The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-20
PASTELS AT THE SALMAGCNDI
(LGB.

An exhibition of pastcls by George II
! Mctord will be on view 1T the Salmagundl
| Club from Dec. ~ 10 81, inclusive. 1t IL one
of unusual merit: for. in addition to the
qunliias Of good drawing and tone and
a v'ry pictorial sense in the choice OF com
position. Mr. McCord proves himself a very
competent and individual exponent Of the
medium. He uses il with a happy sugges-
ton Of spontaneousness even in the more
elaborated subjects: with a considerable
range in the character Of the stroke, adj
mirably adapted in each case TO the effect
10 BE- produced. and with a frankness Of
! handling that reaches the result immtd
lately and invites one TO observe the APP
parent simplicity of the operation.
II is a matter of individual preference
whether o2e is more attracted by the elab-
Grated or by the simpler studies. for GER
tainly both are justified. Among the
former is IA scene in Colorado. Cathedral
Rocks" the pinnaclcs rosy in the sunset
th" base Of the mountain deep green and
brown with the purple in the hollows
Beneath il ca non with blue mist over
lying il, and further back ranges of ruddy
formation. terminating in long table OF
rocks that shine with yellowish light
There is 50 much sound construction in the
rendering Of these formal ions, az visible in
the darker as in the lighted parts. and the
color is throughout so rich and yet so well
restrained, that the me jesty of the scene
AZ we'll a. lis magic Is expressed. We shall
find similar qualities in Catalonia Island.
where wild pyramidal Crags rise out OF the
sea and show their ragged crests against
sunset flaming with red and primrose
Easily there might have been something the
atrical n the representation OF such ELECTS,
but Mr. McCOrd has avoided il and with a
fine feeling of seriousness has so controlled
his resources AZ to rcalZ' the grandeur OF
the sccno
His skill in drawing and construction is
shown lao le',S in the greater difficulty OF
rendering the qualities Of water. Many
Of these subject have been taken from the
neighborhood of Gloucester and present
most charming imp; ovi.ations upon the
theme of rock and water. the brown and
drab rocks Of that picturesque coast and
It's deep blue of water, stirred into fi,isters
of white surf Sometimes the scene Ia
full OF clear light and wholesome freshness
Of atmosphere, or again. a. in THE Mouth
of the Inlet, he draws us into quiet spot
whore the water lie, shallow and smooth
upon the sand and its pale gray forms
with the drab rocks "A most delicate tonality.
For all these pictures present conscious
study of tone. and in none with more ire
sistiblc charm than in those, in which the
scale Of colors is very restrained and quiet
Such are Gray Wafer and Rocks, and An
English Home stead" the latter being a
moonlight scene with a white cottage and
barns in the foreground. Moreover, while
he always has keen eye for pictorial effect
Mr.. Met ord does not sacrifice to it the
higher consideration of truth; witness the
sturdy realism of The Moorland Road ="
The latter emphasiz IS with what Il keen sense
he comprehends the character of a scene.
where he strives for more subtlety Of misty
atmosphere than the medium possibly
warrants, he gives one a resume Of the local
feeling that j. unusually convincing. In
deed il is not often that an exhibition yields
80 fresh and lively a satisfaction as does
thi. one