The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-06
Art NOTES.
water Color. hr Nc. rnrnsr.

One OF the best known water color painters in
America Ia Ross Turner. He seldom paints
pictures In oil, and 10 ono OF those artists who,
having found the water color medium congcnial,
has worked in II with slnglc-mindcd interest,
pushing Its possibilities In various directions to
tho limit, and achieving results by simplicity
and frankness OF method such as would escape
the casual painter In water colors. Mr.. Turner
has learned by long practice to avoid q hundred
pitfalls for the unwary who try their hand at
making complete pictures In water color, 90 that
hs elaborated works are broad and effective.
while his sketches and studies are notable for
directness. In the latter he oftentimes gives com-
paratively little, that is, he does not attempt to
give too much. so that his studies leave q clear
impression of one thing or anothor-an airy sky,
a green field, a wind swept-river-and that i'm.
preston lie generally agreeable. Sometimes, as
In "A Porcupino," No. Is in tho exhibition Of
his works now open at the gallery OF Fishel,
Adler & Schwartz, Fifth avenue and Thirty
fifth street, the sketch Is a little hard and dry.
"A Porcupine" Is o study Of a hog.backed
island along the coast somewhere. q stecp.sided
place covered with trees and bushes. There Is
not enough In the picture to make 1t interesting.
1t is not that tho subject wouldn't do we'll
enough to mako a nice water color, but there
is little charm in the rendering. no attractive
color, and nothing particularly clever in the
Interpretation. So. too, "Still Life" mo. 24),
though quito marvellous in some of Its textures,
and Tho Lotos" mo. 25), a beautifully drawn
flower study, fall short Of charming by their
aspect. In n largo pastel. "wedding-Ber
muda tNo. 1S), while tho white walls and roofs,
blue sky and blue water, bright colored notes In
the dress Of the people at the landing place. and
sails OF boats tied up at the pier arc effective
elements for n picture, the way these elements
are made into a composition is not quito satisfy
ing. Possibly 1t would be more attractive II II
were smaller and so more concentrated. But
these are about tho only sheets in the col
lection Of thirty-one works that fall below
the mark. The others possess various points OF
merit, and some of them are extremely good,
"A New England Hillside mo. s.. with its fore,
ground Of meadow land; the delicately colored
and charminRly painted Winter" mo. 10Y
with Its tender white snow, its struggling ice
bordered brook, and rose-tinteds sky; "Ireland's
NO. 2), and The Lane" no. 19). two briskly
handled Bermuda studies, and two beautiful
woodland landscapes. Tho Still Hunt :
No.. 12) and Forest Interior" mo
III are those that are most attractive and
that please in subject, handling. and gen,
eral effect. In the middle Of the principal
wall OF the gallery hangs THE Golden Galleon :
(No. u. which was exhibited In February at the
American Water Color Society. 1t was praised
In these columns at the time for the excellence
Of its composition and drawing, the picturesque
ness of Its aspect and fine color. 1t loses nothing
on better acquaintance. and appears in this col
lection of Mr.. Turner's works as the most com
plete. the most poetic, and the most virile OF
them all. The exhibition will close on May 90