New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-06
AMERICAN ART.
Paintings by U7illiam 4. Coffin, Ed
zcard Gay and Others.

7-bara &c nov on exhibition at the Fifth Ave-
nue. Art Galleries. where it Will be Sold at auc-
ton on next Thursday and Friday evenings, Il
collection of paintings by William 4. Coffin,
Edward Cav, Carlton T. Chapman and Carrie
]. Blenner The catalogue runs 10 l32 numbers
MI Coffin has the lions share OF the space, eX-
bibiting over sixty pictures. but his colleagues
are all represented unanimously enough Inc
show leaves q pleasant impression, especially III
that II consists So largely of faithful Transcripts
Of American scenery MIR. BIenner's studies OF
graceful feminine types are, in some instances
al least portraits of the American girl but they
want character they are too facile ana shallow
in their prettiness They bring q decorative
but Rather Earring element into the gallery
1heiy54lovfng sweetness being in sharp contrast
to the more serious qualities Of the landscapes
around them Mr.. Chapman's sea pieces, on
the other hand. go we'll into collection notice
able chiefly for It's illustrations Of our American
atmosphere. In paintings like An Ocean Yacht
Race The Constitution and Java and out
ward Bound" he has capital movement and a
delightful freshness We have observed also
with appreciation several admirable bits of local
color OF his In the Harbor New-Yorl' being
especially attractive.
Mr. Coffin's salient characteristic is the bold
and at the same time rather severe notation Of
landscape forms. In painting the rolling farm
country of that part OF Pennsylvania In which
he appears 10 have found most of his subjects
he has been attracted again and again by the
aspect Of fields lying maplike before the OBJ
server their boundaries clearly defined. and
their surfaces counting as so many broad areas
OF solid tone. Looking at them In clear light.
as in the case of the Spring PlOughing' tNo.
9O. he has been satisfied too often by effects
more veracious than charming. and these effects
have on occasion been made still colder BY Ger
tain infiexibility in the handling. certain hard
ness in the color. But when Mr.. Coffin has let
himself go he has done much finer work Take,
for example. the large september" (No 65)'
which for quality is the best landscape ne
shows The tawny field in the foreground is rem
dered with engaging freedom. and the grays De-
yond are managed with equal breadth and Iee'-
ing. The almost dry precision which he has so
assiduously cultivated shows To good purpose
in many OF his pictures especially where the
elements OF composition pure and simple are
concerned but he U.s. the whole. more sue
cessful in his more loosely painted studies OF
atmospheric phenomena. A most beguIllng note
is struck in the Late Afternoon tNo. Sb>. with
the distant spre just peeping above the hori-
zon. and again In n June Day tNo. ~, fe-
hcitous design Is worked out with considerable
felicity OF tone An impressive theme is worth
Ny handled in "A Pennsylvania Farm. After
the Thunder Shower" no. 12O, the dramatic
sky being modelled with much vigor, and we
must mention also with special interest The
Summer Floods" (No ~. September Woods
and Flowers CNo. Oh. "Jerper HIM. tNo. I'D.
and Evening, Somerset Valley (No 12D. Mr..
Collins evening and night scenes are perhaps
his best productions. but in all his works he