New-York tribune., 1907-11-26
ART. EXHIBITIONS.
4 Collection of Work by american
Craftsmen.


IN the galleries of the National Arts Clpb thera
hss lust been opened an exhibition arrar.ad ~
elaboration between the members of ,bot 80
end the members Of the National Society NJ C>raf+s
men II contains a certain number of ANTIQUE OH
,sets but it is made up very largely Of things a.
s,w,ed and executed by Americans of the -.
ssv In & sense there is nothing new abor+ e.
show The Architectural League has for ,aars
given space in its annual exhibitions to examples
Of applied art Nevertheless. this display stands
Cor an idea which in different parts of tba oo,nt
hes only recently come TO be developed with sneciaI
enthusiasm. The minor decorative arts have beap
getting themselves organized, and as one society
or another has come before the public there has
been steady increase in the number Of young
men and women keen on showing what thew can
make Of textiles, pottery, jewelry and so on Tho
exhibition al the National Arts Club gives a kind
Of demonstration OF the progress made in nearly
every direction.
It's character IS peculiar. The visitor is both on
couraged and depressed. He sees ar once tba+ a
lot OF clever people have been at work hut when
he comes to examine. piece by piece, the things
they have DONE he has regrefuIly TO observe that
the really interesting work of artistic craftsman
ship IS after ALL pretty rare. Take for exar,ple
the jewelry In design and in execution It strange
ly misses the note of exqusiteness for which one
looks as matter OF course in objects fashioned
out Of the precious metals. The absence of origi-
naiity is not especially to be deplored To create
beautiful setting for jewel is prodigiously diff
cult task. and the development of an individual
touch in this field is necessarily slow save when
sheer genius is active. Our young goldsmiths are
not 10 be blamed if they sit with dociity at the
feet OF Lalique In time they may easily arrive at
q style Of their own. But meanwhile their crafts
manship is weak; their productions convey an i'm
preston Of emateurishness OF an uncertain and
heavy handed manipulation of the metals They
must make much more progress in manual skill as
well as in taste before they may expect to be taken
seriously.
It is in respect to taste that the exhibitors of
pottery here need most 10 be strengthened. Their
cups and jars need greater purity and grace of
FORM as they need greater delicacy in color. It is
curious TO observe the type of design which seems
20 be most popular among the designers OF dinner
plates and the like. They use in their borders
heavy motives, which belong rather to the domain
Of wallpaper than to that of china At MANY
points in the exhibition this same deficiency makes
Itself felt The craftsman Is clever but he seems
20 lack the instinct for the particular object he is
producing He does not seem to know precisely
The key in which 10 design his cup or brooch or
leather bag, as the case may be. Is it because he
has still 10 learn the secrets of his material To
grasp the very spirit of leather or silver? Ger
tainly the bulk Of this work suggests the crafts
man looking about him for something pretty TO
make. not the artistic temperament expressing it.
self in pottery or tewelry because It is driven by
an irresistible impulse TO work in those materials
and in no others. Yet the exhibition Is. has been
said above. encouraging. Why? Simply because
Il shows that scores of jealous Americans are try
familiar That they should try at all is good
sign, considering the tendency OF youthful
artists to imagine that art consists exclusively in
the painting of pictures and the carving of statues.
It is useful work that the Arts Club and the
National Society of Craftsmen have embarked
upon. It will bear good fruit as 1t is taken the
more seriously and the craftsman is brought to
realize that he must make haste slowly. He must
ground himself in all the practical elements Of his
craft ponderng deeply the mysteries of design and
execution. before he tries his wings in public Dur
ing the great epochs in italy. Germany and France
the guilds of craftsmen exercised high authority.
The cabinet maker who sought admission TO the
company Of his elders and superioTs compelled
10 submit to their judgment a piece OF furniture
that he had made with his hands, and If II did
not up to the mark IL might be publicly
burned before his dwelling. The rising goldsmith
only permitted TO execute a rich commission
after he had passed through an arduous appren-
ticeship. The crafts in America TO be put upon
firm basis, must be fostered IN the same dscplin.
ary and devoted spirit.
The local galleries filled with 'one man. ex-
hibitions. One or two additions to be made to
the list recently traversed in The Tribune At the
New Gallery there is a collection Of paintings by
Mr.. c. Austin Needham. At the Schaus Gallery
there are a number of etchings of New York scenes
by Mr.. MielatZ. Prints, indeed, everywhere
view The Wh.stlers at the Wunderlich Gallery
and the Rembrandts at the Keppel Gallery have
already been noted. Announcement has also been
made OF the collection or etchingS by Jacquemart,
which has been placed exhibition at the Lenox
Library building He was a technician OF remark
able dexterity, and his plates. though lacking in
charm. have a brilliant quality which makes them
very interesting to the student. A little supple
mentary exhibition has been arranged at the IL
brary, one OF wood engravings by Alfred Prunaire.
recently added TO the Avery collection by the late
Nj Avery's old friend, Mr.. George A Lucas. Pru-
naire has engraved many subtle passage, but his
style is chiefly notable for its boldness and SIM
n1ic n fS his
and this display of his work is welcome. II was
characteristic of Mr. Lucas to make it possible.
Throughout his long career in Paris collector
he has always been quick 10 appreciate the men
who have made genuine contributions to the mod
movement.
Several years ago Mr. Robert Reid practically
ceased TO occupy himself with easel pictures or
mural decorations. giving all his time TO the pro-
ducton Of an elaborate series Of stained glass WIN
dows in the Rogers Memorial Church at FAR
haven Mass Last spring he took up his brushes
again and is now having an exhibition at the st.
Botolph Club in Boston. Of twenty-seven paintings
executed during the summer. This exhibition VIII
presently be repeated in New York. where 1t VIII
be received with interest, for Mr.. Reid was from
the start conspicuous among the Ten American
Painters and new work by him has been missed
Mr. Downes writing In THE Boston Transcript
SAYS that he has apparently found new colors on
his palette or, If not new coors new coihpha'ioiI'
OF color which are not only novel, piquant ana per
sonal but thoroughly harmonious and satisfying
The new rictures are mostly landscapes. but the
6sure is introduced into two or three OF the1n'
Some months ago reference was made IN Inc
Tribune to DIR. BODIES justly severe crlucisnh oi
Miss Cruttv,ers clever but too oogInauc pooh oh
the Pollaiuol and attention was later gwen IN
tb,e ,o,,rr.I "a the controversy over the matter
that ens,ed in THE Burlington Magazine. MT
Sidney Colvin and Mr.. Claude Phillips came 10