New-York tribune., 1902-01-11
ART EXHIBITIONS.
AMERICAN PICTURES AT THE UNION
LEAGUE CLUB.

The paintings shown this month at the Union
League Club all by living American artists
There are twenty-seven canvases, and they make
very agreeable exhibition. To Mr.. Edwin A
Abbey the place of honor has deservedly been as
signed. His picture Is large figure piece entitled
Sylvia illustrating the lines from The Two Cen
tlemen of Verona
Who is Sylvia. what is she?
That all SWANS commend her,
and possessing not only the appositeness which
Mr.. Abbey's dealings with Shakespeare would nat
uray lead US TO expect, but the quality Of design
and color which inspire interest in a work of art
independently of its theme. The central figure.
graceful woman in white, with ample red sleeves
walks toward the spectator a rich rug past
marble pillars elaborately carved. Lovelorn gen
tlemen gaze upon her she passes. with two Lutte
players following in her train. The in which
the figures placed is rather dimly illuminated,
so that the colors in the picturesque costumes
more or less subdued The composition is well put
together. the workmanship is vigorous and fluent.
Altogether, this is one of the best pictures Mr..
Abbey has produced; It IS satisfactory.
indeed, than some of The far more ambitious works
he has painted of late years
The painting which Mr.. WInslow Homer e1-
hibits, Search Light, Entrance TO Harbor, Sant-
Cuba" strikes once more the ambiguous
with which. upon occasion, this brilliant artist
be content The immediate foreground is
filled with the corner of fortress space of
heavy masonry in which huge cannon is the
chief feature. The lies beyond. and quiet
scene is painted beneath the conflicting rays Of a
cold moon and a colder electric light. The effect
is indubitably interesting. and recognizes i'm
medately the individuality and the strength of Mr..
Homers technique. But the pictorial charm which
has much In many of his works If
present ALL is there in a somewhat manned con-
diton. Possibly 1t is the close range which the
masses in the foreground shown. possibly II is
badness of the lines in this part of the design
but certainly there is something which repels 1t
is good study in lighting, ii is good piece of
technique, but cannot say that It is beautiful.
We can apply that word more than one of
the outdoor pictures in this collection: Mr. Alex
ander Harrison's impressive Mid Ocean-Md-
night; to Mr. Dearths Autumn Evening-VaIley
to Mr. Dewey's Early Moonlight and TO Mr.
Murphy's AN Old Farm" Mr.. c. r. Chapman
has painted uncommonly good picture In Ihe
Storm-Coast OF France" which is full Of cool gray
light and stirring wind, and may note favor
ably also IAN August Flood by Mr. w. A Cottn;
THE woodland Monarch by Mr.. Julian Rix;
Cape Cod Marshes" by Mr. Arthur Hoeber and
"An Old Canal at Nemours," by Mr. r. W. Van
Boskerck. The figure studies include two striking
examples of strong workmanship and ripe color In
The Chief Justice by Mr.. Robert Reid, one or
the studies for his decoration in the State House
at Boston, and Meditation" delightful STUDY OF
q feminine head by Mr.. William NJ. Chase. Mr.
Maurice Fromkes contributes clever portrait In
"a Father of the Ghetto; there is delicately
handled though perhaps too decatey colored' por-
trait by E. A Bell Mr. Robert V. V. Sewen Is
represented by a large illustration of passage In
Keats which is well imagined. but contains
draughtsmanshp too stiff, and too little atnos-
phere and several fgurepieces of mild interest are
sent by Mr. Irving r. Wiles Mr.. Frank Mllet' MT
W. Verplanck Birney, Mr.. Hubert Vos and MT
Douglas Folh.