The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-11
Notable Pictures
al Pdn.HmeriCan

THERE are some people who like to
read about bull fights. There are
n few others who are interested
In Art with q big A. Let me see, did
not large representation of Scran-
ton society have such a violent attack
| OF aestheticism that II cost them any
where from Sc to sl2 for subscriptions
to bogus art work? For the people
who yearn for Art. these dissertations
are sandwiched in between bull fights
| and Midway diversions. This is Art
Day and those who want to read about
| the Oriental dancers in Fair Japan
may skip 1t.
| ! forgot to mention yesterday that
| some very respectable people go to the
| bull fight, but they aren't as anxious
| to tell about IL when they come home
as they are to assure you that they
went through the Art gallery. At
| least three Methodists were there. four
clergymeD of certain denomination
and two ladies in the garb Of some or
der, besides several hundred other
folks.
Gallery in the Art gallery contains
| several masterpieces and n number Of
| noted collections One of the first of
the latter Is q group of Elihu Vedder's
weird pictures. We are familiar with
the cover of the Century with its
profiles swept by wind blown hair.
Some will recall that queer compost
ton, THE Lair OF the Serpent" at
the Worlds fair. These creations are
still more uncanny and haunting.
There is The Enemy Sowing Tares."
The crouching horrible figure, with its
sinuous movement close to the ground.
the face half hidden. yet wholly evil
and hard, the stealthy hand with the
down dropping seeds you are not
likely to forget. particularly when a
closer study reveals the fact that the
wicked task is begun close to the
Cross, the dsmantled. fearsome Cross
on Calvary, and as the conception of
the artist slowly Is revealed you are
smtten with awe and grudging admi-
ration for such genius that could per-
petuate an idea in an effect so repul-
sive and yet so fascinating,
O.
The Sphinx on the Sea Shore" IL
an unlovely yet strong Interpretation
of a morbid thought. THE Keeper of
the Threshold" is inscrutable. weird
lighted taper and the dark mystery In
its eyes. The "Cumaean Sibyl' is an
other powerful picture painted in the
same dark tones.
o
In great contrast to these sombre,
tragic subjects is a bright and lovely
little gem, almost minia ture-like in its
delicacy of treatment, by Frederick
Ballard Williams. 1t is called "A
Woodland Glade" and is one Of sever
al exquisite bits of painting by this
New York artist who has caught some
thing that Diaz had, something that
you see in a Claude Lorraine from the
other side of the sea, and yet which
has much of his own deep and impera-
tive originality.
The Whistler pictures are in this
room. seven of them, lovely in color.
strongly individual in conception.
They are chiefly landscapes and mar
ines. One. The Music Room" will be
held in memory when many pictures
of other artists fade. You must go to
Section o, among the drawings, for
much of his work.
Kenyon Cox has characteristic
canvas, Poetry and Painting" Mr.
Coke also exhibits many drawings in
Gallery O.
One of the most charming things in
the c Gallery is a panel by Mrs. Mac
Monnies, wife of the sculptor who de-
signed the famous sea horses in the
Court of Honor at Chicago. The panel
is a sort of blue and silver study
called The Breeze" 1t is a female
figure on a curiously wrought back
ground, like bit of Oriental tapestry.
the draperies intricately beautiful and
the pose infinitely charming.
Anna Lea Merritt, the Philadelphia
artist, whose garden story in the July
Century is so fascinating, has
Piping Shepherd" which is a delight
full creations a little child, with his
back toward you, and with sheep in
the distance.
Robert HenN's figure pictures and
Alexander Harrisons big canvases
fill much of one side os the ROOM lie
Crepuscule," a marine in the twilight,
as the name indicates. is one of the
most conspicuous paintings in the
whole gallery. 1t is loaned by the St.
Louis Museum of Fine Arts.
Frank Penfold has a number of
strong pictures hung, while in this
room are the famous works OF John
w. Alexander, whose peculiar method
always attracts so much attention,
the mosaic sort of technique. the
Rembrandt shadows and the wonder
fully smooth effect. THE Child with
DOLL is one of these, while "Au-
tumn' received a gold medal at Paris
last year.
, To my mind the most interesting
pictures in Gallery d are Julian
Story's. The Goldfish" lights up the
whole side of the room with its Won
derful fame-like reflections from the
red bodice in strong sunlight. The
artists beautiful wife, Emma Eames,
is the model for some of these, and he
has immortalized her in one where the |
poetic sentiment, the charm of the
90 ,- l,s, IA