The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21
DEPICTS REAL LIFE
IN HER PAINTINGS
Mary Curtis Richardson's Ex-
hibit Contains Many Charm=
ing Compositions
Work Invites Comparison With
That of Artists of World
Wide Fame

That Mary Curtis Richardson is an
artist who merits the international
reputation she has achieved no one
of childlife now on exhibition at Wick
cry. Atkins & Torrey's can question.
The exhibit contains so or 40 pictures,
and as a revelation to those unfa-
miliar with Mrs. Richardson's work of
flawless modelling, exquisite sense of
proportion and line, and power of pro-
ducing warm, rich color, is a liberal
education.
Take, for instance, the charming
composition called Peter Pan A child
reclines on a couch, with head bent
over an open book. In this the SIM
plicity and purity of the curves which
sweep swiftly across the canvas, the
warm shadows and mellow lights, the
hollows in the folds of. the dress of
brocaded blue, the unobtrusive back
ground which melts away into infinite
gradations, proclaim the absolute mas.
terry of the artist over difficulties of
this nature.
FINE COMPOSITION
David in the Fields another fine
composition. is wonderfully handled,
the attitudes of the figures-one
sturdy boy of or years, the other
an older child evidently explaining the
marvels of the grass and fields to her
little brother-being full of indescrib-
able vitality and motion The very
curve of the blowing grasses, the nat
uraI unconstrained pose of the boy In
short stocks and sandals, the look of
unconcealed wonder on his rosy face,
are inimitably expressive.
Most engaging is the exquisite por-
travail of the baby in the crib, who is
trying to pull string OF amber peads
from the neck of a small child who
bends over him. So are dozen others,
to which high praise should be accord
ed. 'The Dancer" evidently caugnt
in a. movement of childish awkward
ness. depicts admirably combination
or grace and stiffness in charmingly
convincing manner, while the broad
brush work of "Janette' In somewhat
paler tints: of the "Mothering SISTER
where a little girl holds sleeping
child carefully in her arms, Grooming TO
it the while and the absolute freedom
and security of the characterization
with everything washed out in the
loose free color which Mrs. Richardson
knows how to handle. are qualities
which stamp these child pictures with
distinction and loveliness beyond
caviL.
ADMIRABLE PORTRAIT WORK
The portrait work is equally admir-
able, the fine handling in breadth and
tone. and the seizing of the salient
qualities of Characterization, as we'll as
subtle power of elimination, making
them true character studies. Those of
Professor Paget, Adam Grant, Willie
Tevis and the little daughter OF Mrs.
Will Crocker show a fine power of
analysis combined with the utmost
vigor and freedom. while the color.
noticeable particularly in the large
canvas-'Mother and Child"-is purely
Venetian in quality, and glows with a
transparent delieacy singularly effec-
tive and impressive.
Mrs. Richardson was known to lovers
of art as Miss Curtis before her mar
Wage, and her work even then dis
played the splendid qualities which
have ripened and broadened into a
consummate art which is said to invite
comparison with that of painters of
world wide fame.