New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-08
ART EXHIBITIONS.
Some american Water CCIOrs, Fitch
ingS and illustrations.

The exhibition which has been opened at the
Fine Arts Building by the American Water Color
Society is one of the pleasantest which we have
owed to this institution in a long time. It brings
forward a generous quantity of clever work, espe-
ctally in the department of landscape, and while It
contains no extraordinary pictures it illustrates a
reasonably high average in the handling Of de-
lghtful medium. The truth is that only genius
can manipulate water color in such wise to pro-
duce really memorable works of art. Mr.. Sargent
can do it. as witness the astounding collection
which he exhibited at the Knoeder gallery not
long ago. the collection then happily purchased
for the Brooklyn Museum. But Mr.. Sargent is
portent. Other painters must be content with less
brilliant achievements. They need not repine so
long they can do such excellent work as fire.
quently appears in the present exhibition.
good example is that supplied by Miss Clara
T. MacChesney in her handsomely painted Still
Life The quiet tones in this are harmonized with
a touch that is both suave and firm. The artist
has a true sense of color, and she her medium
with authority. The result is a sterling piece Of
craftsmanship. 1t is more especially in its judi
cious Quetude that this picture is typical of the
better work in the exhibition There is little left
of that influence which exercised here years
ago by a few artists enamoured of Fortuny's daz-
zling style. Only at intervals does some one
turn up making an effort TO be sharply vivid, to
glitter. ard even to starte with bold staccato ef-
fects Mr. Reuterdahl, be sure, tends little in
this direction. in such a picture In For
eign Ports he agile brush TO very divert
ing purpose. But the prevailing key is far more
restrained the style most in evidence is one OF
breadth and simplicity. deriving more from the
modern Dutch school than from any other, though
Il is doubtless be referred in a measure also to
the practice of the Barbizon group. The repre-
sentative pieces such landscapes as The Red
Barn" by Mr.. c. P. Grippe, and other open air
studies like Mr.. RitcheIs Bringing in the Fish,
Mr. Alexander Robinson's Unloading the Barge
Bruges"; Mr.. Clifford Bears Warwick Castle or
MI Charles Warren Eaton's pastel, Lake Como
One very conspicuous exhibitor. Mr.. Edward Dun
ner. W no makes six contributions and has gained
the Evans prize of $500 with of them. a picture
entitled Reflections" is eclectic type. kVI-
IDENTITY he seeks TO interpret landscape sentiment
along both naturalistic and romantic lines and
furthermore to call the luminous effects OF impress
sionism to his aid. He is accomplished and MS
pictures charming. yet in one respect they are
little disappointing. His ground forms are
scarcely well expressed; they lack soldlIy because
we gather that he is less interested IN drawing
structure than in filing his composition Win
masses of tone These, being cultivated for their
own sake, leave impression OF agfeeaple Coior
gained at the sacrifice of truth.
There are not many interesting figure subJecls III
the exhibition Tony Nels "Red-Haired boy 10
a plausible bit of facile execution, Mr. Hugo bar
lin is engagingly picturesque in his Spring anu
Mr. = I Couse IS admirable in everything save
his want Of spontaneity in The Turquoise BEAD
Maker" But the only outstanding water coiorls'
here whose treatment of the figure discloses ifee-
dom strength and certain element of style is Mr..
| Albert Steiner While his picture OF The Visitor
leaves the observer cold, having no special cha1h
Of color and being drawn with no great nervous
force the portraits OF Miss Enid Nandell and,Nif-
F Nfackay are both vitalzed and interesting
performances. There is some spirited execution
700 in his Sea Maiden" For the rest one falls
back upon the many landscapes-the large group
OF them by the late Frederick ". Freer ana me
one or two exhibits made by each Of the members
Of a numerous company. equally ohserNaht sincere
and competent One picture in indivdualized vein
should also be noted, the Bear cub and Puma OF
Mr.. C L. Bull.
An entire gallery has been given to the
etchers and illustrators and they I'll it in credit
able fashion The former include several artists
who if not prodigiously original are at all events
irnbued with fine enthusiasm for the etcleF
needle and use st with some skill Mr. Ernest y.
Roth draws capitally his notes OF architectural
motives in European cities. and shows. into the
bargain a good pictorial faculty. Mr.. Henry WINS
low is less successful in his treatment OF uI"ai
scenes but he gets a certain ingratiating quah'y
of line and a measure OF true feeling Tor lailu-
scape in his plate Of Dunes" There is a SAVIOR OF
stvIe about the work OF Mr.. Allan Lewis. ana
though as in The Procession" he makes you FEEL
vaguely that the influence Of Legros has conscious
" or 1Inconsciously affected him, he gives promise
OF fresh and interesting achievement Likewise
does MI Shaw Niaclaughlan attract you by what
he is doing with picturesque themes fouhu
abroad and raise hopes Of better things winch ne
may do IN the future. Another group OF prints IN
spiring this mood is thar composed of nonotypes
nv MI Charles Warren Eaton, in which his talent
as maker Of landscapes is placed at the service
of q suggestive technical process. Mr. Joseph rem
nell is represented by number Of his clever ana
familiar architectural stIdes and in the same cat
egory there are a number Of meritorlouS pieces py
Mr., Charles Henry White and Mr. Charles F. ".
NieIatz Favorable allusion should also be MADE TO
Mr. Henry VOLTS engravings on wood and TO MI
George Senseney's colored plates
The illustrators have never given a more enter
tanning account of themselves than upon this &C
cssion They are delightfully."- decorative as IN me
cover designs by Mr. Maxield Parrish Mr. VIII
bradley and Mr.. Robert Wildhack. They are orig
Iral and picturesque in the Spanish sketches OF
Mr. Edward Penied. and they are brm1ui Oh
movement character and numor, as in the draw
ines of Miss May Wilson Preston, Mr.. w Glackehs
and Mr. A. l. Keller The foreign sketches or MI
George Wright and those made by Mr. Vernon
Howe Bailey are also warmly to be commended
Eyarvvvhere in fact on the walls of this gallery,
- o,earve work that is piquant. vyacious and
1-,ifornlv adroit. Decidedly the illustrators 90
much 20 make this exhibition Of the American
water Color Society worthy OF attention II re
on view until May q. II -