New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-09
ART EXHIBITIONS.
PORTRAITS BY HERMAN G. HERKoM.s-


Mr. Herman G. Herkomer is a familiar neur,
I'm English art and his work has long been "a
yorably known here. A small exhibition at tho
gallery OF Boussod Valsdon a. Co. brings to-
eether portraits painted by him at various times
from 1897 10 the present year. The earliest OF
these Is OF the artist himself. in cap and gown a
painting OF great simplicity and vlgor. which
has borne well the test OF time. The color, II Is
true has darkened perceptibly but the mod.
elling OF the head has lost none Of its effect
reighborng canvas, the portrait OF a ven
cradle student porting over his books, Is tn.
product OF much the same method-namely tins
concentration OF the light on the head and
hands-but the remaining nine canvases are a.
Illustrative OF a slightly different conception OF
what the picture Of a personality should b.
Three portraits OF ladies testify TO lively sym
pathy for the designs OF the English masters o.
the last century. tile figures being studied out
OF doors. with landscapes and trees handled in
a more or less decorative manner. The style In
these is less vigorous than In the artists own
portrait. On the other hand, he has enriched his
color and has gained luminosity In his atmos.
phere. Perhaps the most notable portrait in
the collection, because most accomplished and
charming. is that one Of lad in red velvet.
of the chair in which he is seated, and with
vloIoncello at his side The draughtsmanshp
In this is delicatey expressive. the handling
throughout Is refined az 1t is authoritative
and the color is purer and melIower than in any
OF the other canvases. The collection whole
speaks of sincerity and ready workmanship
This single portrait Is felicitous showing the
artist in one OF his hsppiest and most confident
moments
The art OF NJ. Paul Helleu, like all FRAGILE
things, requires to be handled with discretion.
An exhibition at the Keppe Gallery which in
cludes seventy-eight dryponts, three autographs
and fifteen twenty drawings, lends opposite
ness to this reflection. The group OF drawingsh
not too large. Three Autographs surely not
too many But we would make considerable
number Of deductions from the collection OF dry.
points. They ali reflect the temperament Of one
Of the most exquisite artists of our day; but
| comparison Of No. g. Girl with a Black Hat"
and No. II. "A Portrait" will show at once that
even NJ. Heleu can deviate from distinction into
commonplace Since he Is still in the prime OF
life, there IS no reason why should be asked
to sft his triumphs from his failures: an exhi-
bition like that at present under review should
be confined to the former. The Girl with a
Black Hat" represents tho Helleu that IS inter-
esting; It sparkles with his style; II has HIS
cent of elegance: the rich. velvety tone in the
hat is browning touch 10 a plate in every re-
spect characteristic and delightful. The other
feminine portrait 10 which We have referred Is
bald and colorless perfunctory in effect. what
ever the artists feeling may have been when ne
made IT, There are others too many others. as
cold and as futile. We scarcely think OF blam.
ing NJ Helleu. His art is. indeed limited In
scope. slight in depth and. like good baladeby
clever minor poet. captivating II encountered
under just the right conditions His impressions
of French women are new, he records them often
with Incompatible fnesse, but when fourscorea
them re brought together in one place we real
ize that the mood has not always been perfect
nor has the hand invariably done its office in ne
right way This does not matter with an artist
OF power and OF varied ideas, because even his
least successful things are touched with ths
magic of genius. NJ. Helleu works in too mar
row a field. and his talent exquisite as 1t is, can
not redeem him from monotony-and worse
when he strikes the wrong note. II this butter
fly ghtness and fragility OF his were not the
very essence Of his art we would say less about
deductions But the latter should be made oy
| the amateur and student, who will then be the
best is fascinating. 1t is interesting fact
that while the drypoints vary the drawings q"
| all good.
Mr. Arthur Hoeber. after prolonged -
sence, as an exhibitor, from the local galleries.
reappears under the auspices or Arthur Ioo'n
| e. Sons, with seventeen paintings done In New
| Jersey. In quiet preparation he has impro'e'
| in his art and in his Interpretation OF landscape
| sentiment. II the balance OF the composition 'n
the large picture Of Autumn" is not aosoIuseV
| true the spirit OF the scene. on the other ha"a-
is admirably rendered. and the tree torms az
handled with knowledge and sympathy in'S
| almost more than any other OF inc e"
shows with how much more subtlety MI ho'0e.
| now works His vision OF nature is c'ea.e'
wider The skies everywhere IN TINS eoee
ratify this judgment. The September No.,
| contains some charming passages Oh 'o'
| and here, by the way, the design anu '.' ~.
ment Of the sky are equally successlN"
tvro mixtures mentioned are perhaps the mos'
ambitious ot the seventeen In conception ana IN
scale but the smallest studies reveai s'
| purpose and intelligent workmanship We
| cite In illustration THE Lingering GLOW" anu
the capital little panel. THE Edge OF tue i."
These fruits of his summers work should en-
| courage Mr.. Hoeber to resume his resui"' W.
tributons to the larger exhibitions
Three hundred oil paintings and water cow
bv foreign artists. collected by Mr.. William .
! Iamoriniere. are on exhibition at the Ame'"'A
Art Galleries. where they Will be SOLD al o..
| ton ON Tuesday Wednesday and Thu's'e,
| evenings OF this week All the Conlihea
schools are represented In popular examp''-
| some ~ them merely pretty, others na'"s
more lasting qualities The best things aro w.
Dutch water colors In one OF the small UP"
rooms We may name among the artists rep"
sented Groeron. Blommers. Jacquet b. M
rison w Maris. A. Mauve, Rchet. NJ hs'-
Worms Bail. Corcos, G. II. Boughton, san'"'
and Roybet.