Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-16
Art Review
BY KATHRYN RUCKER

The exhibition which opens tomor
row (Monday) at the SteckeI galleries
of thirty-six paintings, oils and water
colors by Benjamin Chambers Brown
will prove of much interest and pleas
ure.
Mr.. Brown is an artist of much
poetry and sentiment, with a fine sense
of color and the power of expressing
himself with force and spontaniety.
His compositions are pleasing and we'll
balanced, and he possesses much feel
ing for tonal qualities, with keen ap-
probation for values. While there is
individuality about all his work,
through which we see the man. we
also recognize, especially in the pres
ent collection, he has not yet evolved
permanent style.
There is the variation in his work
which speaks of continual striving for
the better and grander, and the con-
sequent progress resulting therefrom is
clearly indicated.
Mr.. Brown ia a most energetic work.
er and able to adapt himself to the
ever-changing moods of Nature, por-
traying her well, both in sunshine and
shadow, carrying into his pictures the
song she sings, be 1t grave or gay.
One of the best rendered subjects
presented in this exhibit, and in al!
points one of the most charming pic
III 10 I1NEllAilB OAl Tic MIDI SHES II
is very wet and filed with soft shad-
ows and fascinating reflections, the
harmony of the hour and a promise of
rest. 1t is q picture to live with, its
low and mellow tones striking a note
of sympathy and tenderness.
There ere several other smaller pic
lures with fine tonal qualities and in
teresting subjects Antwerp at Dawn"
and The Hay Wharf, San Francisco"
being worthy of special consideration.
In his Grand Canyon work and the
rendering of the Sierras, Mr.. Brown
has produced fine atmospheric effects;
bit of Bruges and a Venetian canal
are good examples of his warmth of
coloring.
The largest canvas shown, called
"Windswept," is well drawn and
painted, being handled with much vigor
and directness, and portrays a cold
and merciless wind most forcefully
THE Island" and "The Twisted Pine"
express other phases of this painters
versatility. The water colors are clear
and crisp, and tell us the story of the
artist through another medium.
-
Mrs. Helma Heynsen-Jahn, portrait
artist, Birkel building, South Spring
street, has just completed two commits
sions, one a life-size three-quarter
length oil painting of j. H. Norton,
of the little daughter of ]. E. Fishburn,
both of Los Angeles.
In the portrait of Mr.. Norton the
strong characteristics of the man are
well portrayed. and the facial express
sion full of life and subtlety. 1t is
well painted and possesses marked in
dividuality, and the power to make
us feel the presence of the person.
The child's portrait is also well rem
dered, Mrs. Jahns technique in that
medium being particularly good. She
has caught the happy childish express
sion. and in this pastel has given us
little poem.
Another portrait by this artist, that
of Professor b. r. Baumgardt, lee
turer, has just been acquired by the
University club in which he is held in
highest esteem, and a special dinner
was made the occasion for hanging
the portrait as surprise to Professor
Baumgardt.
Miss Regina OKane held a reception
Saturday. November 2, at her studio,