New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
LONDON ART.
Chelsea Geniuses on the Line-OH
Masters at AUCTION.
London. February u.

lively seen? That is an old question which has
perplexed high minded painters for many year.
The existence of influential and prosperous in
stitutions like the Academy is not a solution.
even If over two thousand works are annually
exhibited at Burlington House. There are at
least ten thousand works rejected outright after
superficial examination; and overwhelming
maj--ity OF the two thousand which are accepted
are not hung so that they be properly seen
and allowed TO stand on their merits.
Many painters Of established reputation refuse
10 send their works TO Burlington House OH the
ground that careless hanging on crowded walls
does them more harm than failure TO be repre-
sented in big exhibition. The New Gallery
used TO be opposition show conducted with
greater hberality. but it has fallen under
dernic influence, and the majority Of pictures
hibited specially invited; and while all
artists liberty TO offer their work, the
chances OF acceptance are diminishing year by
year. The minor societies are organized for the
benefit OF regularly enrolled members. and out
siders are excluded from the regular exhibitions
Artists connected with them forced
either TO pay ruinous commissions TO dealers or
10 face the risks Of being 'skied'' in the larger
shows
Chelsea has an influential art club where am
bilious painters smoke and talk over their griev-
ances and condemn with fine irony coarse
club the Academy. Artists Of all nationalities
are in the studio quarter. and there is COM
rnunity OF feeling among them which has led to
decisive action. They are combining forces for
the object Of obtaining recognition. When the
larger galleries and Institutes can be had for a
month or longer al a moderate rental, there Is
nothing TO prevent their taking possession OF
them ard showing their work advantaseousy'
as il can never be seen at the Academy, even If
1rY7iSS
their paintings.
The Modern Society of Portrait Painters has
been formed for this purpose. and it now occu-
pies for a season the well lighted. comfortable
rooms Of the Royal Institute in Piccadilly. The
pictures are hung the line in three rooms, and
the walls are not crowded when there are only
IL works TO be catalogued. Moreover, the por-
traits are grouped so that each mans work
stands by itself and makes definite impression
Not even in the International Exhibitions is there
more artistic arrangement. and that is a severe
test for whatever may be the defects Of those
Scottish and Continental shows, the hanging is
always admirable
About thirty painters represented in this
show and although the quality Of their work is
well known in the Chelsea studios, few II any
OF them have impressed the throng OF specta-
tors at the Academy superior craftsmen.
Some of them are initators and lack discretion
M William B Ranken's lady in pink with dec
o-ative accessories was meant to be a swagger
Sargent but the style is too large for the
pafnter who finds his own level in the more
modest portrait of a Scottish archer. Mr.. Fer
guson's group does not need TO be assigned to a
Paris boulevard. for each Of the five pictures
bears the impress Of the vagaries Of extreme
French art in the exaggeration OF what is trtv-
iaL in the avoidance of beauty Of color or Of
form and in the conscious cultivation Of q hard,
elttering technique
Yet in spite Of occasional mannerisrns and
crude limitations there is much high minded
work Of artistic intention and excellent quality
There IS sense Of character in Mr Gerald
KeIIy's portrait Of Mr.. W. Somerset Maugham.
There is dignity with power in Mr.. John Crea-
locks full length panels Of the Rev Philip
Northcote and Mr.. Cunningharne Graham.
There is the charm OF vivacity IL Mr.. Lambert's
luminous portrait Of two boys, their mother and
2 pony and there is delightful composition in
the portrait OF Mr.. Glen Walkers four daugh-
ters from Mr. John da Costa's studio. The
American painter, Mr.. Max Bohm. has never
had full Justice done TO his work at the Acad-
erny or in the New Gallery and how fine It is
when seen by itself fl the beautiful Golden
Hours and the portraits OF his wife and
swarthy Colonel Driscoll the South African
scout Mr. Gerard Chowne is q Liverpool
paiuter not well known in London. but what a
decorative sense OF color there is IN his IIydran
yea Bower" with its puppies and greens! These
patnters and their associates have never before
been adequately appreciated. and even veteran
critics are amazed by the evidence Of unsus-
pected talent in Chelsea
Another group Of artists is making a similar
demonstration at the Goupn Gallery under tho
e71ise OF the New Association Of Artists The
majority Of them are landscape and marine
patuters, and their names appear in the lists Of
the leading exhibitions of the year. II their
work seems more refined in spirit and broader in
method in these spacious rooms il is because
there are few pictures on the walls and every
one is displayed 70 advantage. II an art dealer
can spoil the effect OF an old master by putting
a wide rrargtned etching beside ii, so can a
hanging committee create nuTnberless discords
or g crowded wall. Here there is harmony for
with one consent the leading contributors have
~one in for cool blues in moonIit fields, IN hazy
ha-bors in mountain pools and in vistas Of
5-es-nIand Mr. FREQ Hall is an exception, for
the reds in his evening scenes are almost too
hot. NJ Harry Becker is another for in his in
-.-so-z Of stables MorIands red or white horses
are stalled in a glory OF light; and MI George
wetherbee and Mr. Muirhead cannot paint their
graceful idyls and pastOrals without vivid
~-~ens Not q few Of these works disclose re-
Hneu,eut of sensibtlity well as closeness OF
observation. and conspicuous among them are
xr Borough Johnson's moonlit scenes, so full
Of s.fllness solitude and tranquility
The Chelsea geniuses struggling to find wall
uybere their work viii shine with unclouded
,,,s.,e and brflIiancy can have their philosophi-
cal reveries after visit Christies. the clear