Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-10
WASHINGTON ARTISTS IN NEW YORK
The American Water Color Society.s
Annual Display.
| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star

NEW YORK, February 8, 1900.
The annual exhibition of the American
Water Color Society, which was thrown
open to the public Monday for a period of
TWO weeks, is, as usual, representative of
the best work done during the past year in
tbat medium There are contributions rep
fesentlng almost every part of the country
and this seasons display has an especial
interest to Washngtonans on account of
the part that Washington artists play in
the exhibition. Never before has the ma
ti"lal capital made such a good showine, in
a New York display, and it is interesting
TO note that, both in the number of con-
.i and in the quality of the work
tHey nave sent, Washington goes ahead of
both Boston and Philadelphia, and OF
course. ahead of all the other contributing
cities except New York itself. Then, again,
every artist knows how difticuIt il is fnr
any outside exhibitor to win recognition
from the New York critics. and il is ey-
tremely gratifying to find this year that
washington artists have compelled good
ly share of attention from the press
This seasons exhibit marks new do
pdrture for the A. W. c. S. and while Tho,
hanging of the collection in the large hall
OF the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was dictated
by the necessity of finding a new place for
the exhibition, it is now looked on as the
wisest possible move. This location in a
fashionable hotel has made the display a
Sooi dtdl oi Il society affair and in all
probability will ma terialiy increase The.
sales, though in that direction the society
has always been quite fortunate In order
TO keep within the small space available.
the display has been'cut down to one-half
its usual size, and a number of the pictures
are injured by the frequent appearance of
nvercrowding and also by the artificial
lighting, which is necessary both day and
night.
The award of the VIM. r Evans prize of
500 to &. West Clinedinst for his picture,
entitled Long Ago" is in general received
with only mild approval. though it is the
SORT of picture that wears an honor very
gracefully. 1t successfully eludes criticism
for the reason that it has no glaring faults,
and is painted in an intelligent conscien-
tious way; but it does not show any spark
of genius, and in no sense can it be said to
rise above the commonplace.
Albert E. Sterner's striking decorative
composition of a girl selecting oranges from
a bowl will please a far larger number. and
the panel by Louis Loeb must be ranked
with this in subtlety, beauty and slkiliful
execution. The work of Charles Warren
Eaton, Chlde Hassam, w. L. Lathrop,
Jules Guern and a host of others would
clamor for attention We're we to single out
works for special mention, but the even eX-
ceIence of the display makes that too diff
cult task in limited space.
Among the Washington contributors
James Henry Moser, who is now i; member
of the society, makes the largest exhibit,
his pictures numbering six in all. His "A
lIujl IN the SlOlH Is out ana away the
best of his contributions, and it not only
holds its own among its neighbors, but tells
firely from across the room. An magma
tive study, rather than literal transcript
from nature, it has originality and force
and MIR. Moser has seldom done anything
to equal it in skiliful handling His IN
Virginia" is a strong, simple little study of
sunset sky. and as 1t is. after ALL one of the
surest evidences of appreciation it is worth
mentioning that this water color and one
other thing from Mr.. Moser's brush were
sold at the opening of the exhibition. The
New York Times in a brief survey of he
exhibit, said of his work: Especial notice
is due to James Henry Moser for his six
examples. of which three are in the smaller
room. all simple little landscapes, strong
and rich in color, and full of sentiment and
outdoor feeling tIs
All three of the masterly contributions by
W. Fl. Holmes lose trifie of their subtle
quality through the artificial lighting, and
his little sketch on the Potomac looking to-
ward the city fromla mile or two above
Georgetown, appears to perhaps the hest
advantage. California From an Island in
the Pacific, Is, oi course, more important
work, but it ncannot surpass the small
aquarelle in tenderness and charm
Walter Paris, iliasGsent one of his ..h1iz
zard'' subjectsF not athe large ono showing
view of Pennsylvania avenue hut nne
painted from the back window Of his stuSi,
and giving a glimpse7of mass of roofs and
CT imneys. From a purely artistic stonG
point it is by far the finer of the two, and
The Tribune pays him a very appreciative
tribute, and after commenting on his .'un-
mistakable gift, especially for the treat
ment of atmospheric effects" saws. .His
picture and Mr.. Sterner's Blizzard deserve
to be hung together in place of honor"
ed. as she is one Of the few Washinrton
painters who have contributed regularly to
out -of-town exhibitions for a number Of
wears, and her "a Captain on Mofheean"
is one of the notable pictures of the dis
play Strongly drawn and possessed of a
fine color quality, 1t is work that leaves
little to be desired :. =.
1t is a number OF years since Lorenzo
James Hatch was in Washington, where he
was one of the. .star" engravers in the
bureau of engraving and printing, but he is
doubtless well remembered, and many will
be interested to hear Of his successful work
in the A. W. C-S. display. His eontribu-
tons are not large or Important but thew
are full of artistic feeling and he has re-
ceived favorable mention from the press
critics.