The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-07

rug. To part with IL is to lose one of
the deepest treasures life holds. It has
an inexpressible charm, one not to be
defined, and nothing touches the feelings
more closely If one has sensitiyeness
and is responsive to color and tone. The
clear, matter of fact painting however
, great, may command ones respect for
its skillful rendering and truth, but
such picture can never fascinate one
! and become necessary to his happiness
as that painting does which is notable
for tonal qualities
The day was most favorable to brook
| browsings, for the sun sifted through
soft grey sky, with not sufficient strength
to cast shadow, and the air was very
mild. II is on such days as these that the
| local colors and values are so true They
possess much of the sweetness of tone
characteristic of the twilight hour. with
out the depth of shadow and low key which
i belongs to evening effects. The water fall
| ing IN cascades over these Drown and wet
rocks, forms pools of great clearness. In
which now and then one may see a
'speckled beauty" dart ike an arrow. The
| moss that covers the great branching roots
OF trees, decaying logs, and the rocks also.
retain much of the tender, veIvety. spring
freshness OF green but In many places this
moss is mellowed by frosts and dry weather
to every shade OF olive and purple brown
Above tie moss. here and there, in grace
ful sprays. clusters OF delicate ferns stand
out against the dark background, pallid,
creamy white and In pale yellows. They
are but delicate ghosts of their former
selves. The great art of painting these
woody depths is to lose sight of indi-
vidual trees, rocks, ferns, and moss. and
concentrate the attention on the impress
sion OF the whole.
r. NJ Shurtleff is one Of the first IN
comprehend this, and he has for that rea-
son painted wood interiors better than any,
one else. His knowledge of nature is most
complete. and his color sense extremely
fine. It seems to me there can be no better
test OF mans work than when one is in
the presence OF nature OF the kind OF which
his pictures are composed to feel how
strongly reminiscent OF the artist nature
is Shurtlef has done this aspect of nature
SO well that II viii be very difficult for
the coming painter OF wood interiors to
find new message there
William Bliss Baker. who died some
years ago, was also very skillful In this
branch Of art. There was greater dehui-
tion to his work, and It was therefore.
less poetic than that of Shurfleff.
Un discussing artists in n national way
it may be presumed that when painters
residence is not named he belongs TO
New York;
George Hetzei, of Pittsburg, sent to the
New York exhibitions some wood interiors
of extraordinary truth and simplicity.
They were in the green, grey tones com
mon to forests in summer / have not
seen his work in late years, but he made
a distinct impression with the truthful
and original things mentioned. These
three men are the most conspicuous
American painters OF woods. Their point
of view was remote from the conventional
and formal interpretations of Cole, Du-
rand, and Fitch, for these later men
painted, not collection of trees, as their
elders did, but painted woods.
JAMES HENRY MOS Err.