New-York tribune., 1903-01-18
ART IN PHILADELPHIA.
The Exhibition at the Pennsylvania
-4cademy.


vania Academy Of Fine Arts. which will be thrown
open 20 the public next Monday morning The gall
leries have been generously filled, the catalogue
running, in fact 10 nearly twelve hundred members,
but as on SO many previous occasions. the show
leaves good impression. The superabundance Of
material IS not to be ascribed good natured
acceptance Of fat rne6ocrity whenever offered for
the sake Of inpressing the rninstructed with a
sense OF bulky Importance II is due the excel
lent policy that admits a goodly number Of works
that have borne well the OF time. Visitors from
New-York will find here q great deal with which
they are already familiar. but there are new con-
TTibutions enough. and the exhibition whole is
exhilarating enough make IL worth their while
70 journey to Philadelphia
Tersely summarized this exhibition Of por-
traits The fact is altogether to be regretted.
since the portraits happen to be in some instances
Of considerable value. But 10 the constant observer
OF American always concerned with its organic
development and inclined from past experiences. to
look III the annual show at Philadelphia Tor things
fully representative of conditions the moment,
this collection good is leaves something TO be
desired. The stranger from abroad. studying Amer
art for the first time in these galleries. might
well exclaim with wonder at the paucity Of inven-
rion suggested. Even the stranger must have heard
that are not without painters who have ideas,
ard he could not but be puzzled by the scarcity Of
them in the present gathering OF pictures 1t is
puzzling familiar with ali the facts. Why.
ne asks. since have capable Of producing
compositions with more in them than the clever
treatment Of costume or the skilful handling Of
aren air effects. there so few proofs OF their
ability n an exhibition 10 which best men are
commonly glad contribute" Are they all en-
gagged in painting mural decorations portraits?
Certainly there figure pieces Of Importance
here. and OF these date from earlier year
Thus the finely painted interior with figures by
Edward Simmons. the study Of humble domesticity
entitled Tired Out reappears after many years,
il having been awarded the American Art Associa-
tons prize S200o in this city, far back as 1886
AT. Abbey's glowing page from the romantic past,
his stately Sylvia" is recolected from previous
season in New-York- One is glad TO see both pict-
Ures again, for both have thought and feenng IN
them and sound workmanship. ore rejoces, too. in
the opportunity to see the group Of six OF MI
whistleT's productions. including the -Cremorne
Gardens fascinating panel with numerous fig
-res enveloped il 2 glamour OF delicate tone; an
exquisite portrait Of 8 child, Rose and Gold-The
Little Lady Sophie OF soho." and three character
istic little sketches besides beautiful marine note
But where are the Teslly recent examples of first
rate American work outside the spheres OF land
scape and Portraiture?
Among The best of the scant handful Of sugges-
tive canvasses that search reveals, the contrfbu-
tons Of Two Boston artists. Mr. Benson and MI
Tarbell, conspicuous The first Of these gentle
men IS not. true. given TO the elaboration OF
very ambitious themes. but he gets the freshness
OF the open his work. his huency Is in It.
self captivating and he gives one, in short wei
come sense Of vitality, Of life outside the studio
with its artificial effects and its endless procession
Of men and women posing for their portraits. Mr.
Tarbeu though he sends one portrait.
Including the handsome Girl and Dog TO whlch
cordial reference has before This been made IN The
Tribune, sends also, in his interior study, People
at Breakfast distinctly clever essay in TIvaclolS
vein. Several other painters rnomentarily give one
the hope of 2 new sensation. Miss Nourse, in her
large p:cture Of peasants seated cut Of doors and
Nr Charles Hopkinson. in his kindred figure piece
Fishermen OF Ffnistere,' but both turn out, on
closer exaInina ton. be working too much In the
pedestrian style Of the Paris SaIon MI Hopkln-
son mas perhaps been affected by some OF the
newer impulses, his picture vaguely recallns, LOT
example. the very popular work OF Lucleh
Simon but in the last resort he remains a type OF
hunadrum and mechanical art. To find the note Of
power and individuality one must go to the VET
Grams 70 Mr Whistler again, or TO Miss Cassatt
whose single exhibit. La Femme al Chen
though French in essence, and reminiscent as Il-S
pauter's work is apt be. Of her master, Degas'
is not without the charm that only comes from
ar original temperament, expressing itself Win
freedom and force Mr- John Sloan. with ms
woman Sewing" invites one TO pause ere turning
10 the portraits is interesting rather Ior the
slight promise that he gives than for posluVe
achievement the leathery character OF his hesh
rints putting an otherwise excellent piece OF work
out ot court. Though Mr- J r. De Camp similarly
arrests the observer with Il he New Gown, a very
bright and attractive technical exercise one can
not help regretting the absence from me canvas
Of everything save technique
The painters Of portraits are headed once more
Nv NJ Sargent. His early period is represented
BY the way. by beach scene with hGures' l-e
c1zste- C3atherers' . small canvas. with nothing
hui AT the same significantly effective IN us
zrol5ping and marked by a certain indiVouaEty
Of touch His portraits this occasion are three
n number: the nervous aid powerful porualt u
aTr Chase which was recently shown in New
York. ? rrree-ouarter lergth Of Nj r a b
Widener notable for well modelled heao' ouc
otbe-vfse n, the category Of his rather matter OF
facr performances and brilliant portrait OF Mr.
lanes RIdgeley Carter. Of our embassy in LONDON
q canvas Of the first rank. full of spirit ana Win
every stroke showing the painters mastery
method in its happiest estate Miss Beaux remains
- ~ scc4sroraed effective plane in three con-
t-f4r,r+ons including portrait Of Mrs Theodore
Roosevelt: out the experimental mood Whlch Is
clearly rejected - of these canVasses, the
Portrait OF Barton" has not pIoouceu
wholly satisfacto results The dress Is cIeNerlg
handled ana so is tae interesting profile the latter
,eerecfallv having something Of the quality which
,rfgb+ mass into the work OF any competent artst
sitting al the of Manet or Goya; put theIe Is
7ieon6tirg sense Of effort and self-consciousness
.Lo,,+ the work as a whole an absence OF lhat
large freedom ard elastic power associated with
Mss T3eauxs art when it expresses the essentials
in her individuality.
NJ C,t.sa leaves as ever impression Of au-
,,,cr5fv in his Portrait Of Jay Cooke, and is alto
eether delightful in his dainty souvenir oi Ne4@
ouez ..TI7e Infanta." From Nr. J. w Alexander
there is the usual group Of faelie accohfpilsheu
a75 wholly decorative portraits. Mr. Aboott IL |
-. o-,bra nortrait of lady trumphs, as SO
.,, - his r,or+raits and pictures triumph, over
elovenl,y execution and morbid color py virtue OF
fbe Doignaut feeling and the haunting suDllelS
which he brings the Interpretation OF c4lai
From the single portrait which Mr. t'oDeft fIeti
serSe > fpI length of a lady in dark dress IL Is
-. -. ba Is still fait ,ful something in
- ,s.,,ra of a formula instead of striking out
,y,o, the vigorous and original lines which, IN tle
lir+ Of his unouestiona bic ability ms cfIIcs nave
been expecting him to cHIuFa'e- ~ - 80