our living American iandscapistS, |
nor would it lose if placed side by side |
with a representative Mauve.
Two other canvaSes by Nichols are only |
is no doubt that, upon the whole, that |
young artist has greatly grown during the |
past ten years.
4 large canvas by Mr.. Brooke is prob |
ably the most striking landscape in the |
exhibit, and in several respects among the |
best A poetic evening scene is here shown |
with so unusual and brilliant cloud effect |
that it viii doubtless give rise To much |
unfavorable criticism, albeit every painter |
knows thathe has only tocomparethc most
vivid effects of this or any similar picture
with Nature in her flaming moods to Yield
the palm of Eorgeousness to the great uni
versal artist whose palette is ladened
with numbered tints. But apart from
the peculiar brilliance and unusual forma-
ton Of the clouds, they seem to lack some
modifying half-tone. and to be perhaps a
trifle weighty. on the other hand the
painting of foreground, field and distant
woods is beautifully done. while through
out is a mellow richness of tone, and an
air of Iargeness and breadth in the com
position, which gives this canvas a fine
distinction.
Carl Wellers best picture is a glimpse
Of hayfield, upon a summer afternoon
One feels that the day is close and sultry,
while the threatening sky is here and there
there broken by riffs of light, and the
clouds are slowly closing down upon the
horizon. The brush work is free and broad
without being at all dashing and the
calm, reposcful lull in nature is aduira bIy
shown. An Americancastle, in other words |
a pleasant glimpse Of picturesque Wash
lngton tower, is Mr.. Weller's second paint |
ing, and here the fall of light and shadow,
the two incidental figures and tie broad
wall compose pleasant if not a very force
fUl picture.
Wells NJ. Sawyer has somewhat pic \
turesque but very well painted picture, in
which figure the wing of an old Southern
ouse and Widespread tree with !
massive trunk, the details of which are
excellently painted.
A glimpse Of water and marshy fore |
ground is little picture with some good |
points, but Far less sure and artistic than !
most of the artists work
Several smaller pictures and one large
canvas are good examples of Spencer |
Nichols ability to obtain outdoor effects. |
An old river road, which serves TO show |
a clever, perspective effect, is the most | I
feature OF scene wherein are | |
a gaunt old warehouse a stretch or river | 1
and ships in harhor with their mastS !
gently silhouetted against the sky A |
smaller picture, painted apparently at a t
single sitting. seems to me letter ex- |
ample OF the younger Nichols. D. A
Rose has a large study Of windswept au- !
tumn woods, which einbodes d sense of f
the dying year, and is a thoughtful piece | Q
of work, showing promise for the future | a
,f the young student. /
A very charming landscape, with deli
cious qualities OF atmosphere and color, | Il
5 by Edward Nye, whose work has de- |
7eloped from vigorous, though some