The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-25


ter.
That admirable institution. the Mac
doweu club. opened It's doors this week
upon the first OF Its series of fortnightly
shows. These shows. we have to re-
iterate from time to time, are arranged
in a fashion that dispenses with the
academicai jury system. The artists
form In groups OF six, eight or ten. ac-
cording TO their sympathies or prin-
ciples. hire the gallery for fortnight
and hang what canvases they choose.
There are no stern committees in the
way, nothing but the simple little mat
ter OF raising the price Of the rental.
This doesn't seem to he difficult, and In
truth divided among eight or ten as 1t
usually H. II Is trifle.
This ingenious idea has prospered ct
the Macdowell cub and during the last
few years measurable results have been
obtained. In fostering young talent no
other gallery has been sp effective.
Numbers OF young people who could not
possibly pass the orthodox juries here
gain n hearing and find admirers. A
wild looking picture that frightens one
at first glance is found upon examina
tion to have qualities OF nature. Then
In a month or two the artist Is exh-
biting in Fifth avenue shops or In inter-
national exhibitions. This despite the
fact that the Macdowel Club IL very
much hidden away. that the public Ia
only half aware that II has the privilege
" seeing these pictures and that six or
eight visitors 70 the exhibition at a
time constitutes crush.
crush is all very fine and desirable.
no doubt. but not so important rs the
chance that is given for an artist to
see his idea upon n wall and to judge
at last for himself as to- whether 1t
speaks az II should. or speaks at all
IL can be readily imagined that some OF
the worst pictures that have ever been
painted appear in these shows. They
do no harm. They make a foil for the
successes. Honest failures are not dis
graceful. though insincere pictures are.
lnsincere pictures are rare at the Mac
dowel club.
The opening show this year II rather
suave gentle and unremarksble. In
that, history repeats itse'f. The club
last year put great restraint upon Itself
in the early part of the season and
didn't venture anything wild and GU
b!stic until the first fury VI the art crit
los, always very savage in the early
autumn. had b,unted itself upon other
things. The CHIEF performers are An
META Saint Gaudens. Helen Farnsworth
Mears and Robert &. Doran
Mis-. Mcars. who was pupil Of Au-
gustus Saint Gaudens and for a time his
assistant shows Dawn and Labor" two
female figures that move rhythmlcally
'g,.., .,,I
though the group is sill in sketChy
A., state Her Eve" rrc.ine~ and appears
to be a new version OF that lamentable
affair. Eve Is half asleep. 1t is evil
IDENTITY just after the midday rcpast.
which In those days was tn" principal
one Of the day. The willy serpent pre-
s"ntS the apple, which is an extremely
small one, Mis- Mears holding with the
savants who claim that the fruit in
question was crabapple. and Eve
somno.ently accepts IT. II Miss Mears's
story can he proved true, then lots OF
people vii. come to Ewes defence. say
lnS that she shouldn't have been blamed
SO heavily as she has been FOR at the
moment Of temptation She was not her
self
Mr.. Dorau's work also forces us to
+ brush the ecclesiastical cohwels from
I our brain. II" submits a small Ma
Honna ana q CruciiNion. hut his larg-
est canvas ~ called Faith" He works
| In tn" decorative manner that suggests
/ Mr.. Kenneth Miller al times and az
, times Mr. Davies. Like al, decorators
! he gets CVcel,ent realism without espe-
ci1ily trying for #.
tn" "pctcrhnrp H.us" is pleasantly
! true. although the painter was as much
Interested in the design as IN realism.
{ la Faith Mr.. Doran shows q primitive
family. prlmitvcly drawn against con-
yentipnal landscape. The father and
mother OF this composition are upon
: their knees praying straight up into the
sky. but the baby upon the ground be-
side them has entirely earthly interests.
II has its finger In its mouth. a had
habit that should be instantly corrected
Mr.. Doran, II this be not dream child.
4 The group ~ sculptures by the late
Louis Saint GAudens is in the nature Of
Il memorial exhibition. 1t contains his
Ceres" sober. simple and fine bronze
head. and number Of decorative pieces
among which are models Of the Van
Tromp" and prince Henry" statues
made for the New York Custom House