New-York tribune., 1900-11-10
ART EXHIBITIONS
FRENCH PAINTINGS AT THE UNION
LEAGUE CLUB


There a.e some suggestive contrasts to be noted
In the exhibition OF the month at the Trnto
League Club. the first OF a series to extend =
usual, through the winter. Eighteen paint,ng,
have been hung in the pleasant little gaIIarr
They are French. with but two executions -
they have been so arranged that artists curiously
dissimilar face each other. AT end of the cal
lery hangs the Dante and Virgil" of corot .
weak production so far the figures and animals
in the composition concerned, but nnasta-,,,
and beautiful in the landscape 1t Is an uprirbt
panel, with trees rising in a coumnar mas
toward side of the scene. The distant slv 10
filled with mellow light, communicating I,,roi
nous note to the picture, which meIcs into tha
deep, dark green of the foliage II is one or
Corots most stately and solemn LANDSCAPES
austerely refined but lightened by the delicacv
and tenderness of his art 1t is romantic to the
core Opposite hang two canvases by Claude
Monet. one of them a study of a sylvan scene
notable for its sincerity and drectness. Both are
restrained performances, unmarked by the arpi-
trary expedients to which the noted impressionist
has resorted in his most characteristic moments
sometimes with good and sometimes with had
effect In short, il is the saner Monet that we see
in these works. the Monet that not un-
reasonably compare with Corot. The comparison
leaves the later man in sad case. On the one hand
are imagination, poetry and creative genius. On
the other there is a certain forcibIe realism but
there is nothing more. From Corot you get both
truth and beauty; from Monet only truth, and
that not OF the most interesting character. A
good deal of light the whole question of the
comparative values of impressionism and the ira
ditton it has sought to replace is thrown by this
little incident
There are other Barbizon pictures in the show
and there other works in line with those
of Monet. The big Corot has companion IN The
Shepherd small and charming production; there
is an example OF Dupre. 1.-The Ferryman," rich in
cool blues and greens. and the group is completed
by a Diaz, Opening in the Forest of Fontalne-
bleau.'' striking in composition and marked by
great clarity of atmosphere Sisley and Renoir up
hold with Monet the impressionistic standard. the
former being represented by a fairly interesting
"View at Louveciennes." the latter by a scene on
the Riviera. attractive in its sensuous rich
Of color than in its significance land
scape There IS effective treatment of shipping In
Lepine's ''Bassin de Caen" and Boudtn's Near
Vflerranche' leaves an agreeable impression with
its vivacious lighting and dettly managed color.
Apart at once from BarbiZon and from the school
of Monet IS Pu-is de Chavannes. Illustrated in
three poetic compositions. The most important OF
these is The Reaper" design showing the
hooded figure of death lying in wait for half
dozen maidens. some gay and thoughtess. others
grave. The latter nearest to the old man
lying half concealed with his scythe in the grass
and flowers The seriousness IN their faces is per-
haps symbolcaI Of this fact. a foreshadowing Of
the fate of which they themselves vaguely
conscious. In this picture. IN the Shepherds
Song and the Charity there passages OF
turgid color there crudities of drawing. traces
OF faltering deliberately archaic touch in the
handling OF line and form But them all
broods the spirit OF a painter working by instinct
In the grand style; each has the distinction OF a
remarkable individuality IN modern art Puvis de-
Chavannes Is not often represented In American
exhibitions. and these specimens OF him doubly
welcome. Two old masters associated with the
moderns In this show. There is a capital portrait
OF a man by Ferdinand Bol. warm in color and ad-
mirably modelled. and by Sir Joshua Reynolds
there Is an engaging portrait OF Mrs. William
johnson. his sister a comely, round faced lady
wearing robe OF quiet. golden tint and a kind OF
turban. The head and shoulders are in
oval: the background is dark, but fairly transpar-
ent. and throws into effective relief the fresh
nations Of the face