The sun., 1897-11-25
arr NorKs
Mr.. G,pssu,s prawiuGu ~ Neppers-Ninia-
tures at Kueeaier's.


turss nt Kseeaier'e.
An exhibition Of black-and.white drawings,
most Of them In pen and ink, by Charles Dana
Gibson, IL in progress at Keppols gallery, 20
East Sixteenth street. and will continue 10 Dec.
9. There are forty-one drawings in the exhibit
tion. and all arc for sale. Many Of them are
familiar from having been reproduced In Illus
trated papers and m magazines, but II Is OF course
interesting to see tho originals for processing
and reduction In some cases detract consider.
ably from their quality. though in other cases,
such as the large sheets OF paper with figure
or two lightly indicated without back
grounds, tho concentration OF the roproduc-
ton IL distinct gain. The drawings in the
present exhibition do not diner in style or in
general characteristics from those shown In tho
same gallery last year. There is the same un-
deniable clevernessin in handling the medium and
there is the same lack Of construction in tho ig-
ures that was then noticeable. Several draw
inEs show completeness and good composition,
az AFTER tho Presentation" No. %. a scene at
the British court, with portraits, and others,
such az "a Drawing Room" No. 81, and
"waitinR to bo Presented" No. "a, which
are similar In subject, arc incomplete and
loosely arranged. A single figure, "Scrooge."
No. 30, shows very good work, except in the
arms. where the sleeves look as fiat as
boards, and In AN American Body Guard at
the Inaugural Ball." No. 35. while the men with
very long legs in the foreground Of the picture
are not convincing, there are some really charm.
Ing bits in the female heads which peop out
from the crowd little heads that are delight
fully indicated and that arc quito remarkable
for truthtulness Of type. "At Dinner" No. Is;
Tho Wonders OF Palmistry," No. 20; Tho
Night Before Her Marriage-'For She's q jolly
NJ IN N man iopa al IN
showing tho limitations OF tho artists choice
of subjects and certain technical vagaries.
THE overworkcd American Fathers Day
on in August" No. 4, furnishes too
good q text for remark or two to
DO passed by. In this drawing two
Hne American girls in bathing suits are leading
their father along tho beach. with fat and rosy
mamma bringing up the rear The idea seems
to DO to show the poor man as an object Of
pity or OF mirth. He is supposed to be wasted
away by toll in town whilo the women Of the
family have boon enjoying life by the sea. II
would be perfectly possible to mako 1t funny
and enjoyable. but Mr.. Gibsons way does not
seem to attain this result. Paterfamilias 10 nc
bigger than q boy, and Is but bag of bones
Tho point 10 much overaccented. 1t is moi
even broad farce, but is merely grotesque
Now, we are accustomed TO the grotesquo in
little else than the grotesque great part of the
illustration consisting Of figures with heads fal
too big for the bodies or feet immeasurably out
| of proportion. For people who like that sor
of thing" as Lincoln is reported to have said t.
| the book agent. this would be just the thinl
they'd like" but tho question is whether 1t fl
worth while for an artist of Mr.. Gibson's talen
to appeal to that sort of people. There is o.
| much good in some Of his drawings that 1t M ke
US wish he were moro even in hts work, and tina
| all Of it were good in its way as the characte
study "A Park Orator" No. 10, or tho illustra
ton Near Stanhope Gate" No. 20. There Il
nothing silly in either Of them. and both ar
| frank in intention.
At Knoedler's gallery, Fifth avenue ant
Thirty-fourth street. there is case Of minis
lures on exhibition which are the work Of Mime
| Gregorio de Ajuria. Since miniature portrait
again became the fashion several years age
quite q number of artists, both American an
foreign, and most of them women, have achieve
success in this field Of art. Mime. de Ajuria'
| little pictures are skilful and pleasing and II
clude portraits of several New York people VIII
| have given her eittipRs