New-York tribune., 1900-01-19
ART EXHIBITIONS.
PICTURES BY THE LATE WILLIAM L.
PICKNELL-

The death of William L. Piclnell was se'i-
Gus loss to American art. He was one VI '
most serious landscape painters, cohscieh''ou''
thoughtful, always studying and always I'M
proving. He worked for many years IN france
and then to America finding consehiai
themes in New-England and the South- 0Oin
fifty OF sixty landscapes by him are now on ex-
hibition at the Fifth Avenue Art galleries.
where they will be sold at auction to-night-
Several of Picknelrs paintngs-and those
among the best he ever dId-bear traces OF the
influence Of a foreign artist 1t is impossioie'
on looking at the "Old Fort. Antibes," the huge
canvas called I'm California" or the 'Midday'
Provence" to avoid rejecting that they proba-
bly, would not have been painted in just that
way If Montenard had not painted similar
themes in a similar manner. Yet TINS may
have been a coincidence as much as anything
else In the bulk of his work PicknelI seemed
always to be working at the commemoration OF
his own impressions In an original way. Even
in one of the three pictures to which we have
just referred, the Midday. Provence" there Is
an accent of individuality the familiar
scheme. 1t is the accent Of the artists firm and
sincere technique. He made no sacrifices to any
modern movement He made no sacrifices to
the graces either, and that accounts for the alb
sence from his work of anything like a lyrical
inspiration. He had limited capacity for the
expression of beauty. The nearest he came to
achieving It, TO Judge from the present exhibit
tion, was when he painted the attractive
"Springtime, Antibes" with it's gracious atmos-
phere, the pretty Apple Blossoms" and the
admirably composed ste. Marguerite (Sur
Mer)," with it's picturesque grove on the left
On most occasions he inpresses by his strength
rather than by tenderness or subtle feeling for
the spirit of landscape.
In his strength he was one of the most in
teresting men in the American school His
method was direct and vigorous For the
delicate "nuance" he had no great taste.
His aim was always to record his subject
in clear bold terms. and though this gave
sometimes a certain coarseness to his textures,
and left occasional crudities in his color which
he might easily have manipulated out Of exist
ence, there is something eXhilarating in the
frankness and rough veracity of his art. II he
missed charm and the haunting note which Is
the highest achievement of the landscape paint
er, he had, at all events a wholesome and some
times very captivating simplicity. His work
has, too, abundant light. The sun shines clearly
and naturally in his canvases. The pictures at
the Fifth Avenue Art Galleries are all good ex-
amples. illustrating in every case his excellence
of composition, his thoroughness, and his skill
in rendering atmospheric effects. The sale is
of Importance to collectors Of American land
scapes.
Last night at the American Art Galleries the
sale of Mr.. Henry Moslers paintings and studio
effects was begun. The concluding session will
be held this afternoon.
At the Keppel Gallery there may be seen an
exhibition of drawings by Mr.. Peter Newell
He Is a pictorial humorist Of the sort that Is
born, not made. His ideas are funny as they
are original, and his style is exactly fitted to
them. 1t is a style without beauty, but not
without cleverness and interest.
The Society of American Artists has issued
circulars for it's twenty-second annual exhibi-
tion which will be held at the Fine Arts Build
ing in West Fffty-seventh-st. Exhibits will be
received Thursday and Friday, March and 8.
Vanishing Day and Press View are set down
for Friday, March %; there will be reception
on the evening of that day; the galleries Will
be opened to the public the next morning, and
the show will close on Saturday, April %. The
usual Webb and Shaw prizes will be awarded.