The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-25
THE EVANS COLLECTION

The exhibition OF pictures comprising the
celebrated William T. Evans collection OF
paintings by American artists begins this
morning at tho galleries OF the American Art
Association. q East Twenty.third street. The
galleries will be open day and evening until
the first day Of the sale inclusive. which Is 10
be at Chickering Hall. on Wednesday evening.
Jan. 81. Next Sunday tho exhibition will DO
open In the afternoon. There are 27O pic
lures. Of which about q score are water colors.
exclusive OF the pictures In this medium by
Mr.. Church. and the whole suite OF five CALLER
les IL occupied. The walls are not crowded.
and there are but two rows OF pictures. with
some little space between them. The hanging
has been extremely well done. each room pre-
sents a harmonious appearance and the top
most gallery tEl has not been made a recepta-
Gle for everything that would not Mt In in the
other rooms. but contains many Of tho
best works and shows a fine average OF
merit and interest. Two catalogues have
been prepared. with text Identical In
each. Both contain a sympathetic intro
duction by Charles de Kay. the WE'LL
known writer on art. biographies Of the paint
ers represented in the collection and descrip.
lions ofthe pictures. This catalogue ~raisonne
Is published in handbook form and in an
edition de lu xe illustrated with thirty-hye ex-
cellent photographers OF some Of the principal
works in the collection. Both books are hand
somely got up. with printing In black and red.
and tasteful covers adorned with the collectors
monogram.
Among the visitors to the exhibition there
will be many who know that Mr.. Evans's col.
lection 10 q very fine one and that he has been
years In making II. and have seen o mum Der OF
his most important pieces In club and public
exhibitions. Many others there will be who
have seen the pictures In their owners house
In his gallery. music room. ~parlors. dining
room. halls and stairways. but none. 1t
Is safe to say. will be quite prepared for the
splendid array made BY the collection
a. II Is now seen. While we may regret
that some pictures which are on the second
row are not on the line, and In the most PROM
inent places on the line at that, because they
are such good pictures and deserve everything
that can be done to display them to tho great.
est advantage, we know that the only way to
have placed them there would have been to
remove other pictures which seem equally de.
serving and important. 1t is quite possible TO
see everv canvas very we'll, however. and 10
will not be out Of place to caution the visitor
against studying only those on the lower
row.. Some OF the best things In the exhi-
billion are over them. As for visitors
who are educated in art. but do not know the
collection as a whole or In part, they have a
rare treat In store. They will find on the walls
some Of the most celebrated pictures. both In
landscape and figure. that the American
school has 10 show. and they will see many
more that have gone directly from the studios
10 Mr.. Evans's house. or that have been seen
once, PERHAPS. in some one OF the annual ex-
hibitions and been almost forgotten ever
since. They will see. also. q consider
able mum Der Of pictures by artists who
rarely exhibit publicly. II at all. and
they will find all these 40 admirably
placed. SO intelliRently balanced In groups. with
various masterworks as centres OF panels. and
disposed 40 that none may hurt Its neighbor.
that they cannot fail to be deeply impressed by
the splendid showing here made by our native
painters. The casual visitor. finally. he or
she. who goes 10 the exhibition TO satisfy Gu
riosity as 10 h sort OF an exhibition a super
l~atively good exhibition Of American pictures
Is like. will, we hope. not bs disappointed. II
such bs the case, then let that visitor humbly
resolve to try 20 find out what art Is good and
why It ia good. and return to the galleries with
a com petent guide. No better opportunity for
Improvement. let 1t he said. Is likely to occur
soon again, Just as this is a rare occasion for
enjoyment for those whose lessons have been
learned and now rejoice. As a last word in
these general remarks may he added the wish
that the exhibition IA II stands might betrans-
ferred TO Paris. so that the Old World might see
what our artists at home have done and can
do. for there. where cultivation In the arts is
more widespread than with US. there can be
no doubt that this collection would provoke
great enthusiasm. and a verdict would be given
that every provincial-minded soul In this
metropolis would respect.
The acknowledged masters frstl There are
seventeen landscapes by George Inness. eight
by Homer Martin and thirteen by WANT. The
representation Of each is full and complete and
notably so for the last two. Four or Ave OF the
Martins belong 10 his very highest class. and
nothing like the splendid array OF Wyants has
aver been seen before. The Illnesses include
such masterpieces as Georgia Pines, winter
Morning. Montclair." Nine O'clock" Mont.
clair by Moonlight" and the large landscape
with cattle. "A summer Morning" The
works OF these three painters are scattered
through three Of the Ave galleries. and there ia
no way 10 review them so satisfactorily as to
take them as they come. This is true. also. OF
az NC t'S'uloH' NN''l' 'hh bhicly ~ upStilEs,
is entirely hung with the twsnty-ons pictures
by +. 4. Church. n. A. and gallery adjoining
1t contains nothing but figure subjects. We
may begin then with the large square gallery
A on the first floor.
GALLERY A.
on the east side OF this room. In the centre OF
the line, hangs Homer Martins A Old Church
In Normandy" No. 287. The moss.covered
church is In the right centre Of the compo-
sition there Is a pool OF water In the fore
ground. and on the left are a cottage and n
road. With these simple elements and q sky
OF warm white clouds with patches Of blue tho
artist has made a picture OF supreme beauty
and majestic yet winning aspect. II Ia
wonderfully fine In tone and certainly sur
passed as a work OF art by none OF his
creations. To the left OF this picture. on the
second row. is another Homer Martin. "A Nor.
mandy Farm" No. 218, smaller than the pre-.
ceding, but somewhat similar in general char
acter. II is considerably lighter In tone and Is a
picture with delightful pastoral feeling.
Among the other Homer Martins In the col
lection will he found pictures possessing
power and attractive force. but there are none
more beautiful than these two. nor did he
paint any more beautiful. Over the "Old
Church in Normandy" Is The Reflection" No.
Az by Eenlamin II Fitz. It il the fnest work