New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-16
Collection of Ancient Win
dows Made by Grosvenor
Thomas, of London.
AMERICAN PAINTINGS
AT THE CLUBS
Landscapes and Portraits in a
Round of Spring
Exhibitions.

Grosvenor Thomas, Of London, has
brought to this country and is showing
at 537 Fifth Avenue an interesting col
lection Of stained glass Of all periods
Here are windows and fragments OF
windows OF the greatest beauty
roundels painted in "grisalfe" which
one would like to have always az hand
as touchstones IN the art. Flemish
panels Of the period IN which Memling
was at work-in short, a very treasure
house Of masterpieces. They are not
only ravshing in color and lovely in
design. but superb in the drawing Of
hands and faces and the numerous &C
cessories Of costume and background
There arc Gothic windows from
France and England. The specimens
range from the earliest schools down
TO the opening decades OF the eigh
teenth century, when the great tradi-
ton died out. Il Is al exhibition 10
give delight 20 every one-and 70 al
ford the special student q rare oppor-
tunity. Mr.. Thomas also shows q four
teenth century English painting, a
"Crucifxion," which Is considered 20 be
the oldest panel picture IN existence OF
British origin. 1t is a composition or
some dramatic significance, IN its gen
eral treatment strikingly different from
the primitive paintings OF the Euro
pean schools.
A beautiful Greek head is included
in the exhibition, which Is rounded out
by a number Of Mr.. Thomas $ own
paintings. landscapes OF considerable
charm.
The principal thing which strikes the
visitor 70 the shows az the Union
League Club is that the canvases are
remarkably well hung. Each mans
pictures are placed together. The men
/ represented in the present exhibition
who gain most through this manner OF
hanging are William ). Robinson and
] Alden Weir. The delicate tonalities
Of the latter are often robbed Of their
charm by the juxtaposltion OF more
strongly handled csnvases. In TINS
show they are given their full charm.
The handling Of Building the Dam
is interesting. From this subject Mr.
Weir produces a thing Of low-toned
peaceful beauty, where other men
would have portrayed for US the
energy. noise and strong lines Of the
construction. Mr. Weir shows 70 as IL
would strike tho eye Of some one who
catches momentary glimpse Of it
through a gap in the trees. as he walks
through the woods William $. Robin
sons "September" Is a Joyous sJniit
day of early autumn. with unusually
convincing trees. OF the seven paint
ings by +. s. Church. "The Mermaids
is highly entertaining. The pictures
by Emil Carlson are characteristlc
The lower part OF THE Carved Panel
Is more interesting than the upper
The dust-covered bottles In Il are beau
also a sympathetic and poetic Might
and an unusual and striking portrait
Of his son, Dimes.
In the ballroom of the Colony Club
are n large number OF portraits OF
children of members. Il j. bewiider-
ing array. this collection Of good. medi-
OGRE. and poor pictures. Many of our
most famous and fashionable portrait
painters are represented. Two OF LYDIA
Field Emmet's paintings have great
charm. Her portrait Of Reeve Schley,
ir.. especially. is a beautiful picture OF
n boy Ann" by Halmi, Is delightful
and refrcshinrly different from the
usual run of things, though IN late
18th century manner
More interesting than the paintings
are the drawings in another room.
number Of Mathilde de Cordoba and VI.
q Kobbe are Of quite exceptional
charm. The portrait of Helen Lambert,
bv /. Graham Cootes. is n beautlful
drawing in that artists accomplished
and smoothly finished manner A pen
Gil sketch Of Philips Brooks Robinson
Is By Sargent. There are interesting
sculptured portraits by Rudolph Evans
and James Fraser, and there are hve
delightful wax miniatures by EiheI
Frances Mundy.
Dulness Is the prevailing quality OF
the Macdowell Club show. In the long
line Of canvases, {. +. PoloWetshl
"The Torture" attracts the eye, but
not by its merit. 1t IS a huge picture
with an inexcusably brutal subject,
which has not even the recommenda-
ton of being strongly set forth. Two
things only relieve the monotohy OF 'ne
collection. The first is the group OF
sculptures by Albert Jaegers. MS
figures are all well composed and wei
handled. The Female Head, fragment
from The Germantown Monument is
thing of inspired beauty and repose.
The sole painting Of merit IN the sea
If amateurish work is Dent Robinson
portrait of Ny Father" Though there
Il perhaps. too much space below the
figure. and the rich coloring contains
a little too much bitumen, yet 1t IS
paiuted with feeling Of affection ana
reverence which causes one 10 over
look these minor defects and raises ~
head and shoulders above its compah-
ions on the wall
Admirers e the Indian pictures OF
+ Irving Couse will find a numerous
and representative collection OF them
AZ the Braus gallery. Two only we
believe. have been shown in town pc
fore These wild men Of the plans
are too consciously posed. They do
not seem TO be represented with ap-
nTopriate spontaneity and vigor
A small picture showing two lhdlans
crouching on the rocks Of stream is
tho mos. lifelike and really the most
effective. A slightly Larger one, IN
which the red man is subordinated 20
tho broad valley over which ne watch-
es has good atmosphere, and some Oh
H. thumb box landscapes without hs-
80 a,o tho hos, OF the lot.