New-York tribune., 1902-06-24
ART NOTES.
WHISTLER AND sARGENT-THE ROYAL
ACADEMY AND THE PARIS SALON-
DIVERS MATTERS OF INTEREST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DIVERS MATTERS OF INTEREST
ABRoAD-PERIoDICAL
An American in London has just bought col
lection of drawings and pastels by Mr- Whlstler
paving the sum of $4,000 for the lot 1t is an
Interesting piece of news, showing as IL ooes
that appreciation of the great artist has once
more expressed itself in practical form We
hear at Inc same time that he has been made
an honorary member Of the Royal Scotllsh
Academy This leads English commentator
TO hope that. Scotland having set the example
Burlington House may invite Mr. Whistler INTO
its select circles II is recalled that one OF MS
first paintings was bought by an Academlclan
John Phillips But Mr.. Whistler's election 10
the Royal Academy is about the last thing IN the
world of which we would ever expect to hear
Indeed. it is probable that such event would
astonish no one more than it would astonish
Mr. Whistler himself II a recent Punch
cartoon, representing the immortals CT BurllnS-
ton House famous counuyman was
si1etched looking down upon them from dis
tant corner with sardonic smile. The draw
ing expressed very Well the attitude which 1t
is easy to imagine Mr. Whistler maintaining.
However he may be treated in London by the
artistic -'authorities.' he is always sure of a
sympathetic reception in Paris. One of the
salient things in the new Salon is a group of
five canvases by him. among them portrait
Of Mrs Vanderbilt. which he calls Ivory and
Cold OF this one English critic says:
In its simplicity and dignity, 1t would seem
more at home in the Louvre than among the
restless, strident bids for notoriety ali too nu-
rnerous even in this Salon 1t is small-an oval
The design is made to fill the space; the beauty
of the head. rising with such grace from the
high encircling collar of lace. is expressed with
q mastery which is in itself a delight when con-
trasted with the obvious striving after cleV-
erness and originality Of the many
The Royal Academy may have lost Whistler,
but it has. at any rate. made sure of Mr.
Sargent: perhaps too sure, one might surmise,
for the comfort Of the Academicians. Those
gentlemen perhaps regret that they nave taken
the brilliant American to their bosom when they
witness on all sides general acclamation of him.
intensified by shrues of Indifference where
nearly everybody else within the sacred walls is
concerned. The unanimous conclusion is that
this is "a Sargent year and the phrase
keeps on getting itself printed over and over
again il must he wearisome. to say the least, 10
those estima bic painters who are popular enough
but somehow never manage to have one Of the
annual exhibitions named for them so 70 say.
in this fashion. They may comfort themselves
with the reflection that even Sargents own
master is now obliged to give place to his pupil
The story goes thai at the private view Of the
Royal Academy an artist, pointing Carolus
marked 10 his companion. an art critic, There
is a fine Duran" Why" exclaimed the critic
-ft is an imitation Of Sargent This reminds
us OF the way in which Of Mr.. X. +. Hen
ley's disciples has turned the tables upon him.
Mr. Charles Whbley, the brilliant scholar and
writer VINO did a great deal OF work for Mr.
Henley in days gone by. carried his masters
style to such point Of development that Mr.
Henley has been called of Mr.. Whbley's
pupils,
one English contributor 20 the Academy this
year. Mr. Luke Fildes. will make up in cash
what he lacks in panegyric. The critics have
not been kind To his huge portrait Of the King.
bat it is said that he viii receive something like
100000 for his work by the time the replcas
and reproductions are paid for. Other Academi-
clans are complaining that the coronation sea-
son is proving 10 be anything but prosperous
Sales have been poor, so poor that the season
may very easily cut the record in this respect.
Some of the artists explain the situation by re-
ferring to the winter exhibition at Burlington
House, which was financially profitable. They
maintain that these displays Of works by the
Old Masters injure Jhe sale of paintings by
modern artists. and many of elder painters
profess to trace distinct falling off of patron
age since the winter exhibitions We're begun,
about thirty years ago. They think that a win
ter exhibition Of the works OF living men might
serve to bring about a better state Of affairs
for the latter. The mere fact is, of course that
] when the Royal Academician paints better pict-
he Will have far less reason to complain
than he has now.
Artists in Paris also have their woes. Many
Of them are in a sad state of disgust over con-
ditions at the Salon and now they propos-
ing to hold an autumn show in which they hope
TO be free from the troubles assailing them
under present circumstances. The idea is to
throw the exhibition open to everybody,
the jury being composed of painters. sculptors,
enlightened amateurs and collectors, but no pro
fessor of an organized atelier in Paris being al
lowed TO serve. The scheme may be carried out
and it may for year TWO. make a number
Of artists very happy. But in due course. no
doubt il will suffer as the Old Salon and its rival
have suffered-cliques viii arise, favoritism Will
manifest itself in ways. and after few
years still another band Of malcontents will be
agitating for an exhibition of their own. All
the same, we hope the thing may be accom-
plished, for these rebeIlions do good And be
sides, the more groups there the
amusing il VIII be when rybody gets tired
of the game, and returns to the original bold,
grand and fully comprehensive exhibition being
arranged under the same auspices n
toyed by what is known the Old Salon.
Europe is rich in exhibitions Just now Be
sides those in London and Paris there are sew
era1 going On elsewhere An important show is
being held at Ghent, and there is another az
Munich, that OF the now thoroughly well estab-
lished Secession" Budapest is having an am
bilious art exhibition, and, OF course there is
the international exhibition of decorative art at