New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14
ART EXHIBITIONS.
Pictures by the Late J. Wells
Champney and Some Orientalia.


American Art Galleries 1t consists of the pastels
oil paintings and water coors left by the late j.
Wells Champney, and great quantity of carvings.
pewter vessels and other objects brought from the
East by Mr.. Bunkio Matsuki. of Boston. Both
collections presently be dispersed at auction
pathetic interest attaches TO the Champney pict-
ures. His a most engaging personality. and
his tragic death terminated career which had
long been watched with interest and sympathy by
troops of friends. both laymen and artists The
present exhibition is held under the auspices of a
score of the latter. whose names as patrons are
recorded in the catalogue. and one of them, Mr..
John La Fargo. supplies an apprecatve PREDATORY
note to that publication. From all this the sale
should undoubtedly receive some Impetus but the
truth is that Mr. Champney was possessed OF gifts
by virtue OF which certain Of his works should
make a successful appeal to the public without
any adventurous aid
His temperament was sunny and generally ne
sought Iightness and grace in his work the real
istic aim disclosed by the large figure subject In
oils that hangs here. "The Mission Sunday School
he soon discarded Probably he realized that he
was unified for work OF the sort HIS natural
qualifications all for dainty studies OF ieIli-
nine types for delicate notes OF landscape me
former suffer a good deal from the tendency OF MS
taste toward excessive sweetness. The prettiness
of his ideal portraits pals the observer speed
lily enough. It should not. however, blind any
to Mr.. Champney's skill IN the Inanlpuiauon
OF pastel At bottom he had greater technlcai
ina figure pieces allows US to see at first glance
This is made plain by the group or water coors
done IN England. France and Holland which forms
part of the collection under review. They were
executed In the intervals OF more elaborate enter
prises and as Mr. La Fargo says. they have
that captivating look Of the thing done for pleas
ure for tho interest OF the moment some
OF the Versailles sketches are charming ana there
are Partisan studies here. notably ION the SEINE
Pavilion de Flore." which have at once so mnch
enforced picturesqueness and so much OF the true
water color quality that we cannot but regret
the artists greater absorption In another medium
Yet that regret must pass for the things ths'
chiefly serve to make this exhibition interesting
prove that Mr.. Champney was at his best In pastel
and especially in the application OF his tacihtS IN
the use OF the medium 10 a particular purpose
This was the reproduction Of paintings. mostly
portraits by old masters of the French and other
schools. 1t was a happy thought OF his to devote
himself to this line OF activity. Copies OF the old
masters which prodigiOusly abound in this coun-
try. too often lie under the suspicion OF pretending
to be something more than copies Mr.. CHAMP
ney's versions OF this that old painter occupy
place apart, inasmUch they make no pretences
whatever but expose their own character as
frankly as though they photographs; with
the difference. OF course, that they possess quail
ity inaccessible to the camera He ransacked the
galleries OF Europe for decorative portraits and
reproduced them with extraordinary accuracy.
Now and then he stepped outside his province. and
TO grief. Tho bust OF Giovanni Tornabuoni.
from the we'll known fresco by Botticelh. on the
Escalier Daru. in the Louvre. Is sadly feeble. and
there other Italian things in the collection
which are no better. But in pastels like tho
'Princesse de Lamballe.' from the canvas ut Yer
sailles by an unknown artist. the touch is really
paInterlike. and. what Is more get In this re-
production much OF the spirit OF the original work.
Take. again. that delightful example OF Vigee lie
Brun. in the Louvre. the Madame Mole Raymond
OF the Comede FRANCHISE" the portrait to which
the great hat and mur of the sitter contribute so
much picturesque elegance Mr.. Champney caught
the very movement OF this lovely canvas. and gave
20 his reproduction something OF the strength OF
original work OF art Constantly he did this.
His Madame de Pompadour" after La Tour: his
Young Musician" after Prudhon: his "ChaYdin."
after Chardin himself. and divers reproductions OF
Larglere. Mlgnard. Perroneau. and other French
men, all have a precision OF form. purity OF tone.
and an inner vitality. which lift them well above
the level OF ordinary copies. a few Of the Eng
lIsh things good W have noted especially
vigorous reproduction Of part Of Lawrence's Mr..
Angerstein" There is excellent color. too, with
genuine feeling for the character OF the brush
work in the original. in the copy OF Rembrandrs
"Hendrioku Stonels." In the Louvre. But Mr..
Champney seems. on the whole. to have been In his
happiest mood when reproducing the Older painters
OF France. Their courtliness. their elegance,
peculiarly appealed to him. and his methods.
moreover. In harmony with those of the
school The sale OF his pictures takes place next
week Thursday and Friday evenings. It de-
serves to be well attended.
So likewise does the sale. set for the afternoons
OF January q. % and %. OF Mr.. Matsuks Orien-
Italia. Formed. IL Is TO be inferred with the
ton room view this collection nevertheless rests
not upon plane OF pure commercialisIn. but upon
one of really artistic significance. II embraces two
classes OF objects unfamiliar In the market here.
Mr. Matsuk has brought from Japan quantity
OF very interesting garden decorations in stone and
bronze. and striking body OF work
In pewter. The lanterns and figures for the gar
den are handsome bits of carving. and while they
might first & trife incongruous in an
American environment. their strangeness would
soon wear of and their intrinsic pcturesqueness
would make Itself felt in effective manner. The
pewter follows in form and in decoration the style
OF japanese objects in other metals. which have
long been familiar in this country, but IL possesses
a quality of its IN texture and in tone which
should commend IL TO the American collector. The
collection is rich In fine wood carvings including
not only many figures In high relief. but num-
Der OF beautiful temple doors. II contains. also
some superb paintings on wood. Though the
curio is not absent from the exhibition the latter
Is strongest in material easily put decorative
purpose. No doubts to the authenticity OF the
work IL contains are inspired. On the contrary
do not often see in this city a mass of Orien-
talia for sale which Is uniformly what Ii as
to be, that is. OF historic and artistic value