New-York tribune., 1911-02-01
ART EXHIBITIONS
Mr.. Felix ISman's ColIeCfi"7 of
Modern Pictures.

y
twenty-five paintings belonging 10 Mr. Fe-
lix Isman. of Philadelphia. which are 70
he sold al Mendelssohn Hall on Friday
evening. They form a rather singular col
lection. Millet tostles Gerome. and TO-
mi 7tic Barbizon is placed cheek by jowi
witl the Salon Of to-day An odd jumole.
incidentally. the curious contrasts Of the
exhibition bring out once more the famil-
lar fact that great artist simply ool!t-
crates lesser men when they stray into his
company, ana makes hie effect regardless
% his Surroundings 'fille' might almost
be said 80 have the W 20 himself or
this occasion.
His beautiful Ht,le pastel. The Road"
and his other more boldly painted land
scapc. "Shepherdess and Flock would
alone give him pre-emlnence, but his spe-
cial appeal IS made through three OF the
four decorative panels which ne painted
FOR Partisan dining room in the COS.
They were 20 illustrate the seasons The
missing member Of the group Is the
Autumn" II is deeply interesting 10 OBJ
serve In Mr.. Isnan's three panels Millets
racy sincerity. bursting through the con-
vsutIons Of allegorlcal art He preserves q
due decorative balance His composition.
rs corrpositior has notable dignity. But
q certain realistic truth shines through
the work Cupid. taken IL from the snow
bv two homeiy figures in the Winter; !;
Ceres, In the guiss OF French peasant,
io the summer" and two similarly rustic
types figuring as Daphne and Chloe IT
the Spring" are al intensely human
creatures. and they are drawn with that
wholesome vigor which marks the artist
a, one Of the great followers Of Nature.
The Summer" IS perhaps tie most glow
lng in color o. the three paintings, but
even more charming is the Spring" With
it, extraordinary freshness, It's art!essly
pastoral quality. u would be idle % pre-
tend that these panels represented Millet
at his high water mark He was destined
TO reach that In the treatment OF subjects
OF another sort. Nevertheless he is ob-
vlously here the man OF genius, the master
Of style. The decorations make fasci-
mating ensemble.
Rousseau and Diaz ngure In the collec-
ton, but not with special brilliance.
Neither does the Dupre leave a very inter
csting impression. The Landscape" by
Daubigny. on the other hand. Is a striking
bit Of unfinished work. with a particularly
promising sky. Clays and the modern
Dutchman. Theophile De Book, are present
IL good form. and there are excellent
though not very intimate or beguiling
epec{nens of Blommers and Gain Mr..
Islnar appears 20 have had q certain cult
FOR the always romantic and picturesque
Isabey. and there are three good pictures
bv him in the show. The big salon picture
by Joseph Bail IS accomplished. OF course,
but not othervlre OF much consequence.
Tie two Geromes are quite uninteresting,
as - the nude by the Italian As'i.
There will be sold al the FIFTH Avenue
Auction Rooms next Saturday q quantity
o. antique furniture and the Ike, collected
tv the late Eugene Benson That Ameri-
can artist IS appreciativeiy and even ar
fecuonately remembered by visitors 20
Venice where n the Palazzo Capello, he
lived Tor some thirty-odd years He was
o type Os genialIty ana senueness. loyal
10 his native land. which lie had left FOR
Europe IN 1871. but preserving d deep love
for italy and a., italian things lie paint
cd charming pictures % old Roman gar
dens. with more or less classical figures
rs later Years. leisurely and full OF
friendly talk. le made delightful com
paaipu .n SoudoIa or seated at hts easel
among the primroses on the Lido Ills
nome was fsu oS beautiful things. and
these nov 30 10 make the exhibition 20
which we refer Old chairs ard mirrors.
handsome candlesricks. the picturesque en-
graved brass plates OF the fifteenth and
sxteenth centuries. ancien, Florentlne
lamps and fne pieces o. majo!ica, these
and divers other fine objects % an earlier
craftsmanship aH the collection. rs dis
pe~sal ls of decided interest 20 the cas-
ti5lols antiQuary.
At the Kn0edler Gallery there NAV be
seen a collection Of fourteen recent por-
traits by Mr. Harrington Mann. clever
Engushmau. lie is facne painter. with
more serious qualities -h4n mere facility
ordinarily secures. His portraits are
sMIfully composed aEJ have an fngratlat-
ing }lvacit-. both IS regards their spirit
ana their color. They make an agreeable
ayt,tffffoC Y