The New York herald., 1920-12-05
Mr.. knights New Pictures.

Aston Knight has Just returned to
America, bringing not only his own lat
est paintings but number by members
OF the jury Of the Paris Salon. The two
groups of works are now on view In the
new John Levy galleries Mr. Knights
landscapes are, Of course, as we'll known
here as they are in Paris, but the names
OF his confreres will be new to this
public for the most part, so 1t was what
the French themselves call q beau
geste' to bring these canvases by fury
members of the Societe des Artistes
Franchises to New York.
Mr.. Knight was fortified IN the ven
ture by two letters: one from Paul
Leon, the French Minister of Beaux
Arts, and the other from Ambassador
Hugh c. Wallace. Mr.. Wallace. after
wishing Mr.. Knight success, adds:
since as you told me 1856 living Ameri-
can artists have been awarded 32s
recompenses in Paris up to 1914. I am
glad that the American public will have
chance to appreciate the works of
members of the jury who have always
been so fair In their recognition of the
talent of our American artists exhibit
ing in Paris
Mr. Leon writes: II have learned
with great satisfaction that you have
position OF French art for New York.
AS you have been assured choice,
there remains to me only to subscribe
to IL. persuaded as am that you, know
ing equally the taste. of American anna
tours and the traditional virtues OF
French art. have known how to unite
them in a perfect harmony"
This Mr.. Knight has assurediy known
how to do. The pictures are perfectly
harmonized. They agree together won-
derfully They may be said indeed to
spring all from the same principle
that the business of an artist Is to
celebrate some fact from nature. To
pretend to arrange them In the order
OF merit, where there is so much even
ness Of merit, would be difficult. but
possibly Americans will look first at
the Depart pour Ia Messe," by WILL
lam Laparra. who was a pupil of the
trio, Lefebre, Fleury and Bouguereau.
who taught so many of the Americans
of a former generation. The picture
shows young woman descending a
fine Old World stairway and is painted
with much directness. Direct painting.
too. has been the aim Of Hubert Denis
Etcheverry in his Jour dEte," in
which a young woman sits by an open
window. outside of which bird CAGES
may be seen against the pillars. Some
what more subtle In touch and color Is
the "Gulliver chez les Geants." by Fer
nand Cormon, in which the ladies OF
the court. upon high balcony over
looking the sea. are amusing themselves
with the puny little CULVER. other
artists represented are Paul Chabas of
September Morn" fame: Paul M.
Dupuy, Emile Renard, Henry 10. Henri
Rochegrosse, Emile Boutigny, Henri
Foreau and Victor Gilbert.
Mr. Knight revels in superior kinds of
facts, too. and generally loves a river
when 1t Is small enough for a human
being to become intimate with It. The
French are quite wonderful in not dis
figuring a fine river when they have
one. and all the wash houses, mills or
summer houses that they build upon its
banks add rather than distract from the
effect. Mr.. knights newest picture has,
of course, some water In It. 1t depicts
an embowered offshoot from Iarger
stream, with characteristic and pictur-
esque wash house and other sheds. The
water Is cool. shiny and deep, and In
IT, foreground great lily leaves cut
across the lights In the water. lie