The Washington times., 1901-11-03
MRS. BARNEY's PAINTINGS.
A Notable Display This Week AT the
Corcoran Gallery.

A collection of fifty or more pictures
in pastel and oil, the work OF Mrs a =
Barney. will be on view in the Hemicycie
of the Corcoran Art Gallery throughout
the week, beginning November 4. While
much of the work of this talented ana
versatile lady has been exhibited at the
Academy in London, and at the fafls
Salon, this is the first opportunity vouch-
safed Americans to judge of its merits
without leaving their native land.
Mrs. Barney herself struck the Keynote
OF this display the other day when she
casually remarked in the course of Il
conversation on Things artistic that she
preferred strength to mere prettiness
and sweetness" Admirers of the pret-
tv-pretty, the 'sweetly charming, ana
the superficially-clevCr who look lor
these things here will meet with disap-
pCintment Thought was used in the
making OF these pictures. Each Is the
offspring of, and is dominated by deh-
mite and often poetic idea, and thought
is necessary to their proper appreciation.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature
Of the collection, and one which Will Ger
tainly be the first to appeal to many vis-
itors, is the diversity displayed in the
choice Of subjects and the method OF
room without the aid of a catalogue or
previous knowledge of the identity of
the artist he might be pardoned for mis-
taking the work to be that OF seNera
painters.
ParadoxicaI as it may sound. this SEEM
ing worship Of many and janglins gods
is, in a true artist. the result of single
ness of purpose. The artist who, con-
sciousIy or not. possesses a native in
sight into those moods of the soul when
are the springs of human action Will
find d fit and individual expression Tor
each. Differentiation in the manner OF
handling themes is an indication OF
growth, and the too frequent repetition
Of a recognized successful stroke tends
10 clog the brush with that deadly
satisfaction which foreruns par
esis. 1t is the evident refusal to be
contentcd with results already achieved.
the outroaching after something better
and the exploration Of many ROADS mani
fest in the pictures under consideration.
that lend to them their chief interest
1t is not too much 10 say that Mrs
Barney mas a measure of true artlsuc IN
sight, and that her work is rich IN
promise s
without doubt many who view the dis
play will complain of numerous instances
of exaggerated effects. But there Will be
few unwilling to admit that the effects
desired have been procured with appar-
cnt ease.
While none of the work can with Jus
tice or proprety be called initiative yet
the influence of different masters can be
recognized. Several of the studies are
highly reminiscent of Whistler. Numbers
and 6, the "Gamin d1talie' aud The
Spanish Woman respectively Two 9l
the most finished pictures in .he eNhibi-
ton are painted in the spirit and manner
Of NelasdueZ
In considering the pictures they natur-
ally fall into several groups thuSt which me-,
are merely portraits. and those which en-
body the UOctical, the inysucti, OF th'
symbOliCal In the former class those
which viii likely receive the greatest He-
gree of attention from the general pup,
lie are the three portraits OF Howard
Hlnkle. Albert clifford Barney ana Johh
Livingstone. These three pastels are
drawn with a straightforward dlrecthesS
that leaves nothing to suggestion, ana ar
in marked contrast to the more iihpIts-
sonistig york ~
One of the best examples OF the latt i
quality is found in No l3, The spirit Oh
Music" The coloring is quiet ana mar
mOnous, the attitude Of the hSure thdt
bends aoove the harp is that OF one ioS'
in languorous dream, ana the atih"s
phere is paipitant with the Dreath VI
poetry. -...
Differing widely from this in treatment