New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-03
LATE J. G. BROWN
AND HIS URCHINS
Pictures and Studies by This
Artist Placed on Sale
Old Furniture.
Nv ROYAL COKIISsOZ.

nv ROYAL COR1ISsO/.
Memories OF an interesting and kindly
personality are revived by the exhibition
which was opened yesterday al the Amer
lean Art Galleries II assemblies the pict-
ures and studies left by the late j. G.
Brown I'm his studio when he died n year
ago lie was eighty-two when he laid
down the brush. a veteran OF period IN
the history OF the American school totally
different from our own. When Brown
first came into view. in the late SOS, MS
ideas were i'm perfect harmony with what
was going on about him. The American
collector liked the picture that told
story. and the American artist was album
dainty content TO paint such picture.
As time went on collector and artist SUI
fered change Of heart The latter came
to take more Of an interest IN puiey
technical problems. II was not me SUD
ject that now concerned him, but the way
in which the subject was TO be treated.
Everybody knows how the painted anec-
dote lost its vogue. and even Tell INTO
positive disrepute. But Brown carry Sc
cured A popularity which for many lons
year remained mistaken, by the newer
movements Toward the end. rs the
present exhibition makes sufficiently OBJ
vious, he must have had 10 admit thar
the taste OF his generation had had It's
dav. There was time when his pictures
were in such demand that he sold them
about as rapidly "a ne painted them
Even now it is a little surprising that
there should have been so many OF MS
works there are l5j OF them TO make
posthumous sale.
He sent a lot of his pictures to the auc-
ton room some years ago. The cohectioh
was chiefly made up Of his typical boot
black and newsboy subjects, but IL con-
tanned also number OF studies OF fisher
men. and these from strictly artistic
point of view. were plainly the best OF
all. The present writer well remembers
meeting Brown upon that occasion fou
don't like my boys. do YOU? askeu INC
old artist. Not feeling that even long
acquaintance justified direct answer 10
that question, his interlocutor Fentureo
at least to express preference LOT the
fishing subjects, and went on 10 ASK
Brown why he hadn't kept on dolhs
them-vhy he did not still give himself
II only from time to time, 10 the KIM OF
work that had once engaged his cnthusi-
asm. With a slow. reflective smile ne
said; I'D like TO. but they won't let me
Everybody wants these pictures by when
7 am known, and so, somehow, 20 OH
painting them" He did not say So YET
there was something in his tone some
thing in his glance at the better palnt'nsS
i'm question. which suggested that ne hau'
at any rate. had some wistful ione'ngs
Who knows what his youthful dreams
may have contemplated? That the dreams
were his We cannot doubt when we look
at few OF the pictures that are no"
placed on view Far back in his career
he painted little landscapes, giving an uh
dulv close analysis TO details ana au-
herring 10 a rather dry scheme OF color'
but showing nevertheless that he nad
certain sympathy for nature. one sur
misses that If Wyant or George lnness
had taken him in tow they might nave
given his talent another direction ana set
hin, on the way TO a considerable achieve
ment. II IS astonishing 10 find from three
studies here (Nos. Is, 80 and I'D that ne
once PAINTED the nude, and palilteu H. III
his pedestrian fashion, with some apility'
But that personality OF his TO whicn Al
fusion has already been made was dotnl-
mated by sentiment rather than d. any
aesthetic fervors,
In the brief biographical note prehxed
TO the catalogue this saying is quoteu'
Il do not paint poor boys solely because
the public likes them and pays me iot
them. but because | love the boys my %
self for [ was once poor lad' nc
liked to tell his friends about the humols
of the ragamufins who were always pass
ing through his studio, and from the lei'-
ing one could see how sincere he was,
from what a genuine human interest MS
work proceeded. IL seemed hatu'a'
enough that man OF his temperament
should have given little thought to those
charming mysteries OF execution Whio"
:, recent wears have absorbed practically
all OF our painters lie was sausneu W
get his snecdote, TO bring out the run III
AN episode Of the streets TO MAKE tne
nortraits OF his urchins not for the con-
ro,sseur of painting, but for the average
io,or NJ the amusing picture. a reahs'
in his choice of material, he cared noun
ing for realism as il is understood III most
studios. The cheeks of the boys III ms
PAINTINGS shine with good health the'e
ia never anything malicious in their mis-
chief. and their clothes, though ragged
do NOT in the least hint of discomfort
wber he turned from the boys II was 10
paint their parents, and even more their
grandparent old types snus'y
enveloped in the atmosphere or the 40
mestic affections. He enjoyed II all. Ihat
usefulness OF which we have suspected
him pretty certainly cost him no lastins
pang. His work pleased quantities OF
people. Il made him prosperous, and IL
made him happy. We emo as we began In
the presence OF this exhibition, thinking
of the lovable, devoted traits OF the man
it represents.
Resides the Brown pictures. there may
a a llErleS