New-York tribune., 1907-11-06
ART EXHIBITIONS.
Decorations By Mr. La Fargo
Water COlors and PasteIs.

IN the art gallery of the Century Club Mr. La
sFgrge is exhibiting this week two panels which he
has painted for the Court House at Baltimore
those who obtain cards from members will do
veIl TO make point OF seeing these new works by
,be most distinguished of mural decoration
,u this country. They illustrate once more the
mower OF the creative faculty, which will invest a
simple motive of design with extraordinary vitality
Mr. La Fargo. like every painter working amid
architectural surroundings is largely concerned
with the harmonious filling of a given space; but
with intellectual and imaginative feeling shared
ty few of his contemporaries he is at pains to fill
the space in question with really eloquent figures
He is ever the thinker as well as the decorator
and this occasion he challenges the beholder
with groups which, for all their seeming formality
and almost immobile character are nevertheless
full OF the life of thought.
In the first and more impressive Of the two
Moses is the central figure, an old bearded man.
seated with his right resting upon the table
OF the law He wears q red robe, partially COW
cred by draperes, in which tints Of violet and gray
strike a darker note. His head is thrown back and
the whole figure is subtly expressive of authority
Joshua and his brother stand at hand. OBJ
EioUsy moved by the words of the prophet be-
tween them. The background is all of fat gold
save where, IN the upper part of the panel, il is
broken by the deep rosy tones of lifting clouds
Nothing could be architectural in balance
than this group The figures are so disposed that
they rest with kind of fnality between the arches
nclOsing them at the sides the long horizontal
line at the top. But the mathematical precision
with which they adjusted TO the frame is yelled
almost the point of concealment by the artists
higher purpose. That is say, the perfect decor
ative fitness of the scheme leaves one free TO an
prehend the meaning of the figures. These are
true embodiments of character; the Moses is a
type Of grandeur of soul. and the two subsidiary
peTsonages make, in their different ways, the same
human appeal With majestic forms and sumptuous
color Mr.. La Fargo impresses the eye. In his
treatment of physiognOmy and carriage he touches
the Imagination.
In the centre Of the other panel. Justinian stands
in purple before his throne a jurisconsult per
haps TTebonian," is seated on his right a thought
ful man. listening attentLsely with chin on hand
ffues Of gold and rose appear in his garments.
Theodorar clad ip violet and gold and wearing a
headdress OF PEARLS, stands on the other side of
the Emperor Here again there is much gold in
the background, but contrasted with it there is a
varied play OF color in the mosaics and carvings
Of Byzantine decoration. Some curtains are also
introduced, and not very happily. They want full
ness and freedom Of line. and introduce a certain
Testessness into the broad effect Beside the massy
simplicity Of the Moses this panel seems because
Of its background defective in unity. On the other
hand. where the dramatic significance Of the group
IS concerned, It possesses. Ike its companion re-
Taarkaole weight and polsnancy. Though the face
OF Justinian is little disappointing, inasmuch as
II is not altogether expressive OF kingy repose and
power, the mood Of eagerness, OF nervous exaIta-
ilon' which the artist has preferred to interpret
not only in the features but in the whole tense
body, has somehow an energzing influence unon
the eject OF the entire composition. II is en-
phasized by the rather languorous pose OF Tbeo-
CORA ana oy the strong quietude OF the seated
man Taken together these decorations form n
noble addition to Mr.. La Farge's worI, rrbe,, ,.,
enrich the building in which they are 10 he rIaca
tTough their high qualities of form color a,d
StyIe ana through the new life they give to the
SUBJECTS represented in them.
The New York Water Color Club has opened at
linn r.
Aoitons Of the season Il makes 4 pleasant effect
Win some four hundred paintings Ordinarily
aoont haIT OF these would have suffered for lack
o. wei lighted wall space but during the summer
an enormous Improvement has been made In the
building. The three small middle galleries which
have SO long distressed exhibitors have now been
thrown into one. and the result is delightful. IN
ceed, this change. while actually increasing
the space available. greatly enhances the value
o. uhe series OF galleries q whole that the
gsAizers OF exhibitions here should feel new
stirnulus in their work II the artists responsible
FOR the present display have made the walls in
any way startling it is scarcely their fault They
nave 10 make the best Of the contributions in
and water coloTists are not as a body wont
10 do anything very brilliant. There few salient
pictures here. OF the few the most significant is
M Hassam's open air nude study. The Bath
Painting charming in color and full of light
and air that easily overlooks the want Of
beauty in the modelling Of the figure.
There is cleverness in Mr.. Luis Mora's prize
picture, Vacation Time bold Sketch of young
people in a sailboat. One two other figure
sketches attract attention notably, AN Arab" by
Mr.. Arthur Schneider; The Nativity" by Miss
Paula Hirmelsbach: ''Oceanide." by Mr.. G. w.
Maynard: Portrait, F. r. Whiteside" by Mr..
High Breckenridge; The Almond Tree" by Mr..
Albert Herter. and the several Illustrations 10
- Love Match by Miss Elizabeth Shipper Green.
But the outstanding work in the exhibition is done
BY the landscape painters, by Mr.. C i. Grippe, in
his Old AIiT'; Mr J. c. huntington, in his Grey
January; Nh c. II. Collier, in his winter: Miss
Mariana Sloan in her Through a Sheet Of Rain"
and IN other pictures by Mr.. H. c. White. Mr..
Albert GroIl. Mr.. Thomas Hunt. Miss Matilda
Browne. Nj Z. II. Potthast. Mr.. II. 3. Smell and
Mr =. Y. Eaton. There is a good architectural
subject, Beauvais Cathedral" by Mr.. c. Q. Cooper.
and Miss Helen Abrahans shows a capital Still
composition offered, 'Orpheus Charming the Ami
Is of the nerveless order. and his romantic compo-
sitiou IS cuTiousy wanting in charm. The exhibi-
ton IN general Hike many Of its predecessors,
its success not 10 quantities of strongly in
dvidualized art but TO great deal OF excellent
3ourneymans work.
At the Montross gallery there may be seen just
water colors and pasteis. Twelve fifteen artists
are represented in IT. Mr.. Dewing sends a couple
Of delicate and graceful figure studies in pastel.
From Mr.. Weir there q sheaf Of a dozen land
scspes diaphanous memoranda of scenes in which
he has found effects heeting a they ex-
quisite. II is interesting 10 how pieces like
the Summer" the Spring Morning" or the
Early Noonrise" Mr.. Weir has contrived put
into the frailest envelope note of rich originality
AT. Walter Griffin and Mr. childe Hassam. Mr
&. u. Dewey and Mr.. w. L. Lathrop Mr. D. w.
Tryon. Mr.. G. H. Clements and Mr.. w. L. Met