New-York tribune., 1901-01-12
ART EXHIBITIONS.
AMERICAN PAINTINGS AT THE UNION
LEAGUE CLUB

Mr.. Winslow Homer has not infreqUently shown
his pictures for the first time at the Union
League Club. There, elsewhere. they have a
trick Of falling into places of honor The three coast
scenes which he sends 10 this months show at the
club repeat the familiar process. Grouped at one
end of the gallery, they somehow throw into shade
those twenty-one other pictures by American
artists which so to make up the collection II
they do this il is because they are necessarily
and in every respect superior to their fellows IN
deed. these would be better pictures II they pos
sessed some Of the sensuous beauty whlen MI
Charles Melville Dewey has put into his Sunset.
a landscape poorly modelled as to its foreground
but rejoicing in a splendid sky. We would not De
sorry. either if Mr.. Homers impressions or the
sea tinged by the haunting tenderness whicn
may be discerned in the beautiful Marine oy
Alexander Harrison, IN which that artist seems
for the nouce TO have abandoned his later rather
crude tones and to have returned to the delicate
harmonies which first brought him celebrity But
what Mr.. Homer lacks has been sufficiently IN
dicated.
The source of his pre-erninence is In the first
place the directness of mis- vision He shows US
the elemental beauty OF the sea. and shows II with
undiluted realistic force. In his "Northeaster'
the best of the three pictures at the Union
League, a mass OF rock TO the lett IN the 1ore-
ground Is contrasted with water that heaves II
self up into ridge of green translucence. under
a gray sky. The composition is OF the simplest
embracing only what might be called three runda-
mental facts the rugged strength OF the rocks, the
weishty majestic movement of the sea and the
large atmosphere of great natural spaces un-
marked by the presence of puny man. But MI
Homer takes hold of these materials. and. with
the nasterfuI individuality that Is the second
source Of his triumph fuses them with bold
ergy into a work Of His style Is straightror-
ward and powerful, perhaps slightly audac1ous
The clear air of his theme enters into his work.
manship 1t is sometimes too potent As has been
suggested above, it blows out Of his compositions
some Of the finer qualities which we wish might
remain But even though the blood red horizon in
West Point, PTout's Neck, Maine strikes an aS-
gressivey raw note; even though all three pict-
ures have a turbulence and unmeasured Vlgor
in the brushwork which could be modified without
doing violence to the spirit OF the painters
themes. there Is left strong original quality,
which keeps the work where first find it. in
the van. 1t is like entering another world to turn
TO the pensive quietude and subtle color of the
two night scenes by Mr.. Ochtman and Mr. Fos-
ter. respectively; to Mr. Walter Clarks airy little
study. Near Gloucester; TO the vivaeity and
sparkle of Mr. Chase's ION the Beach at Shinne-
cock" or to the slight. almost diaphanous beauty
of Mr.. ]. r 9furphy's Morning
Half a dozen figure pieces are included IN the
show ranging from the excessive polish or Here's
to You" the little portrait Of a woman by Mr.
Watrous to a long decorative panel by Mr.. Robert
V V Seweu. illustrating the Battle Of Palanon
and Arctic in Chaucer. Mr.. SewelFs design is
clever but the arrangement Of color is so wanting
in contrast and balance that the impression left by
the work as a whole is curiously confusing Mr.
Church sends in his Music OF the Sea- a new
group made of his more than familiar models. ami
nal and human, pretty but not especially ap-
peaIing variation. Humorous genre is represented
by Their PRIDE picture by Mr.. Hovenden OF
a negro with his wife and young son, all gazing
speIlbound upon the daughter OF the house. who is
putting the last touches to gorgeous toilet
''Rabboni' religious composition by Mr.. George
Inness jr is well conceived but the richness OF the
color carried far and the tones need purihea-
ton The picture of the three maidens rambling
amid silvery saplings. The Garden of Arden, by
Mr.. e A Bell, has sweetness of feeling and IS
daintiIy executed.