The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

| Water Color Society is holding its an
nual exhibition of water colors at the
former National Academy OF Design build
ing. on Twenty-third Street. in New YORK
and 1t was pleasant to the artists to re-
turn to the old home. after the societys
brief experience with one annual at fash
ionable Waldorf Astoria.
The art event. socially. of the year
among the New York artists Is ''the water
color stag" as it is Familiarity called.
This function is a private view" and
Smoker" where artists In New York
| and within days journey meet for
first view of the years work in water
color. and for general interchange of
greetings and good fellowship. There are
many men who live and work much to
| themselves. and whom one never expects
to meet elsewhere. There are, of course,
gatherings at the openings of the other
| exhibitions, but they are more formal
and never marked by the large attend
ance, feasting, and democratic soci-
| ability which eharacteriZes the water
| color stag.
Old men of national reputation Justly
venerated by the younger set unbend and
make merry with the students whose ten
tative work perhaps finds place for the
first time on the walls of the academy.
The stairway in the little Venetian cor
| rider that once seemed the height of
| grandeur, now seems so very small nd
| homely. The corridors that blaze with
gold and polished marble in the great
buildings which have sprung up in the last
| few years in New York are so much more
| magnificent. but this was home" and a
| long sigh of relief escaped me as the
| spirit OF John Howard Payne's great song
| passed through my mind. | reflected sad
ly: TO the artists no longer, but the
property of a great insurance company"
| There will perhaps be a great academy
built some day upon that fine site the
artists have bought for the purpose near
| Grants tomb but that will be the glory
| of the coming generation, not ours. We
| will have to lease from year to year such
available galleries as may be had and re-
main content We can until the new
| academy is built.
| At the head of the stairway. Chill
dren Brown" as the genial president Of
| the Water Color Society Is Familiarity call
ed met all corners with that same cor
dial welcome which for ten years has
| been one of the pleasantest recoilections Of
my annual trips to New York.
Doing business at the old stand?" ]
| said as he grasped my hand
"and doesn't it seem good to be back
here?"
Indeed it does" replied and pissed
| on into the crowd There were hand
shakiHgs and mutual congratulations go
| ing on in all the galleries. Mr.. Eaton the
| secretary OF the society, not less happy
| than the older academicians to be back in
| the old building, hallowed as it is by I'M
| numbered triumpts and the memory OF
| the great departed whose names have
| shed a lustre on American art-Morse, Du-
| rand Cole, Page. Church, Inness, Wyant,
| Martin, clifford Bellows, Kennett. McEn-
| tee. Hart, Hovenden, Thompson, Quartley,
| Sontag. and many others.
But the atmosphere was radiant with
good cheer and deep satisfaction over the
splendid showing of water colors which
| were here displayed to the credit OF the
| frs. exhibition of the new century.
| Among the artists present we're President
| J. G. Brown, Secretary c. II. Eaton, Thomas
Moran C. W. Maynard. ]. Francis Murphy,
| c. Morgan McElheney, Arthur Parton.
| Leonard Ochtman. Edward H. Pothast,
| winner of the Evans Prize" Henry Far
rer. William T. Smedley, Childe Hassam,
George H. Smile. Z. l.. Henry, Albert
| Sterner j. Wells Champney. Frank Rus
| sell Green, George II. McCord, l.. S. Earle,
and Harry Fem, one of the pioneers
whose scholarly and artistic work is still
!
| Mr.. Warner and myself were the only
resident Washington artist exhibitors
present though 1t was good to see Mr..
| Mann and Mr. Viele there, who for so
| long lived in Washington and were active
| ly Interested in the local art affairs OF
our town. but both are now permanently
| settled in New York.
The latter gentleman. by the way, is
| neglecting the brush for the pen, and
| A. U{ata has haep unite successful with
his recently published novel, The lin OF
| the Silver Moon. Mr.. Holmes. President
| of the Washington Water Color Club. Mr..
| Paris. and Mr. Nichols, all prominent eN-
| hibitors here were unable TO be present
at 1.-The stag" Mr.. Holmes inimita6ie
work stands brilliantly alone. His Spring
| on the Susqueha ma" that wonderful Ep-
ME orchard in full bloom. shown at the
Hemicycle gallery in December, Is mere.
This picture is placed on the line in the
south gallery, next a splendid painting by
+. S Church, entitled "Flamansos. me
contrast of method is complete. The
Church picture is entirely In Opaque wa
ter color after the manner OF OIL, Wo'ie
the Holmes picture is rare example OF
this artists personal and peculiar tech-
nique.
Nowhere in the show is there anything
resembling the four pictures sent by
Holmes, and the artists readily concede
his mastership in this particular direction.
In the west gallery is his fine Sketch
in the Field" which, with two smaller
pictures make up his attractive EXHIBIT.
| Mr. Paris shows a sunset effect IN the
| Virginia mountains which possesses hne
artistic quality and which was praised in
unmeasured terms in this column when II
was exhibited a year ago at the Connecti-
cut Avenue galleries.
In the corridor. on the line, hangs an
other choice picture by Sr. Paris-a little
| tina cned brick cottage, near southampton
| The cottage is rendered with exquisite
truth and delicacy, and Is hne IN Color
1t is highly suggestive Of those Aiiihgham
| studies one sees so rarely ana rehem-
| bers so long.
On the line in the west gallery hangs
| that bit of rocky. wind swept cliff, by
| Mr. Everett Warner. which was so con-
splcuous 10 the December exhibition OF the
| Water Color Club. held at the Hemicycie
| gallery This, with 4 tiny winter DIT,
| moonrise at sunset, tender and skllitul,
made up his small but very choice cNh!pf.
Mr. Hobart Nichols sends but enc eX-
| ample of his work. which Is conspicuous
| as one OF the more thoughtful ana fehheo
| important pictures in the north gallery
| The subject and method are b' simple.
the surface being grey paper "hich is
| made properly TO play its pa coior
scheme of great delicacy.
"Evening-Freneh Coast l. itie
| The scene is quiet. SAND On
| which rests big black boat 'lde.
| A fisher girl in white cap ess
occupies the foreground, up
of figures is suggested J
boats in the middle aista