New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-21
ART EXHIBITIONS
Collections of Bronzes, Paint
ings and Prints.

In Christmas week some effort is. per
hsps. required for people 10 give their at
tention TO art exhibitions in the usual more
OF iess FORMAL sense or the term. But
sometimes exhibitions are not at all formal
or stately they are merely charming. More
than one show OF this sort IS visible inst
TOW, and high in the list we would place
the second annual display Of small bronzes
made by a company of American sc,Iptors
~ the Macbeth Gallery Surely ~ the
srtist ever appeals TO the Christmas shop
Ter" In thoroughly artistic terms. he does
n on this occasion Here are the modest
easily portable and compa rativeIv inexpen-
sivs works 81 art which come within the
scope Of the ordinary couector-the little
fragments OF individuality. OF cleverness.
which do not need a great gallery but are
sccepta bly, decorative anywhere There
are two or three pieces in the collection
which are not precisely miniatures-AIiss
Scudder's admirably designed and thor
oughly well modelled small Boy Holding
Lantern" Mr.. Beach's clever Waterfall
and his more than clever Wood Nynph."
NJ Den1ng's capital Buffalo" and Mr..
Shrsdy's beautiful Horses Head" But
mostly the things in the exhibition are on
very restricted scale fgurines that ene
iustinctively picks up 70 turn lightly in the
hand. hijou works Of art which some
Row the more intirns tely beguilng because
81 their very smallness.
r. is important 10 note. too. that there is
rot much presented which is az all trivial
The idea illustrated may not invariably be
adjusted with uHerring tact 70 the scale
employed Take. for example. Mr. Konti's
Two Figures for Bookrsck" II is odd
thai he did not see the incougruity OF max
ing these figures nude athletes and placing
them IN an attitude Of heavy muscular ef-
fort The sentiment OF the motive is al
most heroic and obviously that does not
hsrmonize with the function Of A book
rack Nevertheless would not labor
-his point. for the little figures are, after
zU IN themselves. very we'll done. There
& = refreshing quantity Of work here OF
which II is possible 10 speak as cordially.
Nr Aitken's group called The Flame
does not leave q very interesting impress
sion but partly this may be due 10 the fact
thai the work is badly placed Moreover.
o7e has only 70 turn 10 his ''Ra cchante"
and his Dancing Fsun" to get very IA
,-orabIe idea Of his talent Indeed. the
dancing Faun'' in particular is one Of the
hest statuettes brought forward IN en-
American exhibition In q long time, won
5s-fIllv spirfted and handled with true
s--,ln-u-sI feeling. There is workrnanlike
quality about Mr. Athens productions that
Is by itseif good 70 observe
NJ Beach also has an engaging way
nth him. though the merit in his fsclle
touch seems wanting perhaps in the ele-
--er+ Of dura bility- The graceful suavity
~ his already mentioned Waterfall is
ms. little specious. The effect is pretty.
rr1- II does not linEer IN the mind HIS
Wood Nvrnph" as has been said. Is
v-orz Of sterner substance Very pleasing
TOO are his tiny figures. such as The
Sr-av-t and Autumn Leaves. Mrs
Fracken is uneven and AZ no time AZ al
IMPRESSIVE in her six seven pieces. but
then doubtless she has not thought or at
tempting 10 strike lofty note Of style
Her Door Knocker'' and her Wall Brack-
81 are both piqusntly effective Miss
rre-le-s children are agreeable I'm their firm
modelling and their happy suggestions OF
movement. and Mr. MacNei Captivates ar
on0e hv his simplicity and his picturesque
ness in .Aisnieito" an Indian subject
Studies Of animals richly contribute 70 the
strength II the exhibition. Besides Mr.
Sh-sdv.s Horses Head" and Mr.. Deu1ing's
buffalo the latter has several other ex-
reu%nt PORTRAITS 81 game. M Putnam
shows some promising sketches In the same
fald. and Mr. Roth IN a pair Of sndirons,
deals most skilfully with dog and us
ruppies and = rat and its kittens Alto
zetner this is an inviting show.