The San Francisco call., 1904-03-25
FINE CREATIONS
At ART EXHIBIT
FOrty-Ninth Annual Display
of San Francisco Associa-
ton Opens Successfully
RECEPTION TO MEMBERS
Seafles Gallery Greatly In
proved and the Pictures
Show to Best Advantage

The forty-ninth exhibition of the
San Francisco Art Association, which
opened last evening with a private
view and musical reception for mem
bers and which will remain open daily
until April 81, will be remembered as
one of the very best displays of Cali
fornia art yet seen at the Hopkins
Institute. For this admirable repre-
sentation of the artists Of the city and
State credit is due alike to the profes-
sional members of the association and
to the officers and jury, who have
labored especially to make the show
a success.
In preparation for the fine collection Of
oil paintings the Searles gallery has been
greatly improved under the direction Of
President Willis E. Davis and Captain
r. H Fletcher, the director, who per
sonally superintended the alterations,
The walls have been wholly retinted
and the lower portion covered with a
duh, reddish brown burlap that forms
a capital background TO the pictures,
while the former barnlike expanse OF
surface is now broken at convenient
intervals by pilasters in olive green.
Overhead a broad canopy has been
spread under the skylight, cutting OFF
the reflection from the floor that made
daytime view at former exhibitions
rather unsatisfactory entertainment
This years catalogue is also worth
word of praise. The cover design is
the result of a competition among the
students of the School of Design. in
which the first prize went to Miss
Bertha Boye.
The jury on the acceptance and hang
ing of the works exhibited was COM
posed of G. F. p. Piazzoni, Mrs. A. B.
Chittenden. Miss Anna F. Briggs,
Joseph Greenbaum and L. p. Latimer.
Members of the association will be
interested in the annual lottery dis
tribution Of oils, water colors and
sketches. In accordance with the now
well esta blished custom more than a
score of these. the contributions of
the artists of the association, will be
allotted at the close Of the exhibition,
but members who wish to participate
must leave their names with Assistant
Secretary Martin before April 81.
This years exhibition is especially
strong in California landscapes. These
both in number and merit, quite over
shadow the work Of the figure painters,
although the collection presents several
capital portraits and genre pieces. Es-
pecially noteworthy among the latter
are Mrs. Ackerman's "Bess,' a delight
full study of child life, quiet and full of
character, and the hardly less admira-
BILE Theresa" by the same artist; Jo-
seph Greenbaum's characteristic min
iature, Brittany Woman" and his
Gray Day in Holland; Matteo San
dona's Portrait Of Children, truth
full, unpretentious presentation that is
not easily forgotten; Margaret Her
rick's conscientious and spirited Mar
ket Day." and Mrs. Matthews strong
figure piece, Red and White But
the landscapes that ought to be men
toned would fill column.
Keith is represented by two forest
and mountain pieces, Strawberry
Creek and "A Glacial Meadow" which
hold places of honor we'll deserved.
John NJ CANDLES Wild Heliotrope" Is
a striking study of the San Emedio
hills. c. c. Judson's San Leandro
Marshes" compels admiration for its
truth and spirit. Benjamin c. Brown
the Pasadena impressionist, is seen for
the first time at the institute, where a
number of his brilliant dashes of color,
among them Poppy Fields in Pasa-
dena, Gathering Shadows" and San
Gabriel Valley attract gratif1ed at
tention. Another Southern California
I artist is present in great number and
strength This is Elmer Wachtel of
Los Angeles, more than a dozen of
whose distinctive pictures were wisely
accepted and hung. They show Wach-
tel as one of the best living interpreters
of California scenery in all its startling
glory.
Two haunting scenes of Monterey
! represent, each in its way and each
worthily. the art of Charles RoIlo
Peters and Charles ]. Dickman. Peters
is even better in Evening on the
! Seine" and in his venturesome but sue
cessful Approaching Evening"" Will
Sparks shows mastery of a distinct and
valuable style in several small bits of
canvas that one would like to own.
Especially is this true of "A Relic of
Spanish California" 1t is just an old