New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-11
Random Impressions
I'm Current Exhibitions
Continued from preceding page

Continued from preceding page
h1bit!on embraces textile designs, pos
ter, costume designs and various types
Of advertising.
The City Clubs current exhibition
u made up Of paintings by Mr.. Will
lam II. Singer, who lives in Norway
ana has devoted himself to tho deplc-
ton Of its snowy scenes. A few Of tho
canvsses were shown earlier In the
season at the Folsom gallery, but most
o. them are works which were not then
placed on view.
The Gorhams announce the second
exhibition Of the Young Sculptors' So
eiety. It lasts until the Gath Of this
month.
Two young etchers ara at present ex-
hibiting In New York. At the Kenne,
gallery there ara a couple of dozen
prints by MIR. Kerr Ely, who served
in the ranks on the American FRONT
He shows, besides, some autographs
and drawings. His studies of the war
arc extraordinarily good; sympathetic
Impressions which really carry convic-
ton. Some Of his plates are quite the
best contributions to the subiec+ We
nave yet seen. But we almost forget
tho historical and human interest at
saching to Mr.. Eby's work in admira-
ton Of his keen, confident and YER
issbly flashing technique. He knows
how to draw. He knows what to omit
And in his touch there is fresh. ner-
sonai quality. We arrive instantly and
Joyfully at the conclusion that Mr.
Ely is an artist whose talent Ia go;no
to make good company.
The other etcher Is Mr.. William
Auerbscf-Levy, who has three-score
prints and little collection Of draw
.ngs at the Hahlo gallery. he shows
some admirable architectural subjects.
but his most characteristic work Is
oone IN the portrayal of Jewish and
other sharply defined types. Among
his early etchings there are some femi-
nine heads that are merely pretty in
commonplace way. Fortunately, he
seems to have outgrown their insipid
style. Most Of his sitters. humble
Irish or Slavic figures, are drawn with
plenty of energy and freedom. This
ctcher relies q good deal upon short.
curt strokes which are undeniably eff
1ectlve, but in place of which it would
be good to see more often the rure.
sustained line Of which he is manifest
" capable He exhibits some drawings
which prove that he can raise line to q !
considerable pitch Of expression. As
IL is, his crisp attack and the ANNA
tion in his realism make him an ex-
hloltor Of interesting performance and
oven more interesting promise.
There is Renaissance type Of sculp-
5ured portrait mucn affected in the
studios Of masters like Donatello and
Verrocchio, and ditfused by their inf1u-
ence among many lesser but still /
potent men, which is memorable for its
fusion Of two rich elements-stark We
racity and an exquisitely subtle beauty.
That type Of portrait is rare in mod.
crn art. When it appears it wears tho
distinction Of q masterpiece. and wa
nave no hesitation in applvino that
word to the marble bust Of John D. /
Rockefeller which Paul ManshiD has
lately produced. 1t may be seen st
the Scott and Fowlcs gallery, where it
rests on en old carved cabinet apains+
an ancient tapestry and CONVEYS the
Impression OF some nne work of art
from tho Old World, while it bears
the stamp OF talent having in it All .
the vitality of the new.
This bust is q miracle Of Character
'zatlon and Of technique. The bonv
structure of the sitter's head is 50
studied that the portrait seems to have
she organic authenticity Of life itself
and over the structure Mr. Manship has
so modelled the flesh and cuticle that
around the substantial facts OF bia
work there fairly breathes an i'm
palpable atmosphere. Not in the whole
range OF his production, rich as it Is
III brilliant things, has there ever ap-
peared triumph so beautifully and 80
purely sculptured as this, so eloquent
81 hand and an Imagination search
ing out the inner secrets Of form. The
bust 10 uncanny, as though it were
something ghostly and mystical, in its
expression OF character, and technically
1t has that perfection which flowers in
style. delicate patina lends the last
distinction to this portrait. We have
not In years seen so notable a work in
modern sculpture, American or Euro
pean.
The pictures now on view at the
Montross gallery have special in
terest in that they have been deliber-
xtely chosen to illustrate the earlier
manners Of certain clever artists. Mr..
Arthur B. Davies is always fascinating
when he is thus represented. All four
OF his pictures are good, and one of
them, along the Erie Canal" is a gem.
1t is strange and adorable blend Of
tho Hudson River tradition with the
tradition OF the Renaissance. Mr.. Will
aanl j. Glackens, who Is now 80 often