New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-19
LONDON NOTES.
REVIVAL OF INTEREST IN PAS iEho
FOLK SONGS IN THE HEART
OF MAYFAIR
London, February 4.

-. r,;1od In consequence of the collapse oI
It.. ,,or,, hut q fresh start has been mace
49,. sooeor with n new society Of seventy mem
g.. ~, tho first exhibition has been opened 10
49,. With q collection of over three hundred
.r,,s Tbreo rooms at the Institute In Plcca-
am, oro olIed with drawings studies anu
.kctchcs and while some of the WORK 10 eN
rorinocntal and uncertain, the collcctoi oh ''
whole. is a most interesting ana creoi'ao'e u
NAV It is a convincing proof that pas'ei 10
not n lost art In England.
The association OF a large body oi d,
,oadod Nv Mr. Watts. Mr. Orchardson and MT
Bouchton in a systematic attempt 10 pop""'
,osto,s is q guarantee that the public pre)uuice
against this subtle medium is unfoundeu' nat
rroiudice is based upon a supposed lach "a
f' Art lovers may admire the fresh
80, ord delicacy Of pastels when they see
.,or, on exhibition. but they will not buy theil
:. .h,. s,enect that the colors will fade ana
A. aro,,irqs nrove perishabe. The fact thd'
Yt.rore nastels are in perfect condition ai'''
,o hundred and fifty years indicates th'it 'nc
,,grpents are permanent il proper care ne t""0'
g., rrotcct the surface by glass against u"''P
ness and air William Hoare ana jon" i'u''
ueed the same medium in the eiSh'ee"'" O
fury and their works when herHet'ci''
AGAINST air have retained their dehcacy Vi I'M
Artists who have neglected proper S"''7
,,,,. ,,.otoctiop Of canvas or paper in moist
climate have lost their pastels IN the cou' a'
decade but this seems to have peeh '"e u
ooneooucnce either Of carclessness III ii"'''i'7
tbo rictures or Of imperfect knoWleose Vi Wv
medium which they were using. a po"
society recruited from the most experience
nractical artists In and outside the i'"Sai No.
ernv now lends its authoritative suPPoi' ~ ''
hat 10
branch of art This is pledge tha' INC
ness of pastels is not ephemerai anu ''a'
beauty of delicate tinting VIII DC pei
source Of delight - ,o,y
rbe superiority Of pastels over ordinary u'a"
,rcs il seen at a glance when the color sche'''es
NJ the best works in this collection are c'i''''"'
ovomined Crayon colors limited In range
and are lacking in delicacy. Pipe Gay "iiAe'
with pigment is capable Of manifold Varia'io"s
a.. o,a tho co,ors can be laid on with hard
cravons and the lights and shadows DE Sus-
,,oe,od nv q softer medium. The pasteilst mas
the resources for varied color scheihe Vi ca
,,ior,, dolicacv and the rapdty and ight-
,,oss with which he produce effects ihPar'
holdress freedom and brilliancy to his WORK y
.ood nostel has the charm and fascination VI
,,t lint sure improvisation by practseu
hord II has the fine qualities OF Transparent
t,,.orit, and frmness Of touch. NOT every
orus, who has been experimenting with thls
unfamiliar medium for the purposes 81 THIS eX-
bu,ition understands its resources ana lmlla-
films. but there are many vigorous DRAWINGS
charming compositions and brilliant hgure-
rieces which Indicate accurate knowledge OF
material and technique and an eNhllaIatlhs
sense Of freedom from ordinary restraints
A dozen pastels have been lent by Mr. J. ;.
Forbes These include six Of Mr.. whistler
earIv works. which have often been seem TWO
examples Of Millet's crudest method MauVe
and a Muhrman and two brilliant pastes' rich
IN detail. by L'IIermitte. Entrance TO village
and "Tish Market St Malo." There are no
works by the master Of pastel Latour' but there
Is an important series of Continental eXaHp'eS'
Pesnard has three works. vigorous In coinpos-
ton and perfect in technique one Oh thef'e'
"Arab Woman Painting Herself" is repusiVe
subject but it has a scheme which shows now
varied are the effects of pure color obtainapie
bv pastel one Of Billottes group OF hve Is
"Moonrise at Meulan." with subtle charm OF
color Emile Wauters has mastered the teen
nical difficulties Of Femme au Miror so easily
that one has to look closely in order to appreci-
ate them Dhurmer. Khnoph Josselin de JonS
and other Continental pas;ellists strike their
characteristic notes in works which reveal pre-
else knowledge Of the uses TO be made OF their
medium
The English work is more uncertain in meth
cd bu. much of it is vigorous and firm. Mr.
Watts. taking an unfamiliar medium. produces
n tender and dignifed portrait Of Lady Mount
Temple. which reveals character with unaffected
sincerity. 1t IS a strong and noble work; and
his second sketch of a young girls head has
the charm of quiet simplicity with the merit Of
4, Mr. Sol N