New-York tribune., 1906-12-15
ART EXHIBITIONS.
Mr.. Coleman's Pastels of VesuUaus
TN ErWptiOn.

Mr.. Charles Caryl Coleman. the American artist
who has lived for many years in Capri. never re-
visits this country without bringing interesting
souvenirs of his incessant activity. he mas Just
come again to New York and on this occasion ne
shows at the Noe Galleries collection OF pictures
having an unusual significance Not only ooes
this collection illustrate more the charm OF a
delicate art II gives Impressions of the recent
eruption of Vesuvius which worth inhnlteiy
more than the best photographs taken by a
scientist. If the eruption was thing OF terror II
was also thing of beauty. and to Mr. Coleman
we owe it that we can see now what that beauty
was like We do not know II he made his studies
OF the volcano in pastel simply because that me-
dium suited TO the rapidty required In the
work, because the effects to be observed could
not have been half sympathetioally translated
considerations had weight with the artist HIS
choice of medium has at all events been richly
rewarded. The softness of pastel. which ne mas
exploited with peculiar lightness Of touch. gives 70
his Impressions precisely the note that belongs TO
his theme.
1t is natural that first thoughts OF the erup-
ton should be thoughts Of awful violence and OF
sharply dramatic contrasts Of light and shade.
There are couple of paintings here. studies IN
monotone, IN which Mr.. Coleman gives us an I'M
pressive OF that which was tragic and sombre
in the spreading Of the lava beneath the shadow
of the volcano These are studies made at close
quarters and they bring home to US with KIND
OF dreary emphasis the coiorless gloom In which
the eruption enveloped the stricken land. But
practically all of the pictures IN this exhibition
made from the artists studio window. which
is to say at a distance enabling him to apprehend
all the poetry of the event-the still sea In the
foreground. and beyond. lifted up like a thing In
fantastic dream. the majestic giving forth IT'S
wonderful spirals and clouds of smoke and vapor'
It seems almost cruel TO think of that tremendous
horror without reference the human misery It
caused, yet 1t must be confessed that In the pres
ence of these pestels one forgets everything save
the loveliness of color which the artist has re-
captured. Look, for example at No. g. which
registers a morning effect In which showerins
ashes largely figure An almost unnatural calm
lies upon the waters. Above them. to consid-
cradle height, all Is misty ohscurty but then still
furlner aloft, the cone comes into view NoIhas
could be more solemn and nothing could be more
suby exquisite. II is not without reason thae MT
Coleman has given his group of some thirty ODD
pastels the general title OF Songs of Vesuvius
There is indeed. lyrical quality in the restrained
harmonies of tone which he has based on the
spectacle he was privileged to witness
It is scarcely necessary to particularlxe IN re-
oording the character of this exhibition Each COM
position has the central motive on which, as
the series proceeds. the artist executes Varlaos'
according as the light changes, or the wlnd s"aSs
the great clouds above the cone this way OF that
and Inodifies their contours Sometimes the note
Is grim and then It is tender, as the shadows
tighten something of the pearly radiance or an
opal suffuses the scene. Some of the studies nave
perhaps. shade more Of pure enchan'ment III
them than YOU will find in others- There Is No z.
a record Of early afternoon and there Is NO Sa
pastel done IN the cool air Of the morning. But we
repeat there Is single picture In the group
which is negligible. Each one commentaries
moment of beauty, and each one discloses a re-
Ane5 and sure technique. There half a dozen
oil paintings in the exhibition and these nave
their interest There is charming note of quiet
color in No. So. "A Capri Garden Scene. and MT
Coleman has put both good workmanship ana oe-
quilting element of romantic feeling into NO 10
'Noonrise Effect" and the large composition dis
closing two musicians beneath the starlt trees or
a picturesque scene. But 1t is to the songs OF
Vesuvius'' that the exhibition owes It's sanenoa
They have a character which makes doubly well
coma this reappearance of an artist whose work 1t
is always pleasure to see.