New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-25
LONDON ART.
The International EUhibitiOn-N.
Robins Reception.

London. January 13.
The New Gallery IS again the stronghold Of
unacademic art. The International Society Of
! ScuIptors, Painters and drawers, with NJ. Au-
! guste Rodin in the place Of Mr. Whistler as
| president is now IN possession Of this COM
rnodious and attractive gallery for three months.
After three experimental exhibitions in Knights
bridge, which is a long way from Bond-st.
and the natural art centre IT has made more
/ direct appeal to public favor. The fourth ex-
hibition has been opened this week with loud ac-
claim as an art congress-" and there has been
e crowded and brilliant reception, with com
plimentary dinner 10 the president at the
Cafe Royal The society is ambitious and coura-
geous. and It challenges competition with the
Royal Academy by violating all the traditions OF
decoration, arrangement and selection There is
statuary worthy Of the name, for NJ. Robins
majestic titan lie Grand Penseur" IS in the
central hall, and his splendid bronze group, La
Defence" is in the south room, with widespread
wings and commanding pose. Black and white
work moreover. instead OF being thrust into an
obscure corner and treated shabbily and with
contempt as an unimportant branch Of art, fills
with pasteis and with colors Of the three
large galleries, and IS one Of the most salts
factory features Of the exhibition. The arrange
ment of the backgrounds and spaces is really
decorative ana mas elements OF Design 4n4s Is
something almost unique in London picture
shows. Two Of the galleries have white walls
and the third is toned with dull green The
walls are not crowded with pictures. and the
spaces have been treated with artistic discern
ment and sense OF balance and counterpoise,
and the statuary fits INTO the environment and
helps to decorate the galleries. Some Of the
work does not deserve the prominence which it
has received from the hangers. and there
jected outright, but the arrangement and group
ing Of paintings. etchings. drawings and statu-
airy have not been surpassed in London for
decade. Everything has been done with genuine
artistic feeling.
The international character Of the society is
not so strongly emphasized as It might have
been if the honorary members had been more
adequately represented. The president has &C
knowledged the compliment Of his election by
sending some OF his best work, and it IS
hfbited with destructive effect so far as English
reputation for sculpture is concerned The
majestic figure of lie Grand Penssur' is re-
peated in small bronze with Tefinement Of
beauty, and there are minor works worthy Of
cornpanionship with the winged group La De-
fence" II. Robins "Bellona" is a revelation Of
the power and dignity OF sculpture, and his
Torso Of st. John" and "A Dream" mar
wells of refinement Of line and beauty OF form.
From NJ BartholomGs studio have been sent
several fine pieces Of sculpture. notably group
from a tomb at Pere Lachaise, and there are
fair examples Of English work, such as Mr..
Tweeds "Iphigenia," Mr.. Derwent Woods
''Leda' and Mr.. Wells's unpretentious brenzes.
NJ Rodin sets so high a standard as to over
shadow all the other sculpture. There has been
no sculpture as good as his in London for long
period
The foreign work is chiefly French. and apart
from sculpture Is not OF conspicuous excellence
There IS an old picture by NJ Claude Monet
lie Dejeuner''-with every detail Of the break
fast table from the cloth to the loaf and salad,
and from the egg In the cup to the newspaper,
with the tone OF the ink reproduced with amaz-
ing initiative skill; but It Is chiefly interesting
from the absence Of purple and yellow impress
sionism which IS now associated with his work
There are portraits by NJ. Blanche. one Of
child and another Of Mr.. George Moore, which
are admirable examples Of sympathetic painting
and perfection Of technique. II. Cottet's "Deul
Marin" which has been strangely thrust into
central space usually reserved for supreme honor,
ndsht form the basis Of an admirable etching,
with three women on a bench representing as
many generations. confronting the spectator
with hard kind OF realism while their backs
are turned to the sea; but In oils these figures
IN black ugly, and the water painting Is
solid and massive. There is sentiment in the
work. for these are evidently the blind mother,
the wife and the daughter Of dead fisherman;
but the story is told coldly that it lacks
Dathos, and the brushwork has power without
charm Ls Sidansr's ''AIaisons sur lyIoau" has
lovely quality. with its sou1bre trees and half
Light. and NJ Fritz Thaulow's lie Deeel" Is a
beautiful example OF realism IN its soft rnists
Of warm sunlight n Jean FRANCOIS Rafeagm
has a good portrait and there Is interestins
work by al Daniel Verge and other French
painters. One Of the most repeIlent pictures Is
Ii Alfred Maurers Dancer in which a. SIM
pie face is forced by complex methods into the
expression OF viVacity
among the Spanish pictures N zuloaRa.s
On MOT Fiquant'" with its picturesque gypsies
and AndaluEian naarxyuaalexa In oo.,-n,c,r,,,-