The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09

Joseph Jefferson's art belongs to the
highest form of landscape painting If he
were not successful in that there is surely
no petty mincry of nature left in his can
vases to entertain the uneducated public
/ That he is successful, his splendid second
exhibition, containing fifty-fve pictures,
which opens tomorrow at the Fischer Gal
| lery makes manifest to every competent
critic and art-loving connoisseur
1t is no more Mr.. Jefferson's nature to
make colored photographs Of landscape eff
fects than 1t Is the nature Of a bee to fill
hive with hay. This artist knows, too
that any method may be used. That even
dust and dirt or palette scrapings are not
unworthy, II the poetry which only inspired
eyes see, can through such means be
transmitted to passive canvas for the en-
joyment of those who love landscape for
the beauty which is always present there.
The actor-painter's pictures are no mere
portraits Of trees, rocks, and water. The
visitor must not seek such things at the
great jefferson exhibition of landscapes at
the Fischer Gallery. There are plenty of
smaller souls who do that kind of thing to
ones entire satisfaction. Prose Is the pro-
vince of students and mediocrity, poetry
is that higher something which few are
given the power to depict with the graphic
skill and sensitiveness of Mr.. Jefferson in
his happiest moods.
The Jefferson exhibition of last year,
though in a sense tentative, was a great
success. The present much more extern
sive one is sure to far exceed that in pub
lie interest and favor, for it is one Of the
l.
man exhibitions held in this country in
recent years. 1t is decidedly an art event
of the first importance, and one in which
collectors over the entire country are
concerned.
Aside from the warm personal regard
on the part of the public for this actor
painter, there is growing also, as his work
in that field becomes more widely known,
an intelligent and very cordial apprecia-
ton of his paintings as works CT art.
The catalogue OF this notable exhibition
is sumptuous affair-9x12 In size, con-
tanning fifty pages. 1t is beautifully COM
posed and printed on deckel edged draw
ing paper. A photogravure, frontispiece
portrait of the genial actor-paiater is
from one of his most familiar and salts
factory negatives.
Seven half tones of exquisite quality and
paper of especial fneness. the result is
the illustra lions in this catalogue form
little collection of Jefferson.s landscapes
in themselves Of great value for the art
of Jefferson by reason of his forceful man.
ner and mastery over concentration end
values is well adapted to translation into
black and white.
There l., also an interesting pen sketch
OF Mr.. Jefferson at work before his easel
drawn by William P. Bodwell of Boston.
The reproductions Of Mr.. Jeffersons paint
ings in this catalogue are full OF dramat-
&c feeling and sentiment and give one 4
fine idea Of the artistic quality, force, and
pictorial beauty of the artists compost
tions. The arrangement and taste dis
played in the planning Of this handsome
catalogue from the Roberts Press reflects
great creoit on the Fischer Gallery.
1t was my pleasant privilege a year ago
on the occasion of the initial exhibition of
the paintings of Mr.. Joseph Jefferson, TO
review these pictures In this column. The
actOr-pain.er's appreciation OF that esti-
mate and his profound knowledge OF the
painters art is clearly revealed in the fol-
lowing suggestive passages from a letter
received from him at that time: Such
praise is indeed stimulating and makes
me somewhat regret that ] have delayed
for so many years the public display of my
work as an artist. knew that / felt the
strong nervous emotion that is necessary
to produce e'fectual painting, but have
never been sure that 1 made my thoughts
fully manifested.
1T is one thing to have art within yeu
and quite another to bring it to the sur
face. The process with which this in
ward feeling is brought out upon the stage
is quite different from the methods used
to display it on canvas. My long expert
encc in working with dramatic effects has
naturally familiarized me with the art
of holding an audience, but / scarcely
hoped to make others see my pictures
with my eyes,
Before entering upon critical ex-
animation OF these pictures a word
may be said about the unique character
Of the collection. Mr. Jefferson is a dis
tinguished amateur who. in his all round
and varied accomplishments, possesses a
passion for art that is singularly clear
and incisive. His pictures are keenly
alive to that tenderness and beauty of
tone which is so fascinating a quality in
the early English, Dutch, and Rarbizon
each piece of canvas IN this |
possesses poetic quality that |
must always remain an appealing element |
in pictures, sometimes otherwise incom- !
plete. This fact prccludes the possibility |
Of ones getting a Jefferson picture which |
must be cherished alone for the name 1t |
bears, and when time shall have ADDED its
share OF tone and quality these things Will
grow rather more charming than less so.
Easily the masterpiece of the collection, !!
Is large and difficult problem which must
nave made man with less courage trem-
bic. The great King of the Forest" No
81. Is canvas 36 by go inches, lowtoned,
sombre. and rich In color and perfectly
as to mass and line This grand
Did oak with its gnarled limbs is well
irawn and observed with great truth ,
Rough, mysterious and big in treatment,
shorn. as 1t Is. of all littleness, 1t is n
most imposing picture. One might easily
think 1t bit OF Fontainbleau. This
hing ! do not hesitate to say is as fine
every way. drawing. color, tone. and con-
'eption as Rosseau in his best period
and that, by the way. was not the pc
Rod when he labored under the missuid
I'd notion that Ii was artistic to try to
paint every leaf No. the great Rosseaus
ire those suggestive things which are
ull OF color and grandeur and re-
'emble in point of view, and many other
Qualities. this masterpiece of Jefferson.
dr. Francis Wilson is to be congratulated
lpon his coed fortune In securing this
inc picture at private view OF the col
ection accorded this genial brother actor
" Mr.. Fischer at the gallery last week.
In Peaceful Valley" PASTORAL thor
ughly American in charact +. there is a
tote of tenderness which VIII find an
cho in the heart of everyone whose
memory goes back to the old days on the
arm. 1t may be only those summer
lists or 1t may be the real life OF the
eholder. but those days when the dreamy
ate afternoon colorful tones pervade the ,
n he o.