New-York tribune., 1910-12-18

influence has developed funb1ing after
effect rather than true creative energy.
true inventive impulses. Take, for ex-
ample, Mr.. Aitkens "A Creature Of God
| Until Now Unknown" and his 1.-TWO
Souls" or Mr.. Chester Beachs Ideals"
In spite Of their high sounding titles
they have little to say Of imaginative
purport, and. what we find even more
disappointing, they want the sheer
freshness and felicity in the arrange
nent of form which would atone for the
lack Of those poetical qualities at which
they aim. In fact, there are only one or
two sculptures in this collection in
which ideas Of more or less character
and subtlety are expressed. The charm
ing Morning" Of Mr.. ]. z. Fraser Is ono
Of the pieces in this small group, and
Mr.. Stirling Calders spiritually appaIl-
ing study Of "a Woman Is another.
With these, perhaps. for their realism
and vivacity should be mentioned Miss
Eberle's amusing sketch, - Windy
Doorstep" and Mr.. Konti's 1.-The Witch"
the latter, by the way. a capital little
composition. But If we abandon the
quest for ideas and go solely for tech
nique we will be promptly rewarded and
get to the final justification Of this
roomful Of bronzes and marbles.
Mr.. Beach and Mr.. Aitken can model.
if they cannot touch our deeper sensibili-
ties by their nominal idealism. Their
nudes are exquisitely touched Mr.. Ait
ken shows fine sculptural quality. too,
in his bust of Henry Roger Wolcott."
The portraiture everywhere is full OF in
terest, and sometimes it is lifted to a
high plane. Miss Longman's Portrait
of Mrs. Henry Bacon bust in marble,
is as subtle in its modulations as 1t is
pure and distinguished in it's linear
traits. Mr.. Fraser's several busts are
beautifully executed and have. into the
bargain, a winning individuality, and
there is much to admire in Mr.. Bitter's
Portrait of Mrs. Edwin Emerson" The
reliefs, also, by Mr.. Herbert Adams. Mr.
Weinman and Miss Grimes. are Of value.
Among the male busts one OF the lead
ing contributions is Mr.. Flanagan's
Portrait Head OF the Late Monsignor
Doane," a really noble bronze He, we
may note in passing, figures conspicu-
ousIv in the department Of medals and
medallions. as do Mr.. Fraser and MI
Weinman. The clever makers of statu-
cites form an exhilarating group The
nudes by Mr.. Bitter, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Cal
der and Mr. Crafty, and the very modern
costume studies by Mr. Keyser and Mrs.
Vonnoh repeat again and again in the
exhibition the lightest and most beguI-
ing of effects. That, to conclude, is the
prevailing impression left by the sculpt-
ors-one of technical adroitness, of grace
and vitality, employed in the picturesque
if not especially moving treatment OF
form. In just one instance there IS
,urio,,s SAVIOR of a large and even grand
instinct for plastic beauty. This Is OF
fered in the small Sketch for Group
bv Mrs. Louis Saint-Gaudens. Some
.bins about the head in this and some
thing about the handling Of the mass
s,,gpest an authentic inspiration.
THE PAINTINGS.
In giving so much Of its space 70
ecuInture the Academy not ohiy pays
due respect to the art. but well serves
the interest of the painters lorcipiy
demonstrating the truth OF "hat we
have always argued, that the galleries
at the Fine Arts Building are quite
large enough for ordinary purposes
With scarcely three hundred pictures oA
the walls the works Of consequence nave
a chance TO make themselves Ien' 'ne'
are not swamped by the hopeieS0,'
mediocre stuff which is unroiieo III
foods before the jury The present &"
,angement. moreover. makes for q pe'
ter balance. Landscape. portrai'uie a.,
the figure subject alternate IN theii
,ronortions. How often have we hau ~
record an academy saved by landscape
.1one, This time the burden 10 iii'i
evenly distributed. and one iof'uii''
rasuIt is that the landscape men oiiiS 90
cart themselves the more
1,a individual comes into his own 'n'
more quickly as he is not surroul'eu ~
wards of mere painted canvas
,here are landscapes here that are ii'A