New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-14
ART EXHIBITIONS.
The american Water Color Society.

The last picture show this season. that of the
American Water Color Society the Fine Arts
Building. is very pleasant affair. In peculiar
harmony with the sunny weather. 1t is large ex-
hibtOn. containing between 800 and 600 pieces, but
it has been well hung that a light effect is
preserved. The water colors occupy the two main
galleries. In the three smaller rooms there are
etchings Illustrations These subsidiary groups
embrace some of the best things that are shown
II was an especially good idea to give space TO
the etchers who not very often brought before
the public a body. One man. Mr. Ernest
B. Roth, leaves a delightful impression with half
a dozen Venetian and Florentine plates. He has
not yet formed notably original style, but his
technique is good he has a sense OF color. and his
work is altogether so ingratiating that one looks
forward to seeing more of it. Mr.. r. n. Mygatt.
too. has charming things to say in series
Of landscape plates which show skill in execution
and a feeling for nature Mr.. Penneifs Lon
don etchngs suggest that the influence upon him
of Mr. Whistler's later manner has not been en-
trey fortunate. He is facile as he has always
BEEN his surfaces teazed. his effects scat
tered He did much better work years ago. when
his line stronger and the spirit of Ms art was
all for certain simplicity. Mr.. Mielatz exhibits
an interesting series I'm which some capital urban
subjects especially 10 be noted. and In this
vein Mr.. Charles Henry White also puts some adj
mirable studies his credit. Some excellent etch
ings by Mr.. C. A. NanderhOof. Mr.. l. X Man
ley and Mr. Leigh Hunt finally to be signal
the interest of the occasion.
One fact in the current history of water color in
this country is strikingy brought out by the pres
exhibition. That is the practical disappear
ance Of the ideal of sheer dexterity which at one
time was fostered here in devoted emulation Of
Fortuny and the whole Spanish Roman school
Twenty years ago. when the medium vas at the
height of it's popularity in America. many artsts
wont to exploit it for it's own sake Ihey
were especially fond of the sparkling staccato er-
fects of which Fortuny was so, consummate mas
ter. and though this resulted I'm good deal OF
rather brittle empty stun. 1t meant also the pro-
ducton of some fascinating water colors, as. for
example. those painted by the late Robert Blum
Then other movements began to displace thts
of manual cleverness. The modern Dutch
men FASTENED the change that the Barbizon men
had already started, and what with these forces
and the impresslonistic enthusiasm the most in
genlous of the followers of Fortuny were made TO
look a little old fashioned. To-day the love OF
sharp, vivid impressions. when it survives at all.
comes out in such work Mr.. Charles Sarka has
sent To the exhibition under review. He is some
thing of the sprightly virtuoso in his South Sea
notes but he breadth which quickly differ
entates him from the earlier school to which ref
erence has been made.
The majority of his colleagues employ rather
solid and even elaborate method aiming at broad
masses OF tone and atmospheric qualities as
rich those attained by the painter IN oils. There
is representative picture the very threshold OF
the exhibition. Mr. Gordon Grants Mischief
Afoot,' a romantic episode in some town across the
The costumes of the figures point TO the
picturesque life OF another century than own.
end the architectural background deepens the Old
World note. Here there Is pretence of placing
the spirit Of the medium In the foreground. spirit
OF spontanety The effort is rather build up a
weighty scheme of color and of light and shade
Throughout the show you constantly coming
upon the ideal. You will find it. above all. in
the landscapes in the beautiful pictures by Mr.:
C. W. Eaton. Mr. r. " Shurtlefr. Mr.. c. A. Need
ham, Mr.. Edward Gay. Mr.. Z. l.. Field and Mrs
r. II. Nichols Here and there a more vvacous
touch is visible. in Mr.. Il. I. kellers compost
lions, Mr.. III. Reuterdahl's studies OF shipping Mr.
Arthur Schneiders Oriental impressions. and Mr.
Edward II. Potthasts delightful beach scene (No.
l2). But in the main the mode is the careful mode
which has been indicated dedicated first and
last 20 the production OF subtly modulated tone.
The collection contains only few salient pieces
Mr.. Ballin's richly COlored and romantic Pas
toral' and Mr.. Hassam's cool. air study called
"Aphrodite' are indeed. the only contributions
that denote uncommon ambition. But the average
is nevertheless very fair the merely dull pictures
in the minority.
The illustrators do their part we'll. Mr. Abbey.
I'm his Shakespearian subjects; Mr.. Penfed. in his
souvenirs OF SPAIN Messrs. Craig. HUT. Keller.
PexOtto Steele. Smedley. Pyle. Leyendecker and
Fisgg In quantity OF miscellaneous work, I'LL the
east and west galleries with vitality and make them
entertaining into the bargain Among these Illus
trations there a few wood engravings by Mr..
Henry Wolf. including his superb block after
Whister's Miss Alexander" This exhibition will
remain open until May rs. II ought not to be neg
ected. for it is of the attractive exhibi-
tions the American Water Color Society has ever
held r, c.