New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

phisticated elegance which we associate
with the school of the eighteenth cen
fury. There is drawing here. too.
the Mrs. Oliver Ames," which sets us
thinking for moment, so far as mere
manner goes, of Clouet and his group.
But these faint echoes are few, and.
what is more, occur 20 US only in pass
ing In essentials MIR. Sterner draws
attention to nothing so much as to his
seriousness and polish as a craftsman.
giving strong, interesting form to his
own conception of portraiture.
The drawings, which come last in the
cata iogue, are in nowise overshadowed
by the paintings in the exhibition. On
the contrary, they at once assert them
selves rs perhaps the best souvenirs Of
this artists talent. They are delight
fully precise and free in execution, ana
they have an unusually ingratiating
personal quality. The spare touch
for Mr.. Steiner always knows what to
leave out. when to ston-is not onl5
but it has, for the amateur of drawing
very graceful charm. The head and
whatever Of the figure may be shown
are delineatcd with a sense of compo-
sition the space is invariably well
filled, neither conventionally nor with
any forcing Of the effect. The golden
mean of design is plainly what is
aimed at. That is, again the virtue Of
the portraits in color. The half-lenrth
of "Mrs. Steiner" in black and green
is one of the most felictous illustra-
tons. A good deal of the strength Of
this portrait is due to just the easy.
forclble painting. to the broad and
dashing brush work, but above all we
appreciate the artists success in see
ing his design as a whole and giving it
both weight and unity The low note
of the color scheme will be observed
This is characteristic. Occasionally
Mr. Steiner deviates into gayer mood.
as when he draws the canital "Mrs.
Elsie French Vanderbilt" with its re-
sonant red passages. and once. in the
study of his son, IN naval RIG. he gets
crisp staccato effect, dealing with
masses of white. But in the main he
adheres to quiet tones. They bring the
last element Of reposefuness into re-
markedly good, dignifed exhibition.
Memories Of one of the most SYM
pathetic figures ever known among
the picture dealers of New York are
stirred by an item which reaches us
through the columns of Hartford
newspaper. We refer to the late Sam
uel p Avery, whose collection in the
print room al the Public Library
should serve as a perpetual reminder
indeed, of his dislnterested devotion
to the arts. He loved the paintings
which he bought and sold His long
years of activity were of substantial
benefit to the improvement of Ameri-
can taste, The item aforesaid which
recalls his name is one giving the
news that his son, Samuel P. Avery,
of Hartford, has just turned over to
the Historical Society Of Dedham,
Mass, the oil painting of the Avery
coat of arms, which was brought from
England by William, the founder of
the family here, when he came over
in 1850. Nine Averys have passed the
painting on in the last 269 years. The
first of them, the William just men
toned, settled in Dedham on his ar
rival here, and now to Dedham it goes
for its lasting home. Old IS. P A
would have delighted in this dsposi-
ton of it.
In Hartford, by the way, the Con
necticut Academy of Fine Arts viii
presently be holding its ninth annual
exhibition. This will endure in the
annex of the Wadsworth Athonaum
from April IA to April o. Three prizes
viii be awarded.