Year: 1876




humor aud In the style Of execution with which all who
know Mr.. Johnsons works famliar but the Husk-
ing Bee would hardly be recognized coming from his
hand, even by those who know him best. "The New
Bonnet" Is Of thoseltle anecdotes in rural Amer
life of which Mr. johnson has painted so many and
which his reputation IL chiefly founded. young
admiring bonnet which has just been brought
from the nearest town by old sort OF primoval
expresslnan, who sits at the fire warming his
hands after his long tramp In the cold He has his bacK
turned the young lady for having done his errand Dc
longer any interest in tho bonnet but he slightly
turns his head and pcks up his ears as no hears the
cnk OF q spoon and Is aware that Sary Ann" GOOD
creetur that Sary"is mixing him glass OF something
hot The attention OF Sary is however divided between
her charitable thoughts for the comfort OF the old messen
ger and her feminine desire 10 the real beauty OF
bonnet" which Miss Eliza Jane has just got home Ac-
oordlngy she srs the toddy with wandering mind and
q dawdling spoon


"Her eyes with the hat, and that Is far away"


As for Miss Eliza Jane, she, selfish thoughts intent
neither perceves that the expressman cold and trcd
nor that sary Ann would like to enjoy something more
than stolen glance at her now treasure. She
holds the bonnet poised on her hnger-tips, and
turning a broad country-back to the others
gazes 1t with rapture and seems lost In the wonder OF
It, This Ia Mr. Johnson little history which is enacted
in the same kitchen with whose geography we have 80
old an acquaintance and which Mr. Johnson paints with
tho affection OF who foels himself at home IN DIS
work. The color OF the picture is little somber for tne
subject and the blue plates ON the dresser Win WHICH


lighted up not true blue or at least not true 10 any
blue we know This is a small matter. and only worth
noticing because 1t is common defect In MI Johnsohs
arrangements Of color to accent one or two points 700
strongly; not too strongly II they properly led up
TO- tho connecting links are too often wanting Id
Guard Frere very much the system OF color as
Mr. Johnson he knows to keep tune ana
among his other accomplishments has fine eye for
with the most picturesque earthenwarc'
which he paints in to ensnae the heart OF the most
determined enemy of such vanities as pots ana
pans. Mr. Johnson, too, s very skful In dealing WIN
these details OF our homcly country life He has an OK
ceent hack In selecting things TO put on his manei-
shelves and dresscrs that perfectly In keeping with
the life he IA describing. and he paints them with fun
understanding OF their points. Frere himself could
hardly have dealt truly with tho old pitcher that
stands the dresser this present picture. and the
plates are as well executed II only their color had been
truly felt But after all. 1t IL In tho life. the move
ment the expression with which Mr.. Johnson anniates
his people that his main excellence consists And that
this power is dependent hs customary execution.
but inherent u himself the larger Of his two pictures
shows well enough. Here, the color Ia laid on In way
the very opposite OF the careful DiSseldorsh
ner In which the "Ncw Bonnet" Is painted This
Husking Bee" seems done to please art
lists and conuosseurs tho New Bonnet" TO
please the world and the world In particular
for whom Mr.. johnson has so long been working With
tho exception OF old mans face. and perhaps tho
Nantucket distance and horizon line at the left there Is
nothing whatever made out" In tho whole canvas
The painting Is extremely coarse and-sapdash We were
about to say cannot be said whom every stroke
the tells and tho artists intention rules In
every square inch OF surface IL seems to IA that the
perspective OF the picture is somewhat faulty In THIS;
that the double line OF skers appears to stretch out too
far. As spectator said on looking Mt Il. Here aro
1--WE miles of people" THIS apart-and It may not seem


I.ft .Natu
for tho way In which tho separate figures
and every incident in the rural drama are
made tell. These people not posing. nor making
believe play at husklng Look at the three old men ut
the fore end OF tho lefthand line SEQ how plainly tho
third from the end Is turning 70 his nelghbor with
slow iocuar remark aud the last one In tho line. who
husks his OF with hs elbows on bis knees how
plain TO he also IL talking and pretty steady
stream too. The men at the right, who arc carrying
away basket OF between them. ale touched with
the hand OF a genuine mastcr-Knaus himself might
own these figures. and they ought to DO carefully
studied by any who wants an instructive Illustration
Of what nnsh" means He might perhaps learn 1t as
well by asking any OF Mr. Iomers boys In tho sail
boat for definition. but he cannot nnd anything In
the Academy that will give him clearer answer
IL might thought that Mr. j. III. Boards babies and
puppies IN Tired Out" and wide Awake" were moro


finished than Mr. Johnsons two men carrying the basket
or the old gosspng together at tho left OF the
picture But Mr. Boards work is not finished at all, and
never will be- Mr. JOhnsOus the other hand Ia in-
shed and no stroke could De given It that would not
hurt 1t. Finish" implies, first Of oil. that man shall


know thoroughly what no Is going to tell and that he
shall be complete master OF the ethod by which he Is
going to iinpart It to Then he must know how TO
,op the very minute said all he had tn in such
a way that there possibility OF misunderstanding
him. and no need OF asking him another ques-
ton Unless no have this complete knowledge to begin
WITH and this decision In stopping when he has DONE an
tho labor he bcstows his picture will make his igno
rance more nnd plain TO lie may polish HIS
babeS ND until they look like advertisements OF sapoo.
or blow up his bonecss puppies until they arc
ready TO burst with pin-pnck, but they can
never be finished. for they mover really
begun. True finish" has nothing to do with
what Is popularity understood by the word-that
finish which It is tho end and aIn OF tho
ordinary drawing-naster to impart 10 his pupils and
which the ordinary pupil wears his brain and his fingers
and wears his eyes In the endeavor to compass Tho
execution Of Gerome OF Messonier Is no more truly
finish than that OF Fortuny Regnault, although.
looked at supcrncally tho work OF these two men may
seem lko rags and atteiS alongside the new user and
neat makeup Of tho pictures Of tho two frstnamed
mon Fortuny and Rcgnau!t stop wnen they have said
their say md 50 do Geromo and Mel soner. Only. CO
rome and Messonior take moro words to their say thnn
the other two But all four men know to tittlo what
they want to express and when they feel sure
they have said IL 80 that no who may read they lay
down the pen, and begin to study something else Mr.


oinsons work Is to be placed In very much tho same
category No one who examines this picture OF tho


Huskng Bee" with the care 1t deserves but Will admit
the artists knowledge Of his art and the clcarness OF his
OF his subject lie will fad every figure ex
pcable its inteniion and that inentlon expressed
with sngeness and decision that could not be bettored
And then he Will find that all is done with tho fewest
posabe strokes there is not wasted movement OF
tho brush.


The same Judgment that calls Mr. Boards pictures