The times., 1899-07-02
IN 7HE WORLD OF ART
A Distinguished American Painter
of Marines.
His Recent Work and His Probable
Return to This Country-A West
ern Magnzine-The Gibson Broth
ers' Success in Pnris-Trentenoye,
PIans-Tbe PnSon CoIony-Gossip.

many other things. New York remains the
banner city. This is particularly true of
art magazines. 1t is, therefore, with real
pleasure that one notes the stiffening grip
of Brush and PENCIL of Chicago, "an il
lustrated journal OF the arts and crafts
and an art monthly of exceptional excel
lence
Brush and Pencil" now in its fourth
volume, is conducted in the atmosphere of
the most progressive, up-to- date studios
not necessarily Western studios, for the
magazine, though Western in sympathy
and interest, is quite national in scope.
1t is only latterly that the product of
Western studios has reached a standard
which compels the respect of Eastern art
lists.
There is a rivalry between the East ana
West in art matters as well as in other
things. 1t is generous rivalry and can
do no harm. 1t is altogether time some of
the Eastern painters were brought to see
that they cannot bask idly in the sunshine
of past success They must be progressive
and keep abreast of the times, or be left
in the race by their younger, more indus
trious, vigilant, and untiring rivals.
There is a great freedom shown in the
conduct of Brush and Pencil" fearless
and iconoclastic. The staff of able writer's
is in deadly earnest and so far remarkably
free from fads and affectation. Sound art
and refreshing frankness mark its pages.
This plainly springs from a homely hon
esty, born of great faith in nature and un-
bounded enthusiasm for art.
Charles Francis Brown, editor, has
good deal to say in his magazine and he
is always worth listening to. Brown has
learned that American students and con-
noisseurs want not merely cooked-over
generalities. but virile, sincere art doctrine
from original minds trained in cosmopoli-
tan schools. This magazine, while not
grotesquely humorous as is "Yugend," the
art organ of the Munich Students still
possesses much of "Yugend's' vital quail
ty, and as a result Brush and PENCIL
furnishes instructive and enjoyable read
ing not only for the student but for the
layman who may have a little time at hand
occasionally for current art literature. The
magazine is comprehensive and the illus
trations, both in black and white and in
color. are selected with good judgment and
reproduced with sympathetic fidelity.
Brush and PENCIL for June devotes a
half dozen pages and as many Illustrations
to Alexander Harrison. 1t may appear to
some of the professional readers that Har-
rison has been assigned too high place
among the leading American painters, but
they will concede that 1t is a most appre-
ciative and deserved tribute to the painter
of Twilight" No % in the Corcoran Art
Gallery. That canvas is one of the great
American pictures which give color and
distinction TO the Corcoran collection. The
writer recalls distinctly the furore this pic
ture created when it was first exhibited in
New York, fresh from Paris, where it had
been medaled.
Harrison has painted much before and
YfanI md
personal quality which he has caught in
this iridescent picture of the pale moon
rising above a sea OF mother of pearl
Because the public clamored for replicas of
this subject is, one fancies, the reason Why
he repeated it so many times But he
never did it quite so well as in this pic
ture painted in 1889, and now owned by
the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Mr.. Harrison is fond of experimenting,
and his chase after something new has
led him into many a tangle of impress
sionism where no sane person could fol-
low. But one may forgive an artist any,
thing when one is sure he is honestly en-
deavoring to repeat natures message to
him, for sincerity Is everything in art.
Brown is clearly aware of this, one may
conclude from this passage: Mr. Harri-
sons pictures have been interesting for
their color, becoming more and more prim-
tive and pure until some of his cherry-red
sunsets. which represent his latest declara
tions, are very startling, and appeal,
fear. to a small, if select, circle of ad
mirers.''
The writer has seen collective exhibitions
Of Harrisons work. There is no limit to
his daring. but cherry" sunsets in nature
are as scarce as snakes in ireland. One is
inclined to draw the line here. Impression
lists are often too reckless.
There is always the fact of atmosphere
and harmony, which is ever a precious
quality in a sunset, however gorgeous II
may be in color or brilliant in key. Cher
ry'' suggests only the gorgeousness, with
out the air and tone. When the sun looks
like a vermilion brick, as ii sometimes does
in the sunset skies Of Winslow Homer, 1t
may tell one fact with yehemence, but,
great as Homer is-perhaps the first of all
the Americans; surely first of the older
set-it is not right. There is poetry always
in sunset and unless it is painted with
sympathy and tenderness its chief glory
is not caught on the canvas
Speaking of a recent visit of Harrison to
America, Brown says: This visit has so
awakened his dormant patriotism that he
is considering making the United States
his permanent home" II is hoped he may
and, in passing, one might mention that
w NdEulABlOu Is Alt lutoA pldit III AllltAlI
to live and have ones winter studio.
At the Yeerhoff Gallery there is a sum-
mer exhibition of water colors which the
transient visitor and the stay-at- home will
find interesting. few Of these pictures
are especially notable. A fine example of
English water color is W. Weedon's har-
vest scene. This little picture has a
charming blue and white sky painted with
rare delicacy and truth This bit is good
greeng grey tone is most pleasing.
There are other attractive pictures in
this Summer Oasis that are worth going
TO see, examples from the Dutch, French
and Italian schools
II will interest friends of Director Glib
son OF the navy to know that his two
sons, Albert Deakin Gibson and Clarence
de MOatfort Gibson, are working success
fully in Paris, both being exhibitors at the
Salon. The former has three pictures in
this years Salon Champ d'Mars-all he
submitted. They are two landscapes and
portrait, a most encouraging showing,
indeed.
This summer Albert Deakin Gibson has
taken a class to Giverney, near Vernon on
the Seine. This is the home of the great
Claude Monet, the great big-hearted,
nature-loving, wooden-shod genius-the
life of the impressionist movement. One
never thinks of this truly great man with
out feeling contempt for the small fry who
affect superiority because the public does
not comprehend their crude, stupid things.
which they are ignorant enough to mag
inc are just like Monet's. Monet has dis
ciples who are worthy of him but they are
few and far between.
Mr.. Trentenoye, the distinguished Flor
entine sculpture, who has become an Amer
can citizen, and a resident of Washington
will go to Florence early in July He will
rr-,. ,rith him many inlrnrtnr.t nnr.....i.