New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01

work of art. Inspiration, OF one kind
or another. must be added to it-deas,
as in Ryder's case, above the common
place; or, in the case of man like
Vermeer, say. passion for technique
so exquisite as to belong TO the realm
of ideas.
The problem, as we have thus far
touched upon it, is obviously allied
with the caprice of the gods. No man
by taking thought can add cubit to
his stature. Mr.. Sloan probably could
not turn himself into a Ryder even if he
wished to do so. Yet by taking thought
we may accomplish much. Discipline
is no more talismanic than is brutal
theme, yet it has its uses. There is a
striking example at the Metropolitan
Museum, where among the recent ac-
quisitions there has been placed water
color by Mr.. Gerald Thaycr, Male
Ruled Grouse in the Forest The his
tory of this picture might we'll incline
the artist of a certain type to deny 1t
any artistic quality whatever it was
produced some ten or fifteen years ago
as an illustration for Mr. Thayer's
book on his fathers discoveries, Con
cealing- Celebration in the Animal King
DOM" and, as is frankly stated therein,
it twas painted from woodland photo
graphs, etc, and from q stuffed grouse
in a housekeeping artifcially arranged
TO suit the birds counter shading"
Could anything be more inimcal to the
making Of work of art in the familiar
sense of the term? Nevertheless this
happens 10 be consummate work OF
art, one Of the most brilliant things OF
the kind done since Albrecht Durer
drew his famous hare crouched
amongst reeds. Discipline is revealed
in every inch of its photographically
accurate realism. But that discipline
is entirely consistent with personal
force, with feeling for beauty, with
an instinct lifting the artist uncOunted
parasangs above the photographer. His
drawing is meticulously careful, but it
is never stiff or hard. His color is APP
piled with the purpose of a scientist,
but it is the color of a painter. 1t is
interesting, by the way, to observe how
this son of Abbott Thayer's, like his
sister. whose exhibition at the knoed-
Ter gallery we mentioned the other day,
has been able to receive his training
from a great artist without copying the
latter's traits. The Grouse" stands
alone, an achievement utterly unique.
1t is a masterpiece Of disinterested
statement and it has the personal &C
cent without which there can be no
masterpiece.
This last point is one to which we
are invited TO give some consideration
BY the newest of artistic societies
launched in our neighborhood, the
Painter-Gravers of America. The art
lists forming this organization have
taken for a month shop in West
Fifty-eigh!h Street, transformed it
with battens and wall coverings into
a delightful little gallery. and made
an exhibition of etchings, Autographs
and wood engravings by themselves and
a number of their guests The show
marks the Painter-Gravers as wei
come addition to the already fairly
numerous agencies dedicated TO the
welfare of the print. II it has not yet
brought within its membership certain
figures conspicuous in the founding OF
the American Association Of Etchers
two or three years ago, it has at any
rate bettered the programme OF that
body in charging its scope. i Is
charming to have an opportunity to see
what the photographers and cngravers
siveiy for the former. His designs for
Poe and other imaginative subjects
drawn upon the stone are impressive IN
substance and beautiful in form. He
uses this medium with a perfect under
standing of the two factors insepara-
BILE from its genius touch and color.
His deep, velvety blacks are superb.
but so. likewise, are his tender erays
And everywhere is the quality belong
ing TO a peculiarly autographs art, the
imprint Of hand using the chalk b.
instinct.
Next to NJ. Sterner's Autographs. /
for salience and charm, we would place
the engravings OF Mr. Allen Lewis. He
is a clever etcher. as his works with
the needle here attest, but he is more
than clever with the severer instru-
ment. In THE Bow" a fascinating
little picture. and in several book plates
and Christmas cards, he reveals the
important thing, mis- possession Of
strong and individualized line. His
draughtsmanship is fine and pure He
knows his craft from TOP 10 bottom,
and what he does with il is original.
inventive, the STUFF OF true art. Now,
this is the kind OF work that one looks
for on an occasion Of this sort, and
what we find is proportionately disap-
pointing. The work that Is new, un-
conventional, significant of an lndepen-
dent talent, occupies lsmentably little
space. There are some capital en-
cravings by Mr.. Howard Mccormick,
vaguely reminiscent OF Lepore. but in