New-York tribune., 1901-03-23
ART EXHIBITIONS.
THE WEST COLLECTION-DRAwIN Rv
L. RAVEN-HII-MR. ORRIN PECK
AND MR. J. WELLS CHAAIPNEY


The late Professor Charles E West. Iong
conspi;uously known as an educator in Brools.-,
was man Of diverse interests This fact IS 60, -,
Illustrated by the collection formed By him. and
now placed on exhibition at the American Arr -
leries where it Is to be sold next week by or4e -.
MS executors Pictures, prints and books tesrif,
10 MS activity in matters of art: divers pieces a.
pottery. lacquer and metal work. with a s1nau br.
interesting full OF books show that b. L.
the tastes Of an OrientaIist; a number OF n,icr,
scopic and telescope Instruments along With 80,
miscellaneous objects Indicate his scientific n-a4i
lections, and there are, finally some valab bIe ,of
which proclaim the learning and enthusiasm ~
the devoted nuu'isnatist. y certain pathos is -
tached 10 this great body OF material No,rr
everything bears the signs OF use. One gathers =,
once that here are the tools of a busy teacher a
man who cultivated his intellect at MANY ponts
and surrounded himself with things usefu ~ RI,
IN the constant exercise of his profession II Is inn
possible not to feel regret for the life vora tb 3
ended that so many possessions wrapped in ne
culiarly personal associations should at last he
scattered In the public market
1ntrinsically considered the artistic sf5a 80 -.
collection is Of far from uniform excellence Ths
Portrait Of a Lady by Gilbert Stuart Is an y,
terestns little sketch. but the two heads atrib+5
20 Holbein and Durer respectively have no ouaitA-
20 inspire the respect usually commanded BY those
great names. and there is nothing of serious sig
nihcance to be found among the remaining raiD9
ings. The water color. Study OF a Moor br
Fortuny, is inferior example but the pen 5ravr
ing from the same hand is an excellent though mn
important souvenir of his vivactous art Mr. Was-
paid much attention TO original drawings and suc
ceeded in assembling a considerable colIectio7 %
tnern The old masters IN his portfolios are bov-
ever OF MID interest, being level in quality
with those innumerable waits and strays which are
placed before the inquiring tourist in modest Ro
man and Florentine antiquity shops Minor hr,ra,
in the earlier schools OF Italy and the Low Conn
tries. and one two of greater fame are repre
sented: but examination has not discovered any,
thing of special value The drawings by William,
Blake should perhaps be exempted from this iude
ment. though. as was pointed in The Tribune
at the time of their exhibition in this citv soma
eight or nine years ago. comparatively few in the
lot rise above a very dubious standard. Blake was
a good draughtsman only intermittentIy as he was
a lucid designer only at long intervals Most Of
the studies IN this collection have curious rather
than artistic interest. In this respect however
they have some value Memorials OF one Of the
most erratic men OF genius in the history OF Eng
Ish art and letters rare. and TO the Blake spe
ciast. If not to the conroisseur this batch Of his
characteristic notes may be commended.
Professor Vests prints are uneven IN quality
but there are good things in the list; in fact
for the collector this is by all odds the most prom
ising section OF the collection. Faden and Fortunv
among the modern etchers, are well accounted for;
there is an interesting group OF the portfolios pub
lished by Cadart in the sixties-one of the notable
enterprises associated with the revival of etching
in this century-and scattered through vast gath
ering of old engravings there are some excellent
specimens OF Ddrer. Strange. BartoIozzi Toscht
and others Some good impressions are among the
Rembrandt etchngs included in the show In the
department Of Orientalia the most important OBJ
jects are the antique shrines, though here. as in
the groups OF porceains. Iacquers and bronzes the
average is not high. The collection of coins run
ming 20 nearly four hundred numbers covers a
wide range and is Of much historical interest OF
the scientific collection 1t be said that il
braces instruments Of historical interest and others
calculated 70 be Of use TO the practical student
The sale of all these objects. curios and instru
ments of study will be begun at the American Art
Galleries next Monday afternoon, and will cor
tnue. afternoon and evening, through several days
thereafter.
Mr.. L. Raven-EiIl. an English draughtsnlan has
sent to America, for exhibition at the Tooth Gal
lery, number of his sketches. originally made for
the pages OF Punch In that periodical they
have delighted a wide audience. not only by their
hunor. but by their original style and sound tech
nique. Mr.. Raven-HiIl is perhaps the most brill
liant man at present the staff OF the famous
English paper. the sole worthy follower OF the
tradition Of the late Charles Keene- He draws
for reproduction, and therefore il is necessary
to his original work in order 70 judge Of his
quality; nevertheless il is pleasant welcome this
exhibition.
At the KnoedIer Gallery some portraits and other
paintings by Mr.. Orrin Peck are shown. His color
wants depth and subtety; his execution though
workmanlke. is distinguished On the other
hand, his heads disclose eft Characterization they
boldly modelled. and stand in sharp relief
and in several Instances the clever animated hand
ling of form does something TO cOuaterbaIauce the
defects just mentioned. The Portrait of Cardinal
N" and the study of a feminine head. No. I5 are
his best performances. showing more freedom and
skill than any OF their companions. Downstairs
hung a number OF pastels by Mr. j. Wells
Champney, some original. and the rest drawn from
noted canvases in European galleries. Mr.. Champ
ney's manner is extremely suave his color is
dainty and his own designs are often graceful and
decorative. We more grateful. however, for
the copies from Drouais. Natter. VelaZquez and
other old masters. These are wonderfully faithful
to the spirit OF the original works and are exc
cuted too. with delightful precision and hrnness-
II is announced that there will be an exhibition
in the print department of the New-York Public
Library Gin the Lenox buildng) of the collection Of
Japanese engravings formed by Captain Brinkey
and presented to the library by Mr. Charles Stew
art Smith. That gentleman will also loan for the
occasion a number of original water colors and
pen drawings by Japanese artists. The show opens
next Monday
The days for the reception OF contributions 20
the twenty-thrd annual exhibition of the Society
of American Artists have passed. and a press view
will be held next Friday. March %. The public
opening will occur on the following day. and the
show will remain open until Saturday May / The
secretary announces that thirteen hundred paint
ings We're sent in 10 be passed upon by the jury.
the largest number in the history Of the society.
The fearful and wonderful statue which sur