The San Francisco call., 1909-02-14
In the Art World
BY Lucy B. Jerome


wave is deep green and the foam violet
and rose. running UP on the wet sand
like a liquid rainbow. Wachtel's pic
lures are filled with this exquisite light
of sunset and possess more of pleas
ure for the observer in their delicate
color harmonies than in any of their
other qualities. He is master of the
subtle, evasiye atmospheric effects that
are the greatest charm OF the peaceful
southern landscape.
In addition to Wachtel's desert and
mountain work. both he and his wife,
Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel, have pro-
duced some remarkable paintings of the
Arizona Indians in their natural. en-
vironment. Wachtel, who works in
oils. and his wife. who works in water
coIors. are essentially plein art paint
ers following their own instincts and
acquiring individual training in the
school of nature. The bigness and
, breadth of Wachtels work are quail
ties rooted deep in the man, thus max
ing unity between himself and sub
jeet in mood. that can but be produc-
tive of the truest and finest feeling.
The pictures of the Walpi and Hopi
, Indians in their villages like bits out
of primitive history. are considered
among the most powerful and convinc
ing productions of Wachtels brush.
rare exhibition of mezzotint en-
cravings, comprising translations Of the
portrait work of Sir Joshua Reynolds
, and prints from the famous Liber stu
diorum of Turner formed the chief at
traction at Vickeryis this week. The
| beautiful art of mezzotint engraving
was fortunate in reaching its technical
elimination at the time when Sir
Joshua Reynolds and the group of won
derful portraitists of his time had just
| given to the world series of the most
I
| beautiful portraits or women that mas
| ever been painted. The process of
/ mezzotint with its subtle renderings of
J light and shade was peculiarly suited to
| translate this portrait art, this group
! of lovely women in their equally lovely
landscape settings and before fine
proofs of these transactions the world
| of art has been moved to wonder
whether the glory that has been added
to Sir Joshua's name through their
! means is not sufficient to balance the
prestige which his name and fame gave
| to the school of engravers thus growing
up under his influence and inspira
ton.
That the glory departs from these
plates when they become perceptibly
worn is true, so that the noteworthi-
ness of the present group exclusively
composed of early states has served
for a further reason for that which we
have never before had in San Francisco
"a formal exhibition devoted wholly to
mezzotints.
Chief among art exhibitions in the
east is that of the philadelphia acadT
| emy of fine arts, which opened its one
hundred and fourth annual exhibition
with galleries we'll filled. 1t is always
interesting to observe American criti-
| cism on the modern art of other coun-
tries and so the following contradic-
tory criticisms of the portraiture of
John Singer Sargent, emanating re-
spectiveIy from the Philadelphia North
! American and the Record, declare the
strength of impressions made on two
differing individualities. The former
said:
OF commanding artistic dignity and
| amazing vitality is the leading example
| of portrait work in the exhibition
John Singer Sargents full length study
| of a dazzling American beauty in even
| ing costume
! This picture it need scarcely be said
was awarded the Carol H. Beck medal
for the best portrait in oil-the first
award of this new mark of artistic
| distinction. Mr. Sargent is at his best
! in portraying pictorially the elegance
| and refinement of fashionable feminin-
ity. and in this instance his wonGrous
| capacity Of imaginative suggestion has
| been given full and free play The i'm
press of high caste and exclusive socia
! atmosphere is clear and distinctive
| Not brush stroke has been repeated
| or wasted and the bright cloud swept
background is miracle of tonality.
The Record said:
Strangely enough, in this admirable
exhibition the place of honor shows
that prince of portrait painters, JOIN
S. Sargent. at his worst All the clever.
ness of technique for which he is fa
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