The times., 1899-04-16
bits OF LANDSCAPE
At THE ART EXHIBIT
A Popular Feature With Both
Painters and Public.
High Standing Of the Washington
School.
Mnx WcyHs Seven Contributions.
Messer Well Represented-Mnny
Clever Pieces of Work.

The Washington landscapists are all
well represented in the ninth annual ex-
hibition. This is the most satisfactory
feature of the present display, and the
enthusiastic enjoyment of the public there
in is pleasant to witness.
The Washington school of landscapists
is one that any city might well be proud
of. Excepting New York, which is TOO
cosmopolitan to have any individuality
worth mentioning, and Boston and Phil
adelphia, which are older and much larger
cities. Washington makes much
finer show in landscape pictures
city. The capital has realists, idealists,
and some impressionists, but the leading
characteristic of the Washington school is
perhaps the poetic Interpretation of ma
ture, with wholesome regard for realism.
Max Weyl, the veteran painter of land
scapes, heads the list with seven pictures.
The largest of these, Evening at Warm
Springs. Va" occupies the place of honor
In the exhibit.
1t is a most reposefui landscape.
This picture suffers somewhat from be-
ing placed next to another OF Mr.. Weyls.
1.-THE Home by the River" with its strong
contrasts and brilliantly painted sky. The
artists seem to be united in the opinion
that this is the most skillfully painted sky
that Mr.. Weyl shows this year. Immed-
lately above this scene hangs After the
RAIN which is also by Mr.. Weyl Alto
gether it is the most charming of the
several pictures shown by this artist this
q to or, rrr Sps q n &
stretch of ragged land, with some distant
trees against light strip of sky which is
overhung with cloud curtain of leaden
gray. Some struggling willows that skirt a
pool of water in the foreground make up
the simple composition. 1t is not a very
attractive subject from the layman's point
of view. but Mr. Weyi has painted 1t as
d'Aubigney might have done in his best
period.
Edmund Clarence Messer's art is of a
subtle, serious kind the beauty OF which
| is apt to escape all but the most culti-
waited observer. He is well represented
this year, though his contribution is by
| no means as large in number OF in size
as at previous exhibitions. But it is GER
tain that his pictures were never as skill
| fully executed or as delightful as they are
| this year.
IA French Farm Is his principal pie
| ture. In metropolitan exhibition 1t
might easily be mistaken for a good Try
ON. 1t is delicate, resned and true in its
Beautiful arrangement of brown and gray.
| The subject is French, representing q
| wide stretch of feneeless brown feds
| broken with patches of green Though the
| picture has but two values, land and sky,
| the sense of plainnesst and that appearance
which belongs to feeding surface are
beautifully rendered without the common
theatrical trick of placing one object after
another, each being painted with less dis
| tinctness until they become so faint as to
be lost In the distance.
With its small stone. farm house and
distant, Normandy ppplars it brings up
recollections OF a lovely bit of landscape
near Rouen.
Mr.. Messers painting. "a London HILL
! side,v- though less than foot square is
one of the gems of the collection. 1t is,
| perhaps, so far as the artists are concern
! ed, the most coveted picture in the whole
| exhibition.
Mr.. Messer's two other contributions, a
| spring morning effect and dramatic twi-
| light, are also excellent
Mr. Child and Mr.. Siebert are the recog-
| nized realists of the exhibitors. The
Gloucester sketches by Mr.. Child are of
sterling quality. "The Moors'' is a serious
study Of rock ledges OF that texture and
temper which Bolton Jones did after his
return from France. Silent Noon is a
glimpse Of Gloucester done in the same
manner, but having distinctly great pIcto- y
rial qualities. without ideality. 1t is the
intellectual painters point Of view.
Sieberts "In June.-
Mr. Siebert is a realist from Munich and
in some respects that great art school new
er sent back to America more skiilful or
a more loyal painter. In his work nature
is approached reverently. The artist is
devoted to his work.
Mr.. Siebert's I'm june is most at
, tractive study. 1t is painted with appa-
! rent deep affection for the spot represent
ed. His Rainy Day is less minutely ex-
eeuted. 1t is only a sketch but possesses
extraordinary qualities.
r. lie Grand Johnson exhibits two char
acteristic pictures. The one with sheep
rambling over an old pasture is the more
attractive of the two. 1t is painted with
considerable skill.
Hobart Nichols exhibits the largest and
most important canvas he has yet shown.
II is called Twilight" and occupies a
prominent place in the second gallery. The
objective matter of the composition is an
old pasture on the edge of a forest, through
which a brook passes. On the blue gray
curtain of sky, like wafer, rests pale
yellow moon.
There is a delightful truth of observation
throughout. II Is done with great SYM
pathy and evident enjoyment. The result
is one of the most poetic and charming
pictures that could be imagined. Subjects
of this sort have an, obvious kind Of beau
ty easily understood and are too often
painted indifferently. This picture has
high technical excellence. One might,
perhaps. wish 1t less carefully done. 1t is
in sense over-earnest which robs it of
some of the mystery that belongs to that
particular passage and moment, but IL is a
most important and successful picture.
This, with his two other excellent contri-
buttons October Woods and Canal
Scene,' Will no doubt add greatly TO his
reputation
Jules Dieudonne appears to great ad-
vantage in bit OF Holland. II is sober
gray sketch, fine in color and revealing a
keen appreciation of Dutch landscape and
Dutch method
Lucien Powell is conspicuously the color
ist of the society. His Turneresque "Ap-
proach to Venice" is his most successful
picture thus far. There is refined treat
ment and restraint In its color, which
save a most spectacular sunset from being
cheap. This pictured adds much to the
brilliant general effect of the gallery. 1t
has proven very popular work with all
classes of visitors.
warmers Pastel Studies.
Mr.. Warner is represented by some small
pastels and an oil. None of them is large
or important The pastels are entirely
satisfactory studies OF scenes about
Gloucester. These are among the most
painter-like things shown this year.