The sun., 1908-12-06
aHREE sC0TCH PAINTgRs.
ThFeo New Men VINO Ars ,fseSinninB -
Mako q sur IN LOndon.

IElRoo NEW Mon VINO AE0 n DlAuAfAAD -
Make Sur IN LSad0n.
LONDON, Nov. 2s,--Among the younger
generation OF painters IL group OF three
men, j. d. Ferguson, AZ. Psplos and
JOSEPH Simpson, whose fame seems sure
to spread beyond their own country. In
their native town Of Edinburgh great
things were predicted for them which
the criticism of their work. now on ex-
hibitlon In London. goes far to justify.
That This criticism has been largely CEN
sure proves that their work is exception
ally unlike most Of that which surrounds
II, at any rate In such time honored OK
hibitlons az the Royal Society OF British
Artists.
Certain galleries have certain traditions,
and though for q time the Sodety OF
British Artists was entirely transformed
by the presidency sof Whistler, yet his
reign was brief. and the; exhibitions OF
to-day differ little from those that pre-
ceded the advent OF that great individ-
ualist. "
Joseph Simpson at present Is best
known by his process portraits-woodcuts
printed in black and colored by himself.
At sthe above named galley hangs his
portrait OF King Edward, Of which his
Majesty has bought the original drawing.
1t is an excellent likeness OF the King as he
may be seen driving through the streets,
flower In buttonhole, cigar in hand and
the pleasant smile with which he invarta-
bly, greets his subjects.
Mr.. Simpson is not quite so much st
ease in his painting in oils; his portrait
OF Major Raymond Smythies is trife
too cold in color to be quite pleasing. but
%The Toby Jug though having some
what the same defect. is otherwise ex-
cellent, the technique is good and the
composition happy. The quaint old man
who forms thejug sits sqnarely on the
Union Jack. while in the background
is suggestion in mirror OF the artist
himself at work. Among so much that is
commonplace this fresh little picture
seems out Of place; II would be more at
home at the BailIie Gallery. whore Mr..
Ferguson and Mr. Peploe are showing
some OF their work.
John Baillie. who has now moved his
gallery to Bruton street. 10 not afraid OF
championiHs men little known. though
doing 80 may not be Immediately re-
munerative. Three years ago he first
gave Mr.. FERGUSON q show. and he has
again this season devoted q whole room
to that artists work. some forty pictures
in all. Mr.. Fergusson's talent Is YER
satile. With equal ease he paints the por-
trait OF man laughing. group OF figures
outside cafe at night or a boat. lying
alongside a row of houses on the bank
of the Thames in the-twilight.
His strength lies in his economy Of
means; he makes every brush mark tell,
he suppresses all needless detail and
seldom useR the fulness of his palate
either in the high lights or shadows.
Thus in the last named picture the lighted
lamps ON the boat though low in tone
tell brightly against the sky and houses
still luminous with the last rays Of even
ing. and this in q canvas covering a few
square inches. which is naturally more
difficult than on larger scale
1t is Mr.. Fergusson's small sketches.
impressions Of PEBBLES, Aberdour, Tan
giers and Paris, which appeal most readily
to the public; his portraits are still 80 frank
and direct as to be almost brutal. But
lIlSy SuO" O great Ou ne MAN
Withthe Geranium.' shown year or two
ago. That picture was almost universally
misunderstood. The deliberate ugliness
Of it was taken as merely an attempt by
the artist to be different from other people.
merely to make a sensation. 1t is true
that three fat tones. pink for the face.
drab for the background and black for
the coat. with splash Of vermllion rather
out of key for the geranium buttonhole.
do not make for beauty; but any man
who has something new to say cannot
in the beginning say it with the ease
aud fuenoy of another who is simply
repeating what has been said many times
before.
Mr., Peploe's principal contribution
to the Baillie Gallery is a still life, OF which
the silvery gray scheme Of coffee pot.
cups and black fan is enhanced by the
red and gold Of the apples lying on the
white tablecloth. Like Mr.. Ferausson,
he paints with full brush OF rich paint,
indicating essentials with suave and
flowing lines.