The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-04
THAT DELIGHT
ANNUAL EXHIBIT OF THE ASSOCIA-
TION OF WESTERN ARTISTS.
Opened Yesterday Evening at the
PrOpyIaeum-SOme of the Paint
ings Displayed.

The third annual exhibit of the Associa-
ton of Western Artists opened last evening
at the Propylaeum The members of the
Art Association, Under whose auspices it is
given, had the first view. In the assembly
hall there is a collection of paintings and
water colors arranged at a height that does
not call for any craning of the neck or any
straining of the eyes in order to see the
pictures or the names of the artists. This in
itself is an agreeable feature of the eX-
hibt, and when added to it is the $50 or
more canvases the exhibit is we'll worth
seeing AS to whether the exhibit is the
best yet sent out by the coterie of artists is
a matter of personal taste.
There is a wide variety of pictures, with
a general sprinkling of portraits, all kinds
of sea and land views and a few pictures of
the nude. The canvas that first attracts
both on account of it's merit and position
is one by Mr. T. c. Steele, 1t hangs on the
north wall, opposite the door, and depicts
1.-The Coming Storm" Mr.. Steele has done
one of the best pieces of work of his life
and the fact has been recognized in a way
that proves it is not only work of art
but that some one wanted it, for the can
vas was sold Thursday to Mr.. Charles j.
Morse of Evanston, III. The picture is a
large one, and on it is shown a field, far
reaching to the north. The vegetation is
dry, and one can imagine that the grasses
and leaves rustic as the wind passes over
them. Down low on the horizon is line Of
very dark cloud, almost blue-black in it's
density There is heavy rain in the cloud.
The storm is long in gathering, and it is
preceded by a wind that touches all the
lighter clouds ahead of the rain with that
yellow green tint that colors the gray. The
artist has put feeling into the picture and
suggestion 1t is picture that would give
tone to a great gallery, for there are few
pictures that show naturB in so decided a
mood as this. 1t is the browning piece in
the collection. Mr.. Steele has another pic
ture that is as full of sunshine and color as
the storm picture is of rain and dusk
This is of autumn The blue of the sky.
the green, red and yellow colors of the oaks
that stand at one side and the lower brush,
with its shade of brown, are mirrored in
the water of the small stream that finds
hollow near the front of the picture. The
artist has filled his picture with the crisp
ness and richness of autumn. The selec-
ton of the subject embraces the nicely of
grouping which admirably balances and
picture. Another Of Mr. Steele's canVases
is a portrait of his son, a likeness, fine in
color, true to texture and one of the best
examples of his art.
An interesting feature of the collection is
that of the Indian pictures. These are by
three artists; one is f. A. Burbank, of Chi
cagO, whose pictures are portraits Of living
Indians, and they have been sold all over
the country They are small, just a nice
size for a picture of the type, and there is a
fascination about the solemn faces and the
paint and color of the gay costumes that
are typical of the native j. II. Sharpe, of
Cincinnati, has some good work in Indian
pictures, and so has Mrs. c. Z. Davis Mrs
Davis has lived among the Indians and has
MADE a special study OF them. Another pic
ture That might be grouped with these is
H. Z. Farny's "Toilers of the Palms.
canvas that received honorable mention al
the Paris Salon.
title Of "A Cloisonne Jar but to the av-
erage visitor it would be the more common
place title, "A Study in Brown" 1t is the
figure of a girl sitting in chair and ex-
aiming a small jar of the famous ware.
The chair is brown, the dress is brown and
the fur with which it is trimmed is only
another shade of the same color Her hair
is brown and even the wall behind has the
artist in the graceful contours of her figure
and beauty of the rarest type. The artist
is Caroline D. Wade, of Chicago, and by
her skill she has given each of the different
articles, in wood, cloth, fur hangings and
the hair Its. peculiar quality Soft fluffy
curls at the back of the neck and falling
loosely over the temples and by the ear
scarce hide the skin, ald the color and tex
ture OF the flesh are artistically represented
The only note Of color is in the blue and
green of the Jar.
G. Heberer, Of st. Louis, mas a little ros
nance in lie Soir. his only picture liz
the collection 1t shows man leaning over
the fence calling to a llaid, $A7o is driving
her COW home at evening. It >ate evening