New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
ART EXHIBITIONS.
THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE-THE 20.
CIETY OF LANDSCAPE PAINTERS
REMBRANDT's ETCHINGs AT
THE GROLrER CLUB.

tweptv-afth anniversary OF the Art s,udsn,.,
! League is interesting for than reason
Many things In the collection have been seen BE-
fore but some OF them are 20 good .hat We are
glad 10 see them again. Then. the list Of more
than five hundred exhibits has. taken Whole
a special meaning. 1T stands not merely for ind-
viduaI achievement for the gifts Of this man or
that but for the policy which has governed the
league as an institution some of the best paint
ings shown are By mature artists who were never
students Of the league and were not even nstruc-
tors everybody represented has IN ore way or
another encouraged helped the league. every
bodv represented has been part OF The general
movement with which the league has been henti-
lied. We viii enter into any discussion OF the
productions on the walls. partly because so many
OF them are old friends and partly because the
main thing is this broad impression TO which we
have alluded of an artistic society maintanils
tain standards OF taste and work one naturally
looks In the collected work of the instructors and
pupils of any artistic institution for particular
styles and formul9. II will be. in the main. aca-
dernic or It will illustrate the IDEAS OF set OF
masters. The leagues exhibition Is IN nosnins
more exhiaratng than In it's diversity The rule
has always been 70 teach sound principles oy pre-
cept and example The same rule mas included an
opportunity for every student TO deve.Jp his own
style II he has hal Thus the show has great
vitality and reflects conventions We SPEAK. OF
course in general terms. There are pictures IN the
collection both by instructors and by pupils which
are OF doubtful value. But there is no dead wood
anywhere. The number Of names in the catalogue
reminds us many of our best and most prom
Using artists have taught studied at the league.
and the exhibits themselves clearly snow that
progressive ideas have been cultivated oy instTuc-
tors and students alike. The league turns lis
twenty-ifth year with valuable work done and
rich future before il.
The twelve members Of the Society OF Landscape
Painters make their second annual appearance al
ths American Art Galleries. Each man sends SIX
or eight finished paintings. and about as many
water colors or studies. The result IS not in
posing as one might wish. Many Of the landscapes
seem to have been sent in order TO eke
group because of great intrinsic merit
Sometimes. indeed. the proportion OF good work 20
unnteresting in the case of single exhibitor -
lamentably small. and the observer catches him
self fegretting that the twelve did not conne them
selves TO smaller show. with perhaps but
picture and one study from each painter. Ger
tainy. if the present exhibition : 10 oe enjoyed, u
only by selecting Il small number OF landscapes
from the extended procession Thus. We would Ike
10 see Mr.. Bogart's 'Fosgy Day the Mas
with It's excelently rendered atmospheric Obscur1-
ties. and his delicate marine Evening separated
from their immediate companions, which are far
performances. but not good as the two paintings
to which refer. II would be pleasant TO see Mr.
Cofin's Shutdown" with its spacious sky by
itself. perhaps accompanied by the well lighted
Sumner Day and with Mr.. Cranes French
Village charming piece of work. We would be
content. leaving his other finished examples tol-
cradle but particularly engaging. There IS
vigor and there is breezy movement in the Clouds
West Wind" of Mr. c. II. Davis. along with
rather crude color. and there is sentiment OF a
gracious sort In the November Twilight" Ony
of tire FIVE landscapes by Mr.. kesI. "A Fisher
mans Hut, SnlnnecorA Eay,' has any great beauty:
that is fresh and clear. animated air study.
From MIR. Chords group We would choose the
small ''NeH-EEgland Landscape: from Mr. Muir
phys the Landscape lent by Slf Hearn. d paint
ing notable for breadth. aad BY virtue OF that fact
causing of the artists other pictures to LOOK
little thinner than they really 1t would
rfyr- ba IL Nv sat,i-i.
the vein exploited in this painting, for.
The Blackberry Lot Evening and "tIill and
Field" all show. the tenderness which makes them
worth while is also somewhat enervaJing- The
successful work he shows is the In
which he has had the courage refrain from
filming much Mr.. Miners best is in the
elegiac Moonlight" though there several other
night studies OF nearly the merit. Mr.. OCht-
man. TOO, Is in his happiest mood when he IS
painting motives Ike those The Sound
Night" Moonlight the Sound His big
canvas with trees in bloom. In the Month os
May" is capably painted in parts. the design
where the rolling land is stfiy handled Mr. Wal
ter Clark, Mr. Walter L. Palmer and Mir Carleton
Virgins send nothing that provokes particular
comment though grateful Them 70
all the other members. for the bright informal
aspect of the walls which studies are hung.
The enterprise of the society in holding annual
exhibition is commendabe. But II may be sur
missed that the show next year would be twice
interesting If it TO consist of not more than
thirty forty paintings the The artists
would appear to better advantage. and the public
would complain. At least, the experiment Is
worth trying.
An exhibition of Rembrandt.s etchings is acces-
sible at the Grolier Club to those who will ask
members for cards or make personal application at
the clubhouse The catalogue runs to Isl NUM-
bers but many OF the plates entered under a single
number shown in several states The coIlec-
tion is a brilliant one. and for the purposes of the
art student perhaps the most satisfactory ever
shown in New-York. 1t is arranged pre-
sent fully. but without overcrowding. the main
lines OF Rembrandts history as an etcher His por-
traits of himself first encountered and tAess
followed by groups embracing his studies OF
religious and NEUROLOGICAL themes his genre COM
positions. his etchings from the nude his land
scapes and his miscellaneous portraits The coIlec-
tion abounds in rare and beautiful Impressions II
is arranged with such admirable system and such
good catalogue has been provided for the occasion
that the student here observe Rembrandt the
etcher at full length and at his best The exhibition
lasts until May 90 1t be visited daily from 10
a. m. p. m.
plating the creation OF annual prize to be
awarded by the Society OF American Artists for the
best oil painting by a resident American artist
There is TO be no limitation as 10 sex age or sub
ject matter. except that portraits viii be excluded.
The amount of the prize Will probably De 500
Paul Jean Clays the marine painter who recent
y died in Belgium. for a long tirne one os the
artists whose work was indispensable 70 any
collection being formed in this country Latterly
his vogue had been diminished TO some extent HIS
average work was not particularly inspiriting
Now and then he painted a remarkably beautiful
picture. He left number OF paintings finished
"a pfptSh -