The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-22
HENRY p. SMELLS WATER COLORS.

An exhibition is being held at the Pratt
Institute. Brooklyn, Of water colors by
Henry B. Smell which are so good that IL Is
to be hoped they will be shown also on
this side OF the Bridge.
As students Of his works are aware, Mr..
SHELLS aim is to extract from the water
color medium those III Ter and more subtle
qualities which are usually associated
with oils. Par, icularly is he concerned
with the luminous and vibrative qualities
of the atmosphere and In giving TO the
whole Of his picture a completeness OF
tonal harmony, fuller orchestration OF
chromatic effects Of color than the painter
in water color generally essays. Nor
does he compass his results by mingling
body color with his pigments. thereby
destroying their transparency and robbing
the medium Of its peculiar advantage. II
is in every case by the superposition or
ju staposition OF the pure colors that he
accomplishes effects which are as true to
nature as they are pictorially beautiful.
His work II, therefore, not an ingenious
adaptation of the art which shall simulate
the effects Of oil painting. but develop
ment OF its possibilities to the highest form
OF expression, strictly within the most i'll
dividual qualification Of the art itself
Let me cite As an example his rendering
OF Apples (22I. The yellow and green
fruit is piled in an earthenware dish and
upon the table alongside an old brass vessel.
II Is admirable il texture, polished and
firm, with suggestion also Of crisp and
juicy interior; the cool fresh colors are
treated with delightful surprises Of acct
dental effects, due to the dimly illunlined
atmosphere which impregnates the picture.
With a mingling. of clarity and mystery
In the pattern OF its light and shade. it
produces a tonal arrangement that in
suggestion balances feeling of invigora-
ton with the dignity of qui tude; a work
as manly In its directness as il is poetic
In Significance. worthy land there can be
no higher word OF praise TO take its place
beside a still-!ife by Vollon.
| use the word manly with full recogni-
ton OF its meaning. Though he dreams,
AZ times, as one may see over and over again
In these pictures, and knows the passion of
enjoyment that the poet painter expert
his work has the fibre of nasculinity In
the Path Of the Lighthouse, for example
where by the pale moonlight one sees a
bold grassy eminence, crowned with fishers
cottages that stand in close companion
ship, while beyond them a lighthouse
lying strength of motive. The minging
OF the artificial and natural luminosity
Is rendered with no more appreciation
that the solid foreground and the substan-
tial buildings the witchery Of the light
has not detached the painter from his
strong sympathy with the intimate hui
manity OF the scene. II stands as work
OF Imagination constructed on a firm basis
OF lovingly recorded fact
1t is mostly from the island of Grand
Manan In the Bay Of Fundy that Mr.. Smell
has gathered his material and all through
the sc pictures one finds the pur ging, stimu-
lating influences Of the spot, its largeness
Of aspect and ample silence. Nor shall
we fail to note their fidelity to the atmos-
pheric conditions. II is charged with
moisture through which the light filters
with a chastened tenderness of radiance
while the rocks and heritage. continually
rinsed and cleansed, have a sprightliness
and purity Of color. The water, also
when il is not disturbed by storm. has
some distinctive manifestations; for eX
ample, an appearance as If Of agate in q
state OF huidity, or again as iridescen mt a,
doves throat. All these phenomena
local 10 the spot. Mr.. Smell succeeds il
rendering with felicity, while he also sug
gests the spiritual impressions aroused ir
contemplating them.
Moreover while these pictures are sc
full of expression, reaching such sublety
and extent of pictorial charm, they pre-
serve, as have said, the essential virtue,
Of the water-color medium. They retain
even that Of impulsive spontaneity.