New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-01
Art
Proceeds of Sale of Paintings
Here to Go TO Families
of French Artists
by ROYAL CORTISSOZ

More than a thousand of the artists
OF France have fallen on the field Of
battle. Many others have been perma-
nently crippled or have lost their sight
The families OF numbers of these vic
TINS Of the war have required aid,
and It has Of course been found for
them by their countrymen. France is
thoughtful Of her children. and in this
particular phase of war relief she has
had a splendidly efficient organization
IN the Fraternite des Artistes. But
she needs all the help that she can
get, and it is cheering to know that
much has been rendered by our own
painters and sculptors. They formed
committee for this purpose imme-
diately following the outbreak of the
war, and this body. later enlarged so
that 1t now has nearly two hundred
members, has repeatedly sent subst9n-
tlal sums to headquarters in Paris.
Money has been raised here by sub
scription and by other methods. An
exhibition was held at the Knoedler
gallery in February. 1915, which pro-
duced excellent results. Now another
one has been arranged, at the Amer
lean Art Galleries, which promises to
be, II anything, more successful 1t
contains 1863 works, donated by about
100 artists. These will be sold at auc-
ton next Thursday and Friday even
ings, and, Judging from their quality,
1t Is reasonable 10 anticipate a large
addition to the fund. Confidence in
the outcome of the enterprise rests
upon the fact that this is no aggrega-
tiou of studio sweepings, but col
lection OF really generous gifts, the
representative works of the men CO.
operating. The most conspicuous eX-
hiblt would seem. indeed. 10 have been
painted for the occasion. This is Mr..
Blashfield's Sisters" circular canvas
containing in an interesting compost
ton the profles of three beautiful
women, IMPLYING. respectively, Russia,
France and the United States. Dates
painted on the canvas commemorate
the revolutionary exploits of the three
republics, but even without them one
would at once recognize in this picture
a tribute to the genius of liberty. 1t
is fine conception, executed with
enkindling emotion, very handsome IN
form and color, and altogether one OF
the best things Mr.. Blashtield has ever
done. Whoever buys this should give
the committee authority to make re
productions, to be sold for the Deneht
OF the fund.
The Sisters" is the only painting
here attempting any appropriate sym
bolism. The rest of the pictures make
Just the familiar appeal Of any good
exhibition. Mr.. Dewing gives one OF
his lovely pastels, Mr.. Thayer a power
full Head" study Of young woman,
marked by a curious dramatic force
and from Mr.. Weir comes, rather un-
expectedly. still life evidently painted
some years ago, a beautiful harmony
in grays of game birds lying on a
pewter platter. There arc capital ig-
ure subjects by Charles Caryl Coleman
Kenyon Cox, Charles W Hawthorne,
Will II. Low, George w. Maynard, Rob
ert Reid, Henry o. Walker, Thure dc
Thulstrup, Irving r. Wiles and others,
but the strength Of the show resides
largely in the landscapes. These
numerous paintings are Of a high aver
ate Of merit. II is as though our
whole school had come to the rescue
Murphy. Coffin. Foster. Lie. Ncttleton,
Plat. Ryder. Hassam, Crane, and so on
through a list that is almost uniformly
persuasive. 1t is charming to note, BY
the way. that Mrs. Shurtlef has do
mated an example of the work of her
late husband. His Failing Leaves" IS
a thoroughly characteristic piece
There are some good marines. notable
among them Mr.. Charles Hopkinson Is
spirited and delicate study in blues,
"The Breeze" and the sculptors, Paul
Bartlett, Stirling Calder, Robert
Aiken, John Flanagan, Evelyn Long
man and others. have done their part
to make the exhibition genuinely At
tractive. 1t is a very admirable show.
And most admirable of all is the spirit