The times., 1899-11-26
\ CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE
7OURTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION By
.AMES HENRY M0SER


ly differing in technique still life study
having a sprightliness and vigor which
can only be accomplished by this direct
spirited way of painting; a brook running
through an attractive wood is a difficult
subject very successfully treated. There
is freedom and dash about this. 1t is
not little curious that this freedom and
swing produce results that somehow can
not be obtained by elaboration. Detail
work viii not do. unless these big broad
masses are preserved. There is also here
q lake study, by Mrs. Andrews, which is
very beautiful in tone. This picture has
about it a strong sense Of locality which
makes one. seem familiar with the place
Mrs. Andrews is also here again with some
pink sunbonnets, which she does so charm
mgly. The portrait of Mr. Andrews is both
technically and in point of likeness to ma
ture the best thing Mrs. Andrews shows
this years
Mr.. Weller has several small water colors
in the exhibition of which his Harvest
Month is notable for fine color and treat
ment of masses.
hurst is, though slight, very true and in
teresting. a little Versailles sketch by Miss
Nicolay is a good grey paper bit.
Daniel Roses little summer picture is
a good. sincere, and very interesting little
landscape. This is proof enough that great
things may be expected in the future from
him
Notwithstanding a certain sense CT CROP
ing, Dr.. Lanes Fog. a wharf scene, is
very poetic, and one Of the attractive
things of the exhibition Nj ChandIee
contributes two of the very best land
scapes shown this year They have that
true note that tells of nature and a love of
her, Purple Walled" a glimpse of the
Potomac in the Blue Ridge. might have
been painted within the District. so char
acteristic and so simple in composition is
it. This picture recalls Davis and his
point of view, and that is very high praise
There are two bits of still life in the eX-
hibition one by Mrs. Smith and one by
Mrs. Dodge. They are well-nigh perfect
in their way, and are delight TO all the
artists. Artists love flowers and still life
when they are done interestingly, but they
have little patience with laundering medi-
ocrity when it persists in rushing in
where the true artist enters with thought
full and very Teyerent care.
Edward Lind Morse s three pictures,
made in the open air on grey paper. are
good though slight impressions done in
that TwachtmauWior fashion of which
painters are so fond.
some Notable Miniatures.
There is also an interesting collection /
of miniatures by Miss Atwater, Mrs. Carl
Decker, Mrs Krkham, and Miss Parrie.
f. II. Miller. the popular president of
the S w A. has two notable landscapes
here-one a large brook is Richards like
in fidelity, and while still pleasing, the
key is TOO low to express the full richness /
Of color which is so large part OF the I
charm Of "Kattskill Brook" Mr. Mil
ler's "Asters'' is more successful. and will
find many admirers, for it brings yvidly /
to mind recOllections Of the end OF sum-
mer when it seems as though nature eX-
erted herself 10 the utmost to make the (
parting just as painful as possible for the I
artist whose vacation is nearing its close.
There are two small water eolors by Miss (
Miller which reveal the influence Of her !
fathers work both upon her point Of view
and method. These two little water col
ors are so modest in color and treatment /
both brook subjects in summer timc-that (
they are not conspicuous but are worth I
close examination, and show steady prog
ress over last years work. Students /
should observe. in the one where the brook |
flows by a big bCWlder. the Importance of /
sincerity and patient effort to convey the |
impression of nature The teacher tires (
OF telling pupils not TO aim at picture /
making when at work out Of doors. bit /!
Of nature full of evident conscientious en-
deavcr IS better; TO be true to what one /
sees is far more satisfying than poetic in
terpretatCns of nature unless they be of /
a high order.
Mr.. Miller alsG exhibits a life-size por-
Trait OF one OF his daughters which in /
some respects is one OF the most interest /!
ing water colOrs in the exhibition Mr. I
Miller's method, of the formal sort, is well 7
adapted to d subject OF this kind, and the i
picture. monument of patience, is very /
successful. The color is very good and /
there is a Iife-liSe quality. with all it's deli /
cacy and refinement, which proves that the I
quality of being life-like may be accom- /
plished without slap dash high color. and /
strong contrasts.
BY far the most remarkable progress |
made during the year by any member of /
the club has been made by Miss Berta .
Henson. This is true OF her two pictures
in every respect selection. color compost 1
ton. drawing, and method. In these she .
far surpasses any previous showing in the /
local exhibitions. These water colors are
no longer studies. bearing evidence CT /
students effort but pictures well painted |
and attractive. The greens are good and
the COWS, which are the feature of the
smalle' and better Of the two paintings.
are very Dutch in tone but distinctly Eng
l'sh in treatment, This guasche method in
which they are painted lends itself to this
sort of serious work where one is deter
mined 10 dig until the result desired is OBJ
tained. There is no better example of this
methCd in the exhibition. and il fairly rep
resents the method Of her master, Mr. Hell
mick who, it is to be regretted sends
nothing to the exhibition this year Be
yond Mr.. Helmick Mr. Gill and the Mich
oils brothers are the only able resident
water-cClor painters who are absent this
year
Ma Parker Mann Not Represented.
Parker Mann the clubs first president.
who is now settled in New York, sends
nothing this year and his sincere work is
very much missed
Commander Davis of the National OBJ
servatory, exhibits "a large picture of a
white battleship "Homeward Bound" The
critic, whose idol is technique-and il must
be confessed that iuries belong TO that set
will not be satisfied with this picture.
But after very careful study the writer is
of the opinion that it is one of the most
absolutely realistic things in the exhibit
ton There is nothing in the whole dis
play which so nearly locks like the image
of such a scene projected on the ground
glass Of 4 camera but this picture is not
painter-like; it is not artistic. yet one likes
il and finds il enjoyable, for the scene it
represents. Like Mr. Paris picture of the
blizzard which is full OF truth OF the same
kind. il is a warning TO progressive profess
sianal painters that artistic results cannot !
be accomplished along these lines. Some
day the commander viii dare; when he
does this he VIII dash out and, having
abandoned his deadly, cautious stroke, ne
will DO as Mr.. Paris has done to the de-
light OF his friends and make pctu,-- ,'i'-e