The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-11
Arr NorEs.

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water Coiors BY ,. ruopuinson smuh-Per.
traits By Mrs. Merritt and by S1r. BentlnEcr.
Tho exhibition OF water colors that Mr.. r.
Hopkinson Smith makes annually at Avery's
galleries, 1858 Fifth avenue, this year includes
views In and about Constantinople and Vonico
and in Holland. II began yesterday and will
continue to Jan. %. Tho subjects are OF the
same character as those shown last year aud tho
year before, and the treatment shows no modin.
cation of method. so that the exhibition nos.
sess 3 no att:ibutcs OF novelty. There ara
thirty.nino pictures in the collection. and all
are up 10 tho mark o. cleverncss in execution
set by the artist in the former exhibitions. Thi,
oleverncss is OF a superficial sort. 1t Is true. bur
II Is not unattrnctivc, and the pictures arc in
general pleasing prescriptions OF picturesque
places. A deeper insight, n more tim.d
approach TO nature, n greater love for
tenderness Of color are hardly to DO
looked for in Mr.. Smiths work. for he
has painted industriously for u good many
years, and has been so long contcnicd with
summary interpretations that the conclusion
comes of itself that another point of Wow is not
within tho possibilities. Visitors to the exhibit.
ton will see what they have seen before. with
no indications in any OF the pictures that tho
artist has tried to get more than tho effect seen
at first glance. There Is good, effective hand.
ling in "A Rainy Morning. Venice No. 20.
"a Silver Morning." No. 10, with shimmcring
sunshine, presents n well comprehendcd and
unified effect OF light. THE Piazzetta. Venice
No. Q. and by the Blue Bosphorus." No. 4. may
be noted as among the best of tho transcrip.
tions of beautiful Old World corners which arc
agreeable to look upon when portrayed in any
competent fashion. In Along the Nicu Haven"
No. 2, an archway of trees on the street at tho
side of a canal, with tho town showing through
the gaps between the trunks, there is truth OF
observation and pleasant color. Many Of the
pictures arc made attractive by sketchily
treated groups of figures.
In another gallery at Avery's are three por-
traits by Mrs. Anna Lea Merritt, an American
artist who has resided for n long time in London
and has painted in that town many portraits Of
more or lees distinguished people. From time
to time during visits to this country she has had
Americans for sitters in New York, Washing.
ton. and Philadelphia. She has frequently
painted portraits Of children, and in this field
has attained q considerable reputation. One of
the portraits now on exhibition is u full.length
figure Of a young lady In o gown of gray velvet.
Another is an elderly lady in half length. The
third is a large composition with three figures,
a lady in white, a little girl, and q chubby boy
in brown velvet. Tho figures arc seen on a ter.
race with a landscape background. The three
pictures show u good understanding Of the exi.
gencics of portrait painting and a fair degree of
technical skill. They are evidently the work Of
a painter who has made portrait painting a pro-
fession and knows u good deal about 1t that
some ADLER painters neglect. In themselves. as
works of art, they produce no emotion. and ex-
cebt in the head of the elderly lady, where there
is apparently sympathetic study of character.
there are no qualities beyond crcditablc compe-
tence that appeal TO the spectator.
Portraits of President Mckinley and Vice