New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-13
Important Problems Admirably Solved.

worth Building got itself invented. the
sense Of truancy, of liberation from
familiar formula. In his other build
inCs the scholastic standard is mex
orablc IL Is characteristic Of great
deal of American architecture, OF many
Of the designs here shown. We use,
and use 10 fine purpose, an abundance
Of learning. The creative touch Is rare.
In place of genius We have taste,
circumstance. however, in which there
is no cause for chagrin, since the taste
is so often good. II is interesting 10
see how It has been metamorphosing
both the city and the country house.
There was q time when the American
architect had 20 be Ornate" or clients
would have nothing 10 do with him.
The fashion now IS for the reticent
kind of thing that Dolano and Aldrich
have done IN the Colony Club, that
Evarts Tracy has done in his apartment
house. that Arthur c. Jackson has done
In his East Seventy-eighth Street resi-
dence. These are the conspicuous eX-
amples OF urban simplicity. The coun-
try houses of similarly refined quality
are even more numerous. They are
rarely. as we have indicated, the tokens
Of any notably fresh inspiration. Mr..
Harrie Lindeberg, in MS charming Seth
Thomas residence. MorristOwn, still fig
ures rather solidarity in his treatment
Of the country problem which stops
this side of the stately manor or villa,
such as the capital Georgian design
made by Trowbridge and Alderman for
Mr. Truman II. Newberry at Detroit.
But there is an astonishing amount OF
country work done which, in perhaps
colorless fashion, is nevertheless IN
good taste, friendly and winning.
To return for moment. by the way,
10 the tour de force, there is an in
stance OF il provided by Walker ana
Gillette which leaves the behOlder posi-
lively breathless. They have designed
for Mr.. II. II. Rogers, at Southampton
a curious pastiche Of Italian motives
which might have been lifted bodily out
of Tuscany. 1t has the casual air OF
some Of the old farmhouses in That
part of the world, even in the matter OF
some, at least, of its windows. The
roof has just the right pitch. Inc
chimnevs are good. So is the generous
stretch OF wall space in one Of the
facades illustrated. Il is exotic in the
last degree, but IL justifes itself: II Is
delectably clever. And this, too, is
characteristic OF American architect
ure. Roughly speaking, we have had =
good year in the art.
The medal of honor in sculpture has
been awarded 10 Mr.. Herbert Adams,
who shows in plaster his heroic figure
for Michigan's Nicksburg monument
and in a group OF photographs affords
US a fairly comprehensive view OF his
career. A high sincerity marks every
thing that he does His portraits are
examples of very thoughtful character
ization. In his treatment of more alb
stract subjects he discloses the same
gravity Of feeling, the same spiritual
ized conception of reality. His tone IS
elevated and the seriousness with
which he approaches theme Is dis
cernible in his technique, which Is
thorough going, the technique of an
artist for whom the smallest passage IN
modelling, the obscurest Of decorative
details, is subject for careful re-
search. lie has the defect of his quail
ties, paying in spontaneity for the eX-
cellence which he achieves. The noble
figure which is so conspicuous in his
exhibit, beautiful form finely mod
elled, with draperies that especially eX-
cite appreciation, lacks nothing save
certain elan which would make II as
inspiring as il is quietly impressive.
But in the absence of fire, of that ex-
hilarating force which an artist gains
when he lets himself go, Mr.. Adams has
one virtue which runs through all his
work and alone would explain his just
repute virtue of grace. 1t Is true
grace, springing from within and not
from a merely facile manipulation OF
contours II eliminates in the lovely
l.. E. - l. ,taff
at Washington. This is remarkably
successful as monumental compost
ton. as part and parcel of the whole
fountain scheme. Also, II is OF deep
poetic interest. II Is not only AS a
sound craftsman that Mr.. Adams is 10
be honored. but as an artist who has
something 70 say, an imaginative ideal
10 express.
The sculptOrs who surround him on
this occasion are as is appropriate in
an architectural exhibition-ch chiefly eX-
emplars of monumental art. One OF
them. tits true. Mr.. Y. d. Bremen, has
hitherto been known more as medal
list than as a worker in the round, but
his rroup for the Schenley memorial al
Pittsburgh shows that he can treat
large subject in a fairly large manner.
Mr.. A. A. Wcinman makes an eXcep-
tioral effect with his panels for the
Stewart mausoleum, designed by John
Russell Pope. In these decorative re-
lefs he handles his figures IN the
rather archaic manner which Mr. Man
hin has done so much TO bring into
vogue. and handles them with very
strong, very personal. touch. The
linear brilliance of the work is matched
bv its calm. Itinerary spirit. its solemn
beauty. Mr.. French's winged figure
for the Trask memorial at Saratoga
.'The Spirit of Life" admirable in com
nosition and finer in the draperies than
anvthing he has done; Mr.. Keck's pylon
figure for Columbia; Mr.. Lukeman's re
Ching figure for the Straus memorial
an srresting expression OF broodlns
sentiment; Mr.. Ssnford's picturesque
groups for the Core msusoleum at Nor
folk. picturesque in sombrely hgyp-
tiar way. and divers pieces by Mr.. Fry
Mr.. Packer and others-to say nothing
Of the plastic reminders of San Fran
cisco-cause the grand style 10 obliter-
tie nearly all else In the exhibition 81
sculpture. But there are some things
more lightly touched, delightful things
like Mr.. Aitken's sundial In the formal
garden. Mr.. Barnhorn's "Pan" and Mr..
Rcacb's Fountain Figure" IL the