The sun., 1919-01-23
WORK OF MASTERS
PLACED ON VIEW
RenOir and Degas Head List of
Impressionist Art to Be
AuctiOned.
BIG ORIENTAL SALE HELD
Ryder, Lisley and Miss Cassatt
Among Others Who Show
Skill.

collection OF modern paintings that
would excite interest in any season, but
loom up with special importance in this
reluctant year. are now on view in the
American Art Association. The auction,
which is billed for January %. in the
Hotel Plaza ballroom, will be sure to
stir up some old fashioned competitions
among the bidders. The galleries are,
at the same time, showing the impor-
tant and extensive treasures OF Oriental
art collected by the late Rufus L. Moore.
AS there are almost 1900 items in this
sale 1t will require seven sessions. be-
ginning January 81.
The pictures include those OF the late
Alexander Morten, whose intelligent
connoisseurship had such a valuable in
/ huence in aiding many present day art
/ lists to find their publics. and with his
collection has been placed that of the
| late Frank r Lawrence. who was pres
ident of the Lotos Club for many years,
and also some pictures belonging to
Miss Elizabeth Ingls. 1t is dominated
by the impressionistic school. and will
bring forward into new prominence on
| the auction block several American i'm
pressionists who have not previously
had that test.
Two Leading Pictures.
| The two pictures that will doubtless
attract most attention are two works by
Renoir and Degas. and that not because
| of the names, potent az they are, but
because of the distinguished nature Of
the painting in them. Both belonged to
| Mr.. Morten. The later Renoir often be-
| came maDnered and painted many pic
| lures after a pattern, but this one, luck
| lily. is In the period when Renoir's touch
was peculiarly vital. The theme Is not
one that in itself would arouse an artist
of Renoir's calibre to its highest; it is
| simply Femme lisant un joural illus
ire. that in many artists hands would
be mere studio piece. and even TO
| Renoir must have seemed a means of
! filling in between larger tasks.
But Renoir is by temperament a
painter. and az a chance phrase some
| times starts poet Off upon a first rate
poem so does sometimes an unexpected
color harmony lead painter into that
| state. commonly referred to as inspired,
| in which genuine works of art are pro-
duced. The present Woman Reading
has the rapt unconsciousness and pulsat-
ing livcliness that are usually worked
under the brush of Renoir when he IS
in the mood. Though the face is OF an
| excessive blondness the light creeps up
to an admirable crescendo on the neck
the golden hair is rich in color and tex
ture. and most connoisseurs will not
know how to be grateful enough TO Re-
no!r for the restraint OF the blue dress.
Unerring skill shown.
The Femme Couchee" of Dcgas is a
pastel. rather largish. that came from
the celebrated Hayashi sale. The
| woman IL model, evidently resting be-
tween po.es, and Degas, who was al
ways on the alert for the unexpected
seized her attitude with his now famous
mastery of line. The movement OF the
figure is not only natural. but the ar
rangement OF it upon the paper has been
made with unerrng skill.
The woman and child. by Mary Cas-
satt, has certain pecularities of compo-
s!tisn. for which she can thank her
studies with Dsgas. but the feeling OF
the work is distinctly her own. Cour-
bets "Blacksmith's Shed" is notable for
its sureness OF composition Fantin-La-
tours little still life has more than a
hint of his talent. and the Bonvin still
life is astonishingly faithful and detailed
The American Of most prominence or
the list is Albert +. Ryder, no less thar
eight of his paintings being offered His
Diana is large panel with qualities
unusual to Ryder. but most OF his exam
pies are the familiar small panels, will
enamclled colors and big decOrativ,
schemes. one is the we'll known "Pe
gasus." and another not 50 well known
but charmngly poetic is the Traveller.
at Dusk" Twachtmans "Summe
Studio" ia n painters picture. with M
concession to tho realism loved by thu
people" Childe Hassam's "Tronbound'
is colorful study of rocky cliffs: Err
nest I.awsons ''Morningside Heights Il
a snow scene admirably painted: tn,
Ribot Family Group might be mis-
taken for an old master, and the Sisle,
landscape is not only a fine Sislcy bu
one of the finest landscapes in the who'll
collection.