The San Francisco call., 1908-10-04

1 cuflafiy a CdlllOrnld lnSlllutiOH
Born of the need of a fitting hall
where the works of California painters
could be Received, passed upon by a
competent jury. and II accepted, well
hung, we'll lighted and explained to
those who needed it by well posted
curator. it has become the means to
long desired end. The works of
painters. heretofore viewed in small
groups or as detached examples, are
here beheld collectively, thus affording
An opportunity for comparison. for the
observances of the peculiarities of the
different schools and for the growth
and development of the artist as he
gropes his way towa-d his goal.
. Since its inception and establishment,
some three years ago, 1; has achieved
a marked measure of success, numbers
of pictures being sold to eastern visi-
tors and travellers as we'll as to well
known people in San Francisco, who
are glad to take this chance OF show
ing their appreciation of the place the
gallery fills in a community of art
lovers, Last year four of Charles Rollo
Peters paintings of moonlight scenes
were purchased by Mrs. Will Crocker,
always generous patron of the arts.
while two others by the same artist
went to Mrs. \. ID. Gum of Pacific
Grove. Within the last month five more
pictures have passed into the hands
Of purchasers. "The Oaks by Sidney
Yard. was bought by Miss Jennie
Hooker; "Papoose," by Grace Hudson.
one of this artists striking IL detailed
Indian pictures, has gone to the home
of NJ. L. Putnam in Boston,; one OF
Pfazzoni's charming and cleverly exc
cuted French scenes is now owned by
T,o,1 r-la
throp purchased The Duck Pond by
the late Tom Hill, and The Old Ferry
House." by Fl. r. Blomer. who has set
up his studio in Sausalito. These
works of California artists have each
brought good prices and are deemed OF
a high order of merit.
Though shorn OF the beautiful and
promising works mentioned, the gallery
presents well filled walls to the visi-
tor There are-no empty spaces. and
wherever the eye turns it is con-
fronted by some exquisite head or
scene.
Latimer, painter OF redwoods. shows
a forest interior in one of the north
ern counties of California-cool, deep
and shadowy, tangle OF red bracken
and tall trees.
Dickman has. a large canvas of
Cypress point. splendid study of the
strange. weird trees there
Del Mue's STUDY o. Oaks hangs on
the north wall, a. remarkable effect in
light illumination, the deep. blue sky
seeming to curve outward behind the
interlacing branches, through which the
light radiates with. an indescribable
softness and luminosity.
Will Sparks has a charming view OF
the San Joaquin river at nightfall,
showing the deep, trembling reflections
of scattered lights on the water. an
old stone house on the bank, a tree
near by, and several figures figure in
the foreground, all permeated with the
warm glow and shadows of early even
ing. and natural brilIianey of color,
as in the vivid red of the skirt of the
child. An interior. showing the old
Tucson mission, with its altar, a group
of kneeiing, blanketed figures pros
trate at the steps, an old Indian
woman reading from a book of de-
yotions, all in the golden dust of sun
light streaming down on the red glow
of the fire below, which is reflected in
the picture of the. saint hanging oNer
the altar, simple, charming picture
of the vanished mission days is Sparks
work also. and though but q sketch.
attracts attention by its intense in
terest.
CaIthea Vivien, although a new
name among California artists, is des-
tined to win and hold art lovers by
her remarkable work, After Rain in
Barbizon'' and Sunset on the Thames"
the latter handled in such vigorous,
strong and able manner as to attract
the attention of Keith who said on
viewing it, that he found nothing to
criticize" Sunset on the Thames
has rough and simple subjeet-only
a big collier, with a huge crane. deep
~, Il i{olra ri inc ra1 x-al-
low reflections from the wharf lights,
which mark the bulkhead in dark mass
behind the craft, and a wonderful at
mospheric presentation Of evening
dusk. The haze of twilight enfolds
boat. wharves and figures. while the
quivering lights seem to dance on the
water like elusive red and yellow
sprites Miss Vivien's river is like
moving water and glistens and shines
under the reflections like the real
thing The same effect is noticeable
in her Barbizon picture, which is but
a quaint village street with old stone
houses and a tree or two all washed in
the clear softness of a shower. Here
again the fagstones of the rough
street fairly glisten. One sees a recre-
ant raindrop or two trickling down
window panes and is keenly alive to the
fresh and newness of a rain washed
world. The little village street seems
to smile in it's glad content.
Another delightful painting is that
OF Harry Stuart Fonda, who has de-
picted a bit of old Monterey. a stretch
of intense blue water, small lagoon,
between banks of reeds with delicately
glowing sunset sky as background over
the top of dark hills. There is depth
and sincerity in the artists conception,
and capability and understanding of val
ues in execution The picture breathes
beautiful melancholy-the sadness of
the dying day. and Is bathed in ex-
quisite softness and delicacy of color
ing There are four others by Fonda
"The Wayfarer." Near Monterey and
The House of Four Winds The latter