The Washington times., 1902-01-26
ART
g.
ARTISTS

and American artists. both at home and
abroad consider themselves honored IL
they are so fortunate as to be repre-
sented in it, 1t was not so long ago
when the National Academy and the So
ciety of American Artists in New York
city were considered the only important
annual exhibitions in this country-ex-
hibitions where the standard was So high
that artists whose work was accepted
were the subject of congratulations But
now there are two other cities whose
annual exhibitions fully equal. in point
of merit, and probably surpass in the
number Of works shown, the older an
nuals of New York.
The Academy Exhibit.
These are the Carnegie Institute at
Pittsburg and the Academy at Philadel-
phia. We were greatly Impressed by two
features of the Acade9ny's seventy-frst
annual. first by its size and scope and
| secondly by the remarkably uniform ex-
cellence of the work shown. There are
over 1000 exhibits in all. and we feel
that we are making conservative state.
ment when we say that not more thaa
! twenty-five of this number would be con-
| sidered unworthy of the exhibition. There
are two factors necessary to make such a
| showing as this-money and Intelligent
! energy. The Pennsylvania Academy is
| the happy possessor of both. 1t is we'll
endowed. and offers four large prizes in
money and medals annually; this. and the
untiring energy and wisdom OF its man
] aging director, Mr.. Harrison s. Morris,
| have made 1t the success that il is.
| Only on rare occasions, such as great in
| ternational expositions, do we find all Of
| our greatest contemporaneous painters
| represented, but they are all, with scarcely
| an exception. represented in this years
exhibition at Philadelphia. Sargent, Whist
/ Iar Ia vi
Ranger, Wyant. Brush. Alexander. Beaux.
Chase, Weeks, Melchers, and scores OF
others whose regulations are interna-
| tional and secure, are not only repre-
sented, but by representative and impor-
tant work. But so large and comprehen-
sive is this exhibition that the host of
younger men, whose works are yearly
commanding greater respect and admira-
ton. find ample space and justice The
exhibition of the sculptors, aquarellists.
and illustrators is strong, and adds tre-
mendously to the variety and interest Of
the whole.
Pictures Well Hung.
The hanging committee has, in the
main, done its work we'll. Just as the
Jury of admission has lowered its stand
ard and accepted some few canvases that
are entirely out of place in such an ex-
hibition, SO has the hanging committee
given preference, in some instances. to
inferior works; but this is ever So There
is no exhibition held in America or Eu-
rope where absolute justice. either IN
the matter of acceptance or hanging, Is
possible, but it is only fair to say tnat
in the exhibition at Philadelphia this uni
versal shortcoming has been minimiZed
to a wonderful degree. Many Of the
walls could not have been more beauti-
fully arranged.
The honor wall, which is one end of
gallery F, is devoted to Brush, Davis. and
Abbey. The Brush is in the centre. Mrs.
Goodwin and her sister are the subjects of
the picture, and it is shown in circular
frame which seems to be Mr.. Brush's IA
Yorite composition. Nothing could be more
refined than the work of George de Forest
Brush-refined in every respect. char
acter, color, and executfon-but this par
ticular work lacks the charm, the mimi
table quaintness of the pictures which
his wife and children have inspired. "The
Penance of Elenor.'' by Edwin A. Abbey.
which has been seen in several of the
large exhibitions. both here and in Eu-
rope, is scholarly and effective piece
OF work. Some critic has said that 1t in
spired more respect than sympathy.
which We think is perfectly true.
Abbey's Speciality.
Abbey's tendency has been for some
time toward the literary rather than the
picturesque in art, but in this field he
stands eminent The third picture is
Last Rays" by Charles Davis. Here We
have sympathy Who but Davis could
have painted that wonderful sketch Of
low, marshy ground, that evening sky in
which floats shapely cloud bathed in
the glow of the setting sun. The time is
winter; the place is the food-plain CT the
Connecticut river: the color, wonderful,
true and vibrating with atmosphere; the
sentiment fine and noble. Davis is no
less a poet than a painter and his art is
great and lasting.
Whistler shows the picture which
gained him the Grand Prix at the Paris
EXPOSITION 1t is called The Andalu-
sian," and represents the tall and graceful
figure of a Spanish woman 1t is typi-
cal example of this eccentric master
There are also sixty-six etchings by
Whistler which are hung in group.
John Sargent is represented by three
paintings. The portrait Of @. NJ. VIII
hanson is fiat and rather uninteresting,
hut portrait of child has the dash and
tour de force to which we have become
accustomed in his work. The third
painting, Innocence Abroad, is de-
lightful little canvas painted with enthu-
sasm. 1t depicts three nude little boys
basking and playing on the seashore and
II is q NerlIable GEM
Portrniture IA Strong Feature.
If we should attempt to comment on all
the works that command attention. We
should far exceed the space allotted to
this topic. Portraiture is 4 strong fea-
ture of the exhibition. Chase, Beaux,
Wiles, who is now recognized among the
best; Alexander. Lockwood, Merritt, and
many others show strong examples Of
their skill Homer. Horatio Walker,
Thayer, John LIZ Farge-men whose work
is classic-are all strongly represented.
Among the notable things in sculpture
are group of exquisite bas-reliefs by
st. Gaudens; Niehaus' portrait bust OF
J. O. A. Ward; Herbert Adams beauti
full portrait of young woman; Graiys
bust OF DR.. Staar; MacNeil's Sun Vow"
and 4 design in plaster for decoration in
the Boston Library, by John S. Sargent.
lesson might be learned by Washing
tonians from the artistic success of the
seventy-first annual OF the Pennsylvania
Academy. namely. that the strength and
excellence of this exhibition are made
possible only through the interest and
support of the citizens of Philadelphia.
They did not wait until success came.
but they helped to create il, and We con-
Gratulate them upon their wisdom and
the splendid result of their cooperation.