New-York tribune., 1899-04-22
ART EXHIBITIONS.
PAINTINGS BY MR.. ALEXANDER HARRI-
sON-THE MENDoNCA CoLLEC-
TION OF PICTURES AND

| Thirty or forty pictures by Mr. Alexander Harri-
exhibition at the gallery OF Boussod'
Vaadon & Co. A few of these have been seen be-
fore, the rest appear to be recent productions
executed in America along the Long Island shore
and IN California. A single study from the nude
Mysteries of the Night" in which boy stands
with arms upfted facing the sea. Is the only
souvenir present OF that mistaken enthusiasm
which led Mr. Harrison 10 paint his Arcadia ana
similar pictures some time ago. POSSIBLY ne mas
not abandoned that enthusiasm dehnitvely but az
all events. he gives to this exhibition something OF
the charm which was his In the first years OF his
devotion to the sea. pure and simple. 1f he con-
tinues to make experiments II is only In the direc-
tion typined by No. 21. Reflections, marne'
which is also a kind OF artificial arrangement IN
the key OF green. Such a deliberate restrict'oh Vi
the canvas TO one note as this illustrates Is not
nerbans Indicative of a passionate fidelity TO nat
ure-Mr Harrison appears to seek effects rather
than truths-but since the work Is ubdeniaoy oeau-
tiful one is indisposed to cavil at the mou'e
There ls indeed, more individuality IN THESE ratne'
exaggerated schemes OF color than In the pail'
,nes which have greater accuracy. For example
there is life In the long, narrow pane, NO ~
"Moonrise" with its lovely opalescent tints' ana
there is n captivating freshness in No. 30. Spring
a notably sincere and sympathetic picture but even
these leave less piquant and memorable impres-
sion than the reflections" or the "Easthamp'on
or the animated Boats at Sea- These latter
paintings
easy feeling that Mr.. Harr son is Juggling win
color but In spite Of this there remains hVey
appreciation OF what Is good in the work The
"Easthampton' is particularly alluring In It's ap-
peal The whole scene Is wrapped IN one ue"ca'e'
tawny hue through which either sky or marsh or
tree ought to tell with more indviduai accent o'
color than the artist allows to any OF them YET
the resultant harmony. II not as ful OF the vitahty
and variety which the facts would seem TO de-
no merely
sensuous color The Boats at Sea- is much less
exquisite but it has something OF the same qualty'
and 1t has the added merit OF being sinsu'ai''
effective composition. Mr.. Harrison has the aoiiF
TO balance nature and art more justly ana no uouo'
he Will ultimately put into his pictures richer
beauty he will interpret nature with more oreau'n,
and while making his coor no less attractive. VIII
give II a freer play n more diversified character.
The light which he already treats with so much
skill he will handle even more autnorltatVeg' All"
allow 1t to break up his now arbitrary schemes.
Those schemes will be none the less harmonious
for being a little more elastic In the mean time ne
has a way OF his own. and. adding good taste to
his originality. produces paintings which can hard-
iy be ignored and are nearly always pleasantly
remembered.
The collection of Senior Mendonca. which will be
sold at the American Art Galleries next Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday, at and o'clock p. m'
consists of many paintings by old and modern men,
relies of Byron and Napoleon. furniture, rugs,
bronzes and other miscellaneous objects The old
masters are in a few instances mildly interesting.
but we can find nothing seriously to recommend In
the canvases attributed to Veronese. Velasquez'
Halls and other great names. The best things In
the collection are half a dozen fragments by mod
ern painters including sketch of a Roman model
by Fortuny an admirable Head Of a Woman by
Raymundo Madrazo and spirited portrait by
Domingo With Senior Mendonca's possessions there
Is shown a handsome Beauvas tapestry. belong
Ing the estate of the late James A. Bancker and
there are also displayed a number Of marble statues
by the late Chauncey B. Ives. This American
sculptor. who died at Rome In 1894 after having
lived and worked in Italy for fifty years, modelled
several public statues and many busts OF ceieori-
ties and others. Statues of Roger Sherman ana
Jonathan Trumbu by him are In the Capitol at
Washington. The examples at the American Art
Galleries ideal figures mostly life size OF the
sort he executed in the intervals Of his labors In
the field Of plastic portraiture. They graceful
embodments OF thoughtful themes.