New-York tribune., 1901-01-05
ART EXHIBITIONS
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN.


just stops short of three hundred numbers. which
means that the galleries are not crowded The
Hanging Committee has done its work we'll having
been spurred to great effort. perhaps. by the gen.
eral excellence OF the material at its disposal The
show testiies 20 the virtue of catholici,y Ola
prejudices have apparently been shelved The ar,
OF some OF the most conservative members OF IN.
institution is duly honored. but space is freely
given also TO painters of all tastes and associa-
tons. As result. the walls have a variety Of as
pect which is alone a OF pleasure TO the
observer. That there is also somsthins more sofia
than mere variety appeal TO the latter is shown
by the fact that no fewer than six pictures have
been found worthy of prizes The frequent visitor
20 art galleries scarcely needs to be reminded that
prize pictures often fail to justify their claims 10
the distinctions they receive
The first Halisarten prize goes TO winter
Evening. by Mr. w. E. Schofield. which is ad-
nrabe in the skilful treatment OF values which IT
Illustrates and is further to be commended for its
fidelity to the spirit of scene in nature difficult
TO represent with truth. The picture is not beautI
ful-the color scheme is too monotonous for that
but it is thoroughly well done. In the case OF
Miss MeChesney's portrait of man. entitled "a
Good Story, on which the second Hallsarten prizs
has been bestowed. there is disappointing de-
tail. the dark tones below the head are almost
opaque. but the face and head are good that We
can forgive the defect elsewhere Altogether this
painting marks step ahead the part OF Miss
McChesney To a cattle piece by Miss Matilda
Browne "Repose" the third HaIIgarten prize ha,
been awarded IL Is sound In design drawing and
atmospheric effect. though triae cold in color.
The Thomas B. Clarke prize passes TO Mr.. w f.
Kline for ''The Flight into Egypt" an oblons
panel possessing remarkable dignity as a compo-
sition- true feeling for what might be called
scenic landscape is disclosed in this work the land
scape that while beautiful IN itself is chiefly az
Importance as a background for figures. Mr. Kline
strikes the right note and it win be interesting 70
see what he does in the future. The Inness gold
Of he
painter by his son. for the hest landscape in ths
exhibition, has fallen to THE Years wane" bv
Mr.. Bruce Crane. The choice could not well be dis
puted. for there is abundant merit in this work.
both respects the delicate handling OF tree forms
and the subtle reproduction of a chill atmosphere
The double portrait by Letitia B. Hart and Mary r.
Hart, which has gained the Norman W. Dodge
prize, is far better piece OF work than We have
hitherto been justified in expecting from their
hands. Incertitude stiIl marks their craft. The
color needs publication II needs force; the text
ures show touch which still wants authority
On the other hand the heads are vigorously mod
elled. and the canvas has. in the main, a certain
vitality certain character. which it Is agreeable
TO praise
The point most conspicuous after the interesting
quality of the group OF prize pictures increase
in the number Of attractive figure pieces Again
and again in the past the Academy has had TO rely
chiefly upon it's landscapes. These make them
selves felt this year-in fact the outdoor work is
constantly inviting to pause Mr.. GroIFs
Glimpse of the Village an eIegiac painting OF
peculiarly penetrating charm; Mr.. Redield's clever
river Mr.. Calisas exquisite Field OF Pop
pies: Mr.. Van Laer's broadly painted Connects
cut Hillside" are the first few pictures which
70 the mind in this field out Of a long and
uniformly delightful list But Of this sort is
nearly always certain to be encountered in the big
winter exhibitions IL is not common to meet
figure studies like Mr.. Barse's End Of the Day.
his other panel. "A Question" In both Of these
there is a dryness Of line which could well
spare but there are too. elements distinctly ad-
mirable This artist may want distinction of style
and beauty of color. but at least he is competent
within it's limits, at least he leaves the impress
sion of painting that serious energetic work
manlike. There is painting like this in the
show, not always quite so facile. deft, but a
sufficiently high plane. nevertheless We may
cite Mr. Potthast's Wood Nymph." a capital
example of graceful draughtsmanship. or Mr.. Du
Mond's ''Mending the Net" which snaeks shade
too aggressvely OF the mechanical correctness that
Is learned in the schools. but is touched with in
dviduality in It's quiet tones and is. in the long
run. creditable picture. Mr.. Hassau's July
Night" garden scene. with lanterns and a single
figure II less convincing in it's light and air than
his urban sketch. Winter Morning Broadway"
Is one of the striking things here by virtue Of its
general cleverness. bold style and flavor o,
originality cause the figure studies by Miss Juliet
Thompson TO stand out from the crowd. works not
at all brilliant but obviously Of considerable prom
Use: and there is richness of color. besides poetic
feeling In Miss MacOmber's Music composition
embracing three heads Mr.. Hawthorne's Split
ting Fish, big realistic picture Of rough types.
has not much beyond its realism TO recommend Il.
but in this as in Mr.. PerFines Dying Sioux Mr..
De Cost Smiths Defiance" another Indian subject.
and Mr. Nora's 'Sevilana'' the absence of really
notable qualities is overlooked because they have
at any rate address. technical merit. the air Of
more or less ambitious efforts made with more or
less success. Miss Brownseombe's dancing scene.
"Sir Roger de COverley at Carvel Hail." is very
pretty: we wish could say more OF IL. but after
the prettness there Is nothing In the canvas to ex-
cite admiration Mr.. Birney's interior. After the
Hunt" goes in much the same category. IL is well
executed far IL goes, but IL does not go very
far Mr. E. A. Bells "Sun Bath in which a
sunshine has much quality that wish It were
a better picture The woman is well drawn; the
baby is inefectively treated Strong dFaughtsman-
ship and delicate color combine 20 make Mr..
Ishams I'm the Park a work OF Importance In the
show. II is n brilliant portrait Of woman
POrtraiture is less in the ascendant than usual
the varied character OF the exhibition has been
noted-but IL is generously and worthily represent
ed Mr.. vlnton sends a noble portrait Of Mr.. John
Harsen Rhoades. in which simplicity Is carried al
most 20 the point Of badness and yet reveals. on
close scrutiny the subtlest ard finest qualities Ot
portrature Mr. Fowler is at his best In his free.
direct and most sympatheticaly conceived portrait
of MIR. John Reid which has good neighhOr in the
portrait of Mr. Ritschel by MIR. Irving r Wiles.
Mr.. VonnOh's Mrs. NJ. r. Porter" Mr.. Beckwtths
sparkling little portrait Of sirl and the hard
but powerful portrait of Mr. John NJ Bowers BY
Mr. Alfred O. Collins also to be noted. Several
pictures in other provinces detach themselves from
their surroundings through some special attributes
of excellence. MIR. Horatio Walkers large ploushinS
scene. ''The First Gleam." Mr.. Alden Weirs New
England Village and Mr.. John F. Weir's lovely
study of a bowl of roses CNO. 22f. There are
of ScrYlu rOO flXD