The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-14

There are at Neerhuff's some interestin
oil paintings. among which are pictures b.
three able academicians 4. f. TAFT, Ar
thur Parton. and Herbert McCord.
TAFT exhibits 4 picture of sheep. 1t /:
the custom among professionals
and critics to smile or say harsh things
when Taits pictures are mentioned and
exclaim: Hudson River" This is heart
less and unjust. While Mr.. Tait's limiia-
tions are apparent. ii is senseless not TO
admit frankly his honesty and fine ability.
This picture of flock Of sheep passing
through bars from one pasture TO another
is the finest possible example one may
hope TO see from this distinguished paint
ers brush.
The writer recalls how the works of this
artist quite thirty years ago. were the
admiration of everybody Americans were
proud of and satisfied with Tait's work.
That he has refused to follow every chang.
of fashion Is surely no crime; fashions in
art are not unlike fashions in clothes.
The adored of one period seems utterl,,
absurd to another and a later one There
is some cause for this. for clothes arc
often designed with so little reason. Arr
AeHAt has maui Elfdi NiiifltS sllltt those
days of simple realism and the tendency
is toward higher. truer and wider vision
but that does not Justify the unreasonins
contempt which is meted out to the old
fashioned realists. the "pre- raphaelites. -
This art of TAFT is good in its way and
deserving of respect for its fidelity and
ruth of a Photographic kind, but still truth
and pleasing.
To a person who likes sheep and enjoys
watching a flock near by this picture must
give pleasure. Some pictures are inter
esting for certain personal interpretations
of the subject which strike the observer
and have small connection with the thing
painted. and this one readily accepts as
The highest art: but why sincere art which
happens to spring from another point OF
view should be treated with such intoler-
anco is not clear. Some day connoisseurs
may be wing with each other for the
possession of these exquisitely finished
pictures of TAFT just as they are at this
uime seeking at high prices pictures OF this
character by the early masters of the
Dutch school,
Parton and McCord.
There are some strong colorful things
shown at the VeerhofT Gallery. They are
The work of Arthur Parton and Herbert
McCord Both gentlemen are members of
painters, held in high esteem there MIR.
McCord knows well as anyone the pos
sibilities of sunset sky. arc in some OF
pictures reaches very high note This
artist delights in a certain brilliancy and
richness of color. which, while often Dor
dering on the theatrical, more often is
realistic, true, and at the same time fuii |
Of tenderness and sentiment.
Arthur Parton. though singularly uneven |
in his work, Is without doubt one of the |
men one calls 10 mind when leading Amer- I
lean landscapists are considered. twenty |
years ago his studies from nature were 50 |
realistic and forceful that the public would l
have nothing else, and thereby hangs 4
tale Mr.. Parton is by taste and tempere-
ment dreamer and a poet.
Some years sgo he broke away from real
lam OF that sturdy sort. ana since then has
been giving US yeritable poems in paint
superb things, at times fine as anything 4
the Rarbizons or anyone else has done
And there Is no deeper reason perhaps for
the excellence of these later things than
the vide and comprehensive knowledge OF
nature gained in the old days, when Parton
said 10 the writer ESQ long ago he will
hardly remember ito: Il can't sell these
compositions. The public will only have
those studies" and pointing to some bits
of brook mountain side. wood and field
all made out of doors which hung about
many OF them still showing big patches Of
untouched canvas, Il have orders to finish
these up; they are the only things I can
sell
Two Of these pictures OF Parton. at
Neerhof's, are notable examples of his
Sork. One represents the edge of forest |
In deep shadow. beyond which rises
brilliant. sunlit sky of wonderful beauty, |
and true 10 the last degree. This picture
has all tine force of Dupre in its handling !
and is subtle as Nyant in its observation .
and delicate gradations This is a grea. |
Landscape, one OF those things which make
the American lauscape school the peer OF
any-old OF modern.
The other Parton canvas portrayE that |
shadowy time when night is approaching
and orange sunlight CLEANS eastward
across the canvas. The motive Is com | !
nonplace and conventional. Some red {
cattle. knce-deop in a marshy bordered .
POOL, catch the sun brilliantly and make
;he color scheme all that one could wish !
The dark mass Of trees on the left and
broad. far-reaching fields are so mystic
fious as to be scarcely definable. The
place counts for so little in such a picture
IL is a poem. One feels that colors and
snass were placed without regard to their
objective character with the one thought !
Of color and harmony. This done. some !,
definition was probably introduced 10 make .
The scene clear without disturbing the
picture. e
There is also here one Of Thomas Mo- I
rams incompatible pictures of The Grand y
Canyon of the Yellowstone" There arr c
two kitten pictures by Dolph. a field he il
practically enjoys alone ia America. and | y
they are credit to American art for. be- c
tides his perfect knowledge of cats. Mr. ! v
iDolph possesses rare technical ability. 0
spring picture. small study by Boil a
ION Jones, n. A., probably made at Shelf | q
ieid, Mass, Possesses that strong local 4
quality which is conspicuous In this dis o
tinguished artists work There are besides Y
some small examples OF work by local a
painters and pictures by the following out Il
of-;own artists Louis Moelier, N A.. Y
William verplank Blrney, William Carer. J,
John Hammer. w. Granville Smith and d
Charles Shreyvogcl, the last named hay- II
Ing been awarded prize at the National | e;
academy exhibition recently opened al the al
Fine Arts Society's galleries in New York | o.
Brief Notes.
The Society OF Washington Artists was
% have opened its gallery TO the members
or the exhibition OF work early this north | \,
There has been some difficulty in the mat
er OF getting together satisfactory col
ection for the opening. The executive COM
nittee. has in consequence postponed the
,pening TO January % 81
The annual exhibition OF the Society NJ III
Washington Artists which IS of course tho Ii.
most important art event OF The season witb be
he local painters will be held at tho dc
Connecticut Avenue galleries of the Society IS
rom March rs 10 April II. Pictures viii q
e received nj the gallery March and 10 ia
sturlay March "a will be vanishing sn
ag and reception and nrivatp view will | Va