New-York tribune., 1900-11-25
ENGLISH ART.
SMALL ACADEMY-THE ENGLISH ART
GLIB CATHEDRAL DRAWINGS
PORTRAITS AND MINIATURES.
London, November IA.

THE veterans Of the Academy ana the dream
.rs and impressonists of the New English Art
cIub are simultaneously on exhibition either
side of Piccadilly. The veterans command the
first attention. because the examples of their
work displayed at the Agnew Galleries are of
average merit whereas the new men are less
veuturesome and less interesting than usual at
the Dudley Gallery. Among the thirty nine new
works painted on commission specially for the
Agnews perhaps the most satisfactory is MI
George Clausen's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS." because II
represents the artists highest level. The theme
is simple, the dignity of labor and it is treated
with quiet realism and poetic feeling. A sinewy
laborer is digging potatoes. while a young girl
stands near with a sack. resting from work and
gIancing drearily at the gray sky. 1t is a
sombre picture. with the pathos OF toll toned
ly the indefnable sadness Of a dull gray even
ing Not only is a difficult problem of light
solved but Nature is also brought into close
relations Of sympathy with the lot Of the two
farm laborers.
Mr.. E. A. Waterlow has beautiful When
Dav Is Done" with fine treatment of failing
light and Mr.. Alfred East has one Of his sym
pathetic autumnal studies of The Valley or the
Somme" Mr.. Leader Mr.. Colin Hunter ana
Mr.. David Murray have average work. and Mr'
Peter Graham and Mr.. MacWh hlrter are d h''te
below their usual level.
Mr. Sargent DISPLAYS his versatility by exhibit
ing remarkably fine example Of sculpture
a bronze crucifix of unique design. The Christ
is an emaciated figure, partly concealed ny
straight folds Of heavy drapery. TWO hgures
kneel one on either side; man on the right
with face upraised: woman on the left with
drooping head; each holds a chalice beneath the
pierced hands to catch the sacrifcial blood. Mr..
Sargent also shows sketch Of AN Italian
Sailor" strong but unpleasant, and almost too
bou dc had modelled.
with the rope instead Of gripping 1t. Sir Lau-
renee Alma Tadema has fair example Of his
art in Vain Courtship," with maiden turning
her face from her eager lover and looking out
Of the window. The draperies and wooden moor
are well painted. and there is harmony of color,
and the artist is at his best in the long spikes Of
flowers high in the window. Mr. Abbey displays
his characteristic love of red in Fair Is My
Love" but while the coloring and drawing are
excellent, the story is less interesting than his
illustrations in oil are apt to be. Mr.. Orchard
son in Parting Of the Ways has q trivial
story for a good costume study. Mr.. Brlton
Rivere has fine picture of collie; Mr. Napier
Henry in Grabs and Crayf1sh" exhibits sea
scene full of movement. with good water paint
ing; Mr. Shannon has a group of girls heads
too rosy and happy to be called Sirens; Mr..
Waterhouse has beautiful face in The Lady
Clare" and Sir Edward Poynter. Mr.. G. H.
Swan show characteristic work
WORKS OF THE YOUNGER MEN.
There are few surprises al the New English
Art Club where the young artists instead OF
dreaming dreams, they usually do, seem TO
have been sound asleep. The most striking
NoTE- at--the-- Dudley Gallery is Mr. Charles
-Furse's equestrian portrait of Lord Roberts. 1t
is only sketch. but 1t has fire. movement. no
bility Of treatment and distinction of style. The
likeness is good. the Arabian horse is we'll paint
ed and the sketch has marked individuality.
SIR. David Muirhead has a powerful work in
the manner of Constable, with gray wooden
footbridge overhung by a stormcloud ageam
with a rainbow. Mr.. Russell shows a realistic
duck pond full Of movement and color. and
there a dozen excellent landscapes. The
figure pieces less striking, among the best
being two we'll drawn studies of nude figures
under the fantastic and inappropriate titles
The Bride and The Bridesmaids" Mr..
Brabazon has several charming notes of color,
and Mr.. Francis Z. James some beautiful
amples Of flower painting. The exhibition as a
whole is disappointing; the impressionist work
is crude; the portraits defective in technique
and there are few CLEANS of real creative power.
At the Modern Gallery there is evidence of the
rise OF a painter Of architecture of high quality
ard genuine poetic feeling. Mr.. Herbert ].
Finn exhibits a collection of fortynine water
color drawings. mainly of English cathedrals.
Among these the best are the sketches of Lin
coin, Ely and Canterbury. Mr.. Finn has
marked individuality of style He lacks the
mellowness of tone and exquisite draughtsman-
ship of Samuel Prout, the best of all craftsmen
IN this line work and his technique is inferior
in clearness and precision to that of Mr.. Fulley-
love; but his drawings are characterized by true
11rira, IIa
paints like an artist who knows and cares little
about the science OF architecture The glamour
of antiquity. the subtle effects of light and
shadow and color in time glorifed temples. fill
his soul with reverence and awe. He does not
like TO paint a cathedral in the full glare Of
monday, but prefers the half lights OF early
morning and twilight when the coloring is soft
ened and refined: and, best of all. he loves to
look at the great towers of Lincoln through a
Veil of mist and smoke. The closest approach
which he makes to full daylight in these large
drawings Is the morning view OF Canterbury
Cathedral under a deep blue sky, the towers
having the tones Of ivory. There is a lovely
early morning glimpse of Lincoln outside the
minister yard. Two of the towers are gilded a
pale yellow 10y the faint sunlight, while the third
is gray, grim and austere The quaint buildings
in the foreground revealed in clearness Of
coloring and picturesqueness of detail. and the
whole work is subtle study of the most deli
cate and difficult problem Of half lights.
Mr.. Finn has four other large drawings Of
Lincoln. which without doubt is the grandest Of
English cathedrals One is view of the ma
iestic towers roof lines. red tiles and smoke
drift: another is a similar outlook from the
Deans garden. and a third is a closer view Of
the magnificent central tower There many
sketches Of Ely. the best being a large draw