New-York tribune., 1919-03-23
Random Impressions
In Current Exhibitions

A loan exhibition Of medallic art
is accessible, between the hours of
10 and s, at the Century Club, to visit
ors presenting cards from members.
1t includes medals, medallion portraits
and some original models from which
medals have been maze.
New Workers may we'll envy the in
habitants of Morristown, N. j., for in
the public library of that town there
is open just now an exhibition which
would be welcome anywhere. 1t is
one of original drawings by Mr.. A. B.
Frost and Mr.. John Frost. The latter
shows only eighteen productions, but
by Mr.. A. B. Frost there are no fewer
than eighty-nine pen drawings and
some threescore works in wash, oils
and water color. One alone of this
humorist's achievements, "Our Cat
Takes Rat Poison" would repay pill
grimage. His genius for comicality
long ago gave him a fame which can
not fade. He has had a strong, terse
line that mas proved a perfect tech
Z. nical resource, exactly matching the
racy spirit of his work. For Frost is
nothing if not racy. He is as thor
oughly American type as was Ar
temus Ward. Alike in his pictorial
jokes, in his illustrations and in his
sporting subjects he has always been
true to the soil. Why a show like
this one at Morristown should not be
made in New York we fail to compre-
hend. On the other hand, Morristown
Is only an hour from the city.
An enterprise that was projected for
Paris in 1914 but was abandoned be-
cause of the outbreak of the war has
at least borne fruit in New York. The
show which nineteen Americans living
abroad were then planning for the
Georges Petit galleries to-day finds
its equivalent in the Knoedler GAL
lery. Paintings and other works are
displayed. There is one sculptor rep
resented, and he, as it happens, is
host in himself. 1t is Mr.. Paul Bart
lett who thus effectively illustrates
plastic art. He sends two small nudes.
torsos Of subtle beauty, masterfully
modelled, and among his other bronzes
there looms an enchanting bust, the
one called Romance" 1t is a curl
Gus, unusual head. At first glance we
think it Renaissance echo, a thing
inspired perhaps by some youthful
John the Baptist or other type by
Donatello. Then we percc+sc the orig
inality of the sculpture, it's truly ro-
mantle atmosphere, its spiritual grace
and Its fluent polish as bit OF work
manship. Decidedly Mr.. Bartlett is an
important figure in the show. Impor-
tant also are the artists who have one
of the smaller rooms to themselves for
drawings and prints. Mr.. Herman A.
Webster, in his sketches Of historic
French buildings, Mr. Donald Shaw
Mclaughlin in his Italian and other
Continental drawings and etchings,
Mr.. John Mcclure Hamilton in his
sprightly studies Of the figure, Mr..
Pennell in his Autographs and Mr..
George Elmer Browne in his open ar
impressions, make this black and white
room more than a rival of the room
given to performances in color. Their
wing of the exhibition is, indeed, al
most richer than the other in sheer
pleasure.
The paintings, taken all together,
create an atmosphere which is, in the
circumstances, natural enough. 1t is
the atmosphere of the salon, where
technical adroitness and a certain mum
dane gayety take the place of more
subtle qualities. Witness the figure
subjects of Mr.. F'rieseke and Mr.. Rich
ard Miller, things clever but of no
great depth. This sufficiently gracious
and yet rather superficial appeal is
made by more than one contributor, by
Mr.. Myron Barlow in his "Winding
WOOL" by Mr.. Martin Borgord in his
mellow but not very weighty "Revery,"
by Mr.. George Oberteuffer in his
sparkling street scene, "The Made
leine," and by several other painters
of out of door themes, Mr.. w. H.
Singer. Mr.. John Noble and Mr.. Charles
Thorndike. A deeper impression is
left by the Maine landscape sent by
Mr.. Walter Griffin, alluring in color
and with beguiling hint of originality
in its thick impasto, its solid but never
heavy handed method. Mr. Tanners
Christ Walking on the Waters" fails
of its effect as Scriptural illustration.
What it lacks in imaginative force it
I makes up in its rich texture of blues.
There are two or three portraits. Mr..
Hamilton sends his "Mr. Gladstone"
the study of the statesman at work in
his library at Hawarden. 1t is anus
ing in it's play Of light and in it's
treatment of the accessories. The still
life is charmingly done. In the midst
of it the head of Gladstone appears in
remarkable salience, vivid nugget of
Characterization. Mr.. Max Bohm's
Mary Baker Eddy" is a picturesque
full length of the leading parsonage
among Christian Scientists, her mod
crn garb being more or less poctized
through tho manipulation Of color and
through the presentation Of the figure
in . spacious landscape. OF kindred
character throurh ita fusion ~ rnoI