New-York tribune., 1909-01-16
ART EXHIBITIONS
Old and Modern Masterpieces at the
Union League Club.

,a Union League Club is fortunate In its friends
long art collectors For years It has been able to
h,ein from the latter much interesting material
o. ,+s monthly exhibitions. and occasionally IT has
80, nriviIeged secure IN this way extraordi-
o-v group OF masterpieces. The January show,
.oeesIhIe 10 members and their friends to-day and
ex+ Monday and Tuesday, is one which would
eck q public gallery for period OF weeks. 1t is
o-,rased Of twelve paintings from the collection
- the late Coils P. Huntington. and all of them
s of high value. It is peculiarly gratifying to be
hla n speak thus warmly Of the portrait Of her
hrshand by NJ. Francis Lathrop which Mrs. Hunt
ION has lent with the rest. This distinguished
american artist is better known in general for his
sscorative work than for anything else, but from
,.,,s 10 time portrait by him finds its way into
~bfFton and inspires wish that he would do
more in this form Of art The present example, the
o,lv one that has been shown since the fine por-
.,si+ cf lady which appeared some years ago, IS
=, deep interest a study Of character. and in
,scbnio;Ie il has 3 simple breadth commanding the
varmest admiration. 1t is pleasant to note with
shat dignity K takes its place in a gallery hung
with some magnificent specimens of old and mod
err art
The allusion made above TO the Union League
eguhs good luck is especially apt with reference
IN the works Of Rembrandt it has obtained Last
xssr we saw here the Dutchmans great portrait
~ himself from the collection of Mr.. Frfck. This
wear ore Of the two Rembrandts borrowed is The
s,vant" long famous in the Kann collection It
tC
one Of those paintings in which he would lift a
sip,nJe subject 70 the heroic plane. You in
.,,n-sne action here that faculty Of his for bring
i,r out the grandeur OF human sentiment. telling
"a elaborate story but piercing the very soul of his
sitter This aged scholar, standing in revery with
,5s hand gently laid upon a bust Of Homer. is a
nrofoundiy impressive type. grave. melancholy, and
with something about him Of the nobility Of high
,hous7r He IS almost hieratic figure in his black
rohe with its flowing sleeves of some white texture,
,II main and
rich warm ugh- is difTused about him and the
background is one Of shadowy depth The polg-
ust human character Of this portrait is insistent
but if we feel il strongly it is because 1t Is put
before US with consummate workmanship This
is Rembrandt painting at the height OF his powers
Using his brush at once with mira aculous fubtlety
and with the swinging energy Of a man or action
His Portrait Of Hendrckje Stoffels." which hangs
near by vitalized and charming as it IS, seems a
very minor work beside The Savant" 1t con-
tains some loosely painted passages. and others
suggesting that he meant 10 come back to the
canvas and clear up some obscurities in it But
even finer Rembrandts than this would pale
little if placed in juxtapcsition with The SavaTt
That is one Of his fawless triumphs-
Il makes rather overpowering company too, for
other paintings IN the exhibition. but the latter
include several works which show how potent
genius may be- all that Il does not rise to the
creative issues which occupied Rembrandt at his
best. Indeed, Tor sheer beauty, there is nothing
here TO beat the little interior by Yer Meer Of
Delft, the Lady with Guitar" in which human
fly subordinated to the enchantment Of perfectly
painted surface. This musician is an engaging per-
soaality. there is something very attractive about
the room in which she sits, and the accessories as
il always the Ease with Yer Meer, rightly
chosen and rightly placed But what rayishes the
eye Is thC superb color. quiet. pure.
suisitely Harmonized. A subduea cool luminosity
sstUrates the Dairting. In this as in its tone IN
lis design ana in its sincerity of style. the thing
spells genius quite as much IN its way. the
great portrait TT Rembrandt. There two paint
ags % HsIc iH the collection, Young Koeijnans-
A5iasserdam,' and 4 Portrait Of
u1tcA i-sIE. brilliant illustrations OF his mastery
Ger gays and blacks and his crisp. han
s.HE 9ati these poctaits expose in its finest es
rs gift synthesis, accurately denoting the
ianv Structure Of 4 head and face but painting
'ftfe fs,ts Il nature with large and easy grasp,
antn. iaoE, broadly, almost with the light vivid
. :-ss ca uaCeEr j;Eprcssonisn.
1i=.e iarec portraits Of the eighteenth cen
~ I-E.zh school Sir Joshuas Lady de Smythe
5ad i.drcu." though iess stately. less grandly
mel i..n some Of his l-l length paintings OF
-Ii-.- at-tss Is very handsome and decorative,
ire Ep-s az Fsrfectl. poised academic craftsman.
La@F'8ee- -1 hIurea Cf Mr.. CaImady-' the cir
eu'ar panel. widely known also under he title OF
Mature" is of Ills most felicIto.s designs.
nd :uto Tie lasEeaIn, one # lis best technical
9eftcr48u.-~ !: Is alIniIaty free from Tie sleek
lFss h;c Mnoh bee 30 efteu lapseG. The Romaey,
-. "a Portrait - Lady Tha-ndy Ike IS a capt.
.ol-1S iAH.-. IaI4f"I "a .-' rJ VEN E@iN pure IN
i CaE1aii,ns ana au. uuaIng ia lovely whites 1t
caI.oa~- -.,s.f. s- tu ho" th-ee three nor-
-ans ne the aie. lake air OF thin
laresliy Whom ls Jtfus Ia them from tie Dutch
nssie-eves lu tlte same room. IL is like turning
sO-- tle sssiprs concerns Il life to mere coIrtly
1essH,e aita 1-ly9ily. and tine point bears. Of
Vlrse, not -Illi.iy 5gya substance, bat upon form
a'' sliar ar.a Jh= artists feeling for character
Dot rT'n his technique The DGjchmen loom like
!al,s aor." tse il Si.sI painters. The remaining
f-E, ar1dG nv
-o!oi and keLss=au and a cattle piece by Iroyon
"hch also shows him. IN its spacious background
ina hae sky, master OK landscape art The
-ofot twilight scene, IS subtle, lyrical piece Cf
AlltiIg. the Rousseau illustrates rhat master III
Transitional phase, just emerging from his close
y analytical mode oi handling tree forms into a
ffge, more elastic method, and using In his treat
neat Of the romantic SKY the freer, more emo
lonal touch 0f his prime. Altogether this is
1eshlng and stimulating exhibition No who
an obtain a card from a member of the club
mould neglect this opportunity for delightful study.
r. &.