New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
ART I'm WASHINGTON.
The First Annual Exhibition of the
COrcOran Gallery.
[From STAFF Correspondent OF The Tribune
Washington, February l

vest with more than ordinary significance tho
exhibition OF American paintings which has
Just been opened here at the Corcoran Gal
Iery Il IS. 10 begin with, the best show Of
the kind which has been held anywhere IN
'this country in years. The four hundred nict-
ures Il contains are presented in such dignihed
environment as only great public museum can
supply and they have been so we'll hung in the
super5ly lighted rooms that no contributor could
complain Of III treatment Finally the broad ad-
uinstration Of this enterprise by the trustees OF
the Corcoran Gallery has been marked by Hber-
atty as well as by good judgment. The prize
awards and certain purchases made for the per
naneut collection have already been announced
IN The Tribune. Other pictures have since been
bought. including Mr.. Metcalfs May Night" to
which The first prize was awarded, so that up to
cate the exhibition represents an expenditure of
about $4,000 in support of American art. Alto
gether The start made by this institution is made
IN the right direction, and if. as is expected an
exhibition Of the same high character is organ
Ted here annually. at least every other year.
i is not improbable that Washington will take a
commanding place IN the artistic affairs of the
countrr. It has at the Corcoran Gallery every
Thing that IS needed 10 give q regularly recur-
ring exhibition Of good pictures the fullest pos
s.ble prestige, the Freer becuest that has been
promised To The city is not by any means likely
10 be The last gift of the sort and with public
sympathy freely given TO f. the movement Just
begun IS certain TO result in the creation Of
that stimulating atmosphere which means more
than does anything else to the cause of art.
Public sympathy cannot, be withheld from an
exhibition having the merits Of the one at pres
ent under consideration. It's chief merit is its
representative character. Even better than the
excellent exhibition which is still view at
Philadelphia, Il shows what is being done by
the painters Of the day. It includes works by
men Of the first Importance and works by men
vho are Of comparatively little consequence. but
he pictures submitted have been sifted with
so much that the minor artists at least
shown at their best. and the utterly hopeless
rnedocrlties have been rigidly excluded. The re-
suit OF this enlightened policy-and of the good
hanging-is that the rooms are evenly interest
Ing. Only at one point does a masterpiece loom
brilliantly as 10 dim the effect of its sur
roundIgs. This is in the room in the centre OF
The building, where a group OF portra s by Mr.
Sargent is displayed salient in 1t being the can
vas Of The -Four Doctors" recently unveiled at
Johns Hopkins University as a gift from Miss
Mary Garrett. The present writer has seen this
portrait again and again. first in London, then
IN Baltimore. and now once more In Washing
ton Renewed study OF 1t only deepens the first
impression received. only reveals further ele-
ments Of strength and charm in the work. The
good light in the Corcoran Gallery not only en-
phasizes the mastery treatment Of the figures
but brings out the beautiful execution of the
shsdowy background a composition like this
is nothing II not equally brilliant as TO por-
rraiture and as 10 pictorial effect. Nj Sargent
uses the grand style in this work and uses 1t
with as much ease, with as natural an exercise
~ all his gifts Of technique he reveals in his
least formal sketch. II is interesting TO observe
how deeply rooted his art is IN the truth Of ia
lniliar life The imposing canvas is hanked by
portraits painted by the artist, on a much
smaller scale, Of Miss Garrett and Miss Thomas,
the late John Hay and Mr.. William Thorne.
These ere all vivid, spontaneous studies OF char
acter; in them all i is first and last the per
sonal note that counts. It is this that counts
also in the great group for Baltimore, only 1t IS
dra1natized, as BELTS the occasion, into bigger
more stately form
These portraits by Sargent very appropriately
dominate the exhibition The pervasiveness OF
his influence IS an old story, but seldom has II
been SO clearly illustrated as this occasion
Il Is not that the show contains quantities OF
fatty initiative work. on the contrary, II
would be absurd TO regard an artist like Miss
Beaux, for example. as a mere echo OF the
master. Yet II would be idle, on the other hand
70 ignore the fact that without Sargents in
fueace many Of these painters would probably
have developed their different aptitudes IN very
The lump; or, rather, he has put into circulation
certain kind of artistic currency which turns
un here and there. bearing this or that more or
less original imprint but invariably recalling
when all IS said. the one original mint Miss
Beaux has so much talent that while she 10
quicker than any one else in reminding you OF
Sargent. she is likewise quicker in making you
forget him for the sake OF her own extraordi-
nary adroitness. She has four portraits here
and they are in as many keys. All are persua-
sive. but one, the solid vigorous key OF the Mrs
Charles 4 Morss." is little more than that.
Miss Beaux. who is always clever. impresses by
knowledge and authority in this much by
Cleverness Mr.. Wiles also has sat at Sargent's
feet with much benefit to his technique. but he
IS surer Of his results when he is least ambitious
TTis simple study iB quiet tones Portrait of Mr.
Paul CoTneyer." is admirable His larger por-
trait Of a lady. larger and much more compIi-
cated in its color scheme, seems somehow rather
thin to one who has just turned from Sargent's
amazing brush work. The point might be de-
veloped almost indefinitely. l have noted por-
traits by Mr.. julius Rolshoven. Miss Ellen En-
met, Mr.. Victor Hecht. Mr. William Paxton and
Miss Elizabeth Watson the inspiration for
which could have come from but one source
But details a. this distance are improbable
The main point is Just the extent to which
Sargent has fortified the technique Of his con-
iemporaries
IN the search for original tempera-
nlents than those which have lent themselves so
readily 10 his influence ii is noticeable that
they are 90 be found rather among the older
than among the younger men. Certain of the
Younger figure portrait painters, ii is true
provide the exceptions that prove the rule. There
IS Mr.. T. ". Benson. with his open-air study
a. a vivacious feminine type. Against the Sky"