The sun., 1909-02-28

surpassed IN the delineation OF pure atmos-
pherio effects. He can also suggest Q
stufy. languorous atmosphere a. In thas
woman, old gold In tone. who reolines In
some enchanted wood
One OF the rivals TO "A Measure OF
Dreams" is the large. symbolic picture
Maya, Mirror Of Illusions The ten
elect virgins with mauve dappling their
nude backs and thighs gaze wistfully
into the mirror Of Maya; Maya. the great
mother of illusions. The landscape might
be found in D'Annunzio's novel virgin
OF the Rocks; We are content to suggest
IL stenographicaiiy. The coloring In
rather pallid. the mood chilly. but as ice
burns, 80 is there spiritual heat in this
enrsptured parable. The only masters
we may compare it TO are Bottioelli-the
women make a sweet Bottioellian loop
or to Edward Burne-Jones's Mirror Of
Venus" Yet IL does not proceed from
the -Primavera. nor has It the rich, smoky
enohantment Of the Burne-Jones. What
does it signify2 Isn't the title expressive
enoueh9 Maya-illusion! or all earthly
illusions. is there any other compara-
ble to woman-even when she boasts
mauve reflects? The mirror may be the
mirror Of matrimony! But hush! These
are fables for the disillusionized middle
aged. "Crescendo" shows seven girls
(seven, the mystic number; seven, the
number OF tones in the soale), and the
crescendo is unmistakable. Here are Mr.
Berenson's tactile values. Across the
room is a favorite Of ours, wind at Eve
ming" green wind and wonderful land
soape. Then there are those two boys
set in an autumnal landscape painted in
Spanish gamut, two real clothed boys.
who simply saunter over the faded moors.
aThe Hunter Of the Starlands' We once
described. Its text may have been
plucke ed from Horne's Orion" though
to us those hounds-one bays at the stars
that mystic blue sky and the hunter
evoke Sir Thomas Browne and "The
Huntsmen Arc Up in America" What
il the symbol OF the rabbit? Very rich
in tone is the landscape After the
Rain" and human the children Of Beat
About the Bush" In Happy Fields we
see greensward OF tint that only .Degas
has caught in some of his racing scenes;
but no horses frisk over this velvet
Instead happy creatures game away
the golden hours. It's too beautiful TO
be true. but it's In the true key of Davies.
II you crave for fear. rage. combat and
overshadowiDg tempest. there is No. %,
Storms, Frenzies. Tormepts.' 1t is
Internal in its energy and in its denote
ment OF nameless anguish.
Enough. These few notes may only
darken counsel. The best way TO ap-
proach the art Of Arthur b. Davies 10
with an open mind. Like what you like.
dislike what you dislike. One mans
paint may be snother's poison. II a
figure seems backed like a whale, weasel
or camel, then it ia for you; but don't
expect your neighbor to fellow your suit.
He may see shrewder into the clear
obscure OF the painter poets mirror and
discern fairer visions. There is 80 much
discussion regarding this artist that we
fear some day some one may publish a
book: How to Approach Arthur Davies
without Emotional Cslistbsnics. A Hard
book for Morbid Mystics.' II we could
only realize how simple in expression are
the best OF his cauvases. Notwithstanding
the supposed complexity Of his ideas.
we might let his thrice subtle magic work
its will upon us We know that there is
too much perverse caprice in the Davies
conceptions; but then he has the creative
gift in overAowing measure, and creative
ness covers a multitude OF caprices