Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-01
NEW YORK ART NOTES
Numerous and Varied AttraC-
tons Presented.
SOME CHINESE P0RcELAINs
Winslow Homer's Notable Painting,
"The Gulf Stream"
GERMAN CANvASES ON VIEW
Work Of Washipgtonians in the
Metropolis-Other Matters
of Interest.
GERMAN CANvAsEs ON VIEW
Special Correspondence of The Star.

We" IOIlh, JdHudTy ISVi
There is almost a riot of art events in
this city at present, so numerous are the
| attractions and SO varied their character.
In the dealers galleries on 9th avenue
alone there is a bewldering number of ex-
cellent one-man exhibitions; at the Fine
7 Arts Galleries, the National Academy of
Design has just held it's winter exhibition
and preparations are in progress for the
American Architectural Leagues annual
show, while at another gallery there is an
extraordinary collection of Chinese por-
celains, to say nothing Of the permanent
attractions at the Metropolitan Museum,
the public library and elsewhere.
Special interest is attached to the exhi-
btion of the National Academy of Design
not only because it Is the first since the
academy and the Society of American Ar
fists merged their organizations, but be-
cause quite a large number Of the paint
ings included in it's catalogue are to be
shown. by special invitation, in the ap-
preaching exhibition of contemporary
American paintings to be held in Washing
ton under the auspices of the Corcoran
Gallery of Art-an exhibition which. by the
way, has awakened wide interest here"
When the Society of American Artists re-
turned to the fold of the academy there
were many who obviously shook their
heads, but certainly this exhibition bore
evidence to the wisdom of the merger. 1t
was better in spirit than, for several years
have been the regular Academy shows; it
included more fresh, vigorous and individ-
ual work than commonly; there were more
young painters represented and yet it did
not fail to give place and honor to the
older men. It was not, perhaps, as good as
it should have been-there were not many
great canvases in its catalogue-but it was
worthy of careful consideration, and in
every assemb}age giants are the exception
rather than the rule
''The Gulf Stream"
The painting which naturally attracted
most attention was THE Gulf Stream" by
Wfnslow Homer, which was purchased by
the Metropolitan Museum for it's perma-
nent collection. This depicts a dismantied
sloop drifting or wallowing in the tropical
sea. On the deck. half naked and stretched
at full length, is a negro dying and in
the water around the doomed boat hungry
sharks are playing. To the right adding
to the drama is a waterspout and to the
left increasing the pathos ship in full
sail, in the offings, is seen. Horrible, in
deed. this painting Is not overwrought and
while painful in theme 1t is not unpleasant
to look upon. Without doubt it is mastery
painted and true work of art, but yet
one cannot but marvel that SO great
painter should have chosen so gruesome
theme, and, that choosing it, he could have
rendered 1t so studiously.
On the last day of the exhibition crowds
gathered before this picture and many
persons peered at it through opera glasses
for what purpose could not be conJectured,
unless, carried away by its realism, they
were looking to the passing ship hopeful Of
sign.
Rarely in current exhibition have there
been SO many notable portraits-Irving
Wiles, Carl Melchers, VIM. T. Smedley,
VIM. Thorne, VIM. Funk, Cecilia Beaux
Robert Henri. Lorenzo Hatch formerly
Of Washington. Mrs. Kenyon Cox and
others were admirably represented. There
were, moreover, some excellent marines
and a few important figure paintings, but
almost no notable genres and comparative
ly few very significant landscapes, though
one would indeed wish to pay tribute to
the delightful spontanity of Mr.. Grolls'
Arizona canvas to the interpretive power
Of those by Ochtman, Robinson, Foster and
Redfeld, and to the rich tonal qualities of
George Inness, jr.'s Crossing the Ford
Everett Warner, Washington painter
was well represented, as were also Mrs
Conan. Louis Loeb, c. c. Curran and
many others.
Chinese Porcelains
1t would be difficult to expend too much
praise or enthusiasm upon the collection of
chinese porcelains now on exhibition. Made
up of several private loan collections, among
which are those of Mr.. J..Pierpont Morgan,
Mr. Marsden ]. Perry, Mr.. A. B. Widener
and Mr.. Edison Bradley, it represents the
choicest examples in this country and some
of the rarest in the world But rarity is not
its keynote.
1t is selected exhibition and has been SO
grouped and arranged that it presents
series OF color harmonies, exquisite almost
beyond description. Not since the Wagga-
man collection was dispersed in this city
has there been such a display, and even
then 1t was not eQualled. Seldom, indeed,
will one have such an opportunity to study
and become acquainted with the most per-
feet examples of an unrivaled art. For no
matter what other nations. have done, the
porcelains of ancient China remain SUI
preme. The forms, the colors, the designs
are in every instance perfect, and standing
in the midst of these treasures one can not
fail to realize the true universally of art.
There are vases Of peachblow, oxblood and
torquise tints, black hawthorne Jars groups
Of blue and white, and of celadin, many
patterns and various glazes-one scarcely
less artistic or pleasing than another. Al
but interesting to ponder-what eventually
will be their destination? VIII they not by
and by, drift through their owners generos-
ity into public museums and galleries? Ger
tainly their present exhibition, which is en-
tihely monumental, gives further testimony
to the willingness Of private collectors to
share with the public the delight of their
possessions.
Some German Paintings:
AS the collection Of German paintings Sc
lected by Mr.. Kurtz while abroad last sum-
mer is to be shown before many months in
Washington 1t is interesting to note an ex-
hibition Of works by some Of the same
painters which 0having been loaned by Mr..
Hugo Reisinger) is now to be seen at the
National Arts Club. There are twenty-six
canvases In all by artists Of Munich Ber-
lin, Karlsruhe and Dusseldorf. and If they
may be given credence the larger, travelling
exhibition must be very much worth
while" Theirs is essentially q foreign art
yet one most virile and invigorating. It has
indeed q robustness which perhaps our own
lacks, hut which il not always capable of
artistic expression. Perhaps one NAV NOT
altogether admire IT. but yet find profit
In 1t.
American Art Appreciated.
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