New-York tribune., 1904-10-26
ART EXHIBITIONS.
The Annual Shoe of the NezU- y ork
Water Color Club.


The opening exhibition at the Fine Arts Build
ing this season is that OF the New-Y York Water
Color Club. which makes its fifteenth annual ap-
pesrance with collection filing the big south
gallery and the small rooms adjoining It. The
catalogue runs to over four hundred numbers.
but there is overcrowdIng of the space Sc
cured for the show. The many water colors
and pasteis are well hung. and leave. when
taken all together. a very pleasant impression
OF late years this has been characteristic of
the organization. which has soma clever mem
bers, is hospitable to outside contributors (giv-
ing one room on this occasion. ana part Of an
other. to The Boston Water Color Club. and is
generally effective where the mere creation OF
bright and spirited atmosphere in public gall
lery is concerned. But 1t has provoked before.
and now provokes again. some doubt TO
whether the artists exhibiting under its au-
spices are. as individuals. accomplishing any
thing in particular. Like more than one Of its
predecessors. this show is an affair Of more or
less engaging bits" with here and there pict-
ure rising slightly. but only very slightly. above
a humdran level.
Miss Elizabeth Shippen Green Is the most
notable contributor to the big entrance gallery.
Her three romantic illustrations may disclose
little too much Of the stained glass convention
which she and others IN her group have Esais-
what she is driving at, and produces pictu-
rescue designs with a certain agreeable author
it's. AIr. Edward H. Potthast. too. uses his
brushes with the faciIe strength that is so Pc
culiarIy important In water color In "The
WindaaiH' he Is vigorous without heaviness
gives US a truthful! transcript Of his motive. and
individaalizes what he has to say. Mr. Jules
Guerin has something to say, and way Of his
own in which to say it, but his method is a lit
tie hard. ION the Shores of the Mediterranean"
interesting as it is. would have, gained enor-
mously if he had executed It with little more
tenderness. with q softer, more caressing touch.
Mr.. F. Luis Mora likewise just falls short Of
complete success in his calf Yard" Movement
is so vivaciousIy rendered in this picture that
we especially regret the rather scattered I'M
preston conveyed by the color. Mr. Z. I. Field.
Mr.. George Wharton Edwards and Mr.. Elliott
Daingerdeld have capital landscapes in this gall
lery; Miss L. c. Hunter shows a good still
Life" (No. SD. and Mrs. Herter's full length Of
q woman in black. "A Venetian" creditabIy oc-
cupies the central place given to 1t at the end
OF the room. But, save for these things, and
one or two little pieces like Mr.. Curran's dainty
HEAD CCo. 131), and The Brown Gown" Of
Mr.. G H. Pepper there is nothing that invites
specific comment.
Ia the centre gallery. where the Boston Water
a couple of soitd1y painted portraits, ana Miss
Laura c. Hills, better known ordinarily as a
miniaturist. rises to the situation with delight
full aptitude Her Girl in Green is, in fact
an uncommonly delicate piece Of work. With
this and the flower studies that she brings for
ward she proves that she has got hold of tbs
root Of the matter. Mrs. WoOdbury's studies of
children please less through the skill shown in
them than through the quaint sentiment they
express. A prize has been awarded to Mr.. G.
H. Halloweu for THE Wissataquick Drive" ono
of seven or eight pictures which he sends To
the show. He is deft in the deneaten of his
corduroy types. painting wildly realistic por-
traits OF them; and there is a kind OF polish as
Of 8 handsome Christmas card in the three Sec
tions of his Sketch for Altar Piece" on the
other hand his color wants charm and his
method true breadth and freedom. Mr. G H.
Pepper is another contributor to whom little
elasticity would be a boon. Ia addition 10
The Brown Gown" which we have already
mentioned, he shows a collection Of nearly fifty
drawings made IN Japan. Whether because he
lacks nervous force and precision, has al
lowed the influence OF the japanese print to
work too assduousy at the back OF his mind.
he has failed TO give an air Of freshness. of di-
rect attack to his work. In his Oriental
sketches he Is picturesque-and a little feeble.
In the East Gallery. where his japanese draw
iRgs are hung, and in the corresponding gallery
on the other side Of the building, the effect is
the same that noted in the main part Of the
exhibition Though the walls are covered TO
fairly good purpose. there is little on them to
arrest attention IN decisive manner. Noting
Mrs. Houstons charming 'Bacehante." Miss
Conant's three clever shore studies, especially
"On Board the LueIIa" Miss Turner's Whis-
tleresque Street Of the F1sherwomen," Miss
Gullivers firmly drawn Portrait Of Miss L. W.
c." Miss Fishers Cabbage Lettuce, prom
Using piece Of color, and the picturesque
Pigeons" and "Old Cat" Of AIr Mars. we take
leave OF the collection in mildly aPpreciative
mood. Il might have been made good deal
worse. 1t might have been made a good deal
better The galleries remain open until No
vember u