The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-12

Remembering the great excellence OF the pio-
lures shown last year By Mr.. Ross Turner and
Mr.. w. I. Lathrop. one naturally looks about
the galleries to 500 what those artists have con-
tributed to the present exhibition. The former
has four good works, but mono Of the four equals
in beauty Of general aspect or picturesqueness
OF composition the fine Golden Galleon," that
was one Of tho stars Of last years display. It
was artistically such a happy hit that Il is per-
haps too much to expect another work in every
way as perfect to DO turned of so soon. but
we may wish that Mr.. Turner will before
long hnd another subject as picturesque, and
treat It as admirably as he did that
one. The four pictures this year are all hung in
tho west gallery. and all show that familiarity
with the medium and that apparent ease Of ex-
ecution that are characteristic Of Mr.. Turner'S
performances in water color. o Cape Ann"
No. 34s, is tho most interesting Of them all, and
the fine swell OF the ocean. the harmony of the
sky and water, and the excellent drawing arc
in this picture particularly worthy of notice.
Mr.. Lathrop has three landscapes. all in the
south gallery, in two of which. "a Brook" No.
gag, and "a Farm Road No. 25s, he strikes
the sombrc, melancholy note Of gray atmos.
phere, which is still pleasing and still re-
markably well given, but Is 30 much like
his work of last year and tho year be-
fore that It 10 not impertinent to suggest
tuuJ tuObo VIM ~ Iht0EbbtOu Ill He Ca-
reer as q landscape painter in water color.
and have admired his very complete and artis-
tic work hitherto, would like to see him become
moro Of an investigator and try his hand at
some different effects. provided always that his
sympathies extend to other phases Of nature.
1t is because he has done ono thing so well that
they would like to see him broaden his scope.
In the third picture. "Moonrise," No. 262. he
has indeed taken up q different motif. and he
has interpreted 1t. as was to be expected, SYM
pathetically and with q large degree of poetic
feeling. 1t is an excellent picture. full of at
mosphere and rather original in conception. It
is sombre and gray. however. like tho autumn
daytime effects, and does not differ greatly from
them in color scheme except that, Of course. the
tune 10 sung in a lower key.
Mr.. Henry B. Smell, who also scored q decided
success last year. comes to the front this time
with eight pictures of varying Importance and
merit. "The Wreck Of the JASON" No. 273,
with a fine color effect in yellows set of by COM
Elementary tints Of blue, and Her Majesty's
Ship Renown." No. 1o5. imposing in compost
ton and attractive in color, are the most nota-
bic OF the works whose subjects are found in
the SEQ and ships. while in q small sheet. "a
Study in Grays," No. 404, Mr.. Smell branches
out in another direction and shows in O
figure of q lady in black and gray with O fur
Nopo oh hCA bhoutuCkb ShhIlntuB QuhllblOb VI
restrained color and o very neat sense of
harmony between subject and rendering. Mr..
Albert Herter, who, judging from the variety of
his pictorial manifestations, both at this exhi.
bition in previous years and last autumn at the
New York Water Color Club. whore he showed
some wonderfully clever Japanese themes and
other decorative pieces. seems ready and willing
to employ his undeniable talent in almost any
field of subject. shows here q large composition
with two figures In black. This picture, "Sor-
row" No. 27s. was awarded the Evans prize by
the jury before the exhibition opened to the
public. but the award was withdrawn owing
to considerations affecting the residence of
an eligible candidate when his work was
executed. Tho award shows, however. that
the picture was esteemed highly by the
artists on the jury. and 30 far as technical
excellence Is concerned the verdict would be
pretty generally sustained. A young woman
seated with a young man at her knees In a pos
ture expressive Of grief are the sole elements Of
the composition. Everything is competently
portrayed. and in spite Of tho large size of the
work. large for q water color. unity in color and
values Is well preserved. But the picture is
embarrassing. There are no pms
sages in the painting that remind us Of tho sur
prising dexterity Of hand shown in other lighter
themes depicted by Mr.. Herter, and the sober
s.~s 49, LOUD lhlb WOEk
seems too careful. too evenly respectable,
too good in a general way and not
enough to permit of the pic
lures being impressive. Beautiful blacks
are delightful in painting and beautiful blacks
and whites have evoked admiration from artists
in more than ono masterpiece that might DO
but these masterpieces have been
painted in that good medium. rich, thick. thin.
solid. or diaphanous as the case may be, oil
color. which responds to the skilled hand and
the educated eye for every sort of expression.
1t is quite probable that the lack of distinction
apparent in Sorrow " is in good part due to the
painters choice Of water color for his medium,
for its resources are limited and the artists who
use 1t best do not try to make 1t serve for needs
other means supply better.
MIR. Curran is In evidence with six carefully
drawn, attractively colored figure subjects, the
most important, both In size and in compost.
ton. being 1.-THE Dance of the Dryads." No. 269,
serious effort at picture making possessing
many good mature qualities. but the most pleas.
Ing Of his exhibits. on the whole, is the small
panel with a single figure. Pomona" No. 3O2.
l.. c. Earle shows a Ii~fe-sized head of a
weather-beaten seaman, THE Old Pilot" No.
1913, that is very well worked, and is as good In
as 1t Is in execution. Mr.. Barse ex-
hibits a charming. decorative. semi-nude figure
roy ~ u, IL DIT
one whose head and shoulders only
are visible as she. Doris. Daughter of the
Ocean," No. 2s5. floats in the crest of
\ great blue wave. Mr.. Thulstrup's Golf"
No. 81, presents q strongly drawn figure
Of an American girl pursuing the fashion. |
able and fascinating exercise of the day. |
and Mr.. smcdley's "The Rivals" No. 274, de-
oicts another actualite which is never subject
70 changes in popular taste. showing we'll
irawn little figures in a freshly tinted setting
If picturesque landscape. Mr.. weldon's The
No. 81; Mr.. Sterner's pretty bit of
,olor. Reading" No. Ut; Mr.. Lungren's alert
iguro of an Indian on horseback, "a Navajo
No. lao; Mrs. Sherwood's clever draw.
Lady Betty" No. %. and a very good.
highly finished picture of n child. PORTRAIT of |
Little Miss H." No. SO. by Maud Humphrey,
ire other works in the figure line that rise out
the ranks for one or another quality of excel.
ence and that ono remembers without cata-
ogue notes after leaving the galleries.
The exhibition abounds as usual In landao.nu.