The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 29, 1896, Page 17

THE SOME GEMS OF " I ]}L“D\’ WITH lf MANDOLIN. " IOS(AR KunaTh EXT Thursday evening the fall ex- hibition of the San Francisco Art Association will open at the Mark Hopkins Institute, and from present indi- cations it is to be a most characteristic display of the work of native painters. Few of the many canvases to be exhibited were painted for the purpose of being shown to the public. They are merely the regular studio work, and as such are de- serving of the greatest consideration. Nearly all of the pictures were painted in California, and the few that do bear the name of a foreign city do not gamn any- thing by being placed beside the work doue on the Pacific Coast. In fact, it might be said, they lose, for some of them | are certainly far behind the work of San Francisco painters. Inthe coming exhibition there will be few -‘large canvases and. a great num- berof very small ones. Indeed, it would seem’ as if there are to be more small "pictures: “than have ‘ever before been. placed in a single exhibition. There is no particular reason for this. 1t just happens that small pictures have been painted and will be exhibited. On the whole the smaller pictares are fully as meritorious as the larger ones. Another thing of great interest to those interested in Western art is tke fact that most of the pictures are of California seenes. To be sure, there are several :Lighly creditable canvases of scenes in the most picturesque parts of Europe. And Wwhy should therenot be? A painter should depict what appezls to him, ard if he pro- | duces an accurate transcript from nature it matters little, from an artistic stand- point, whether it is a picture of the Seine or the San Joaquin. Nevertheless, it is | gratifying to know that the grandeur of | the Pacific Coast is motif enough for some | painters. | In the coming exhibition the whole | State has been covered. Thomas Hill has painted the mountains | and the great redwoods; Keith has repro- | duced the mysterious depths of the oak | forests with the ever changing atmos- pheric effects; Pissis has caught the solemn uplands along the coast; Joullin | has shown us what artistic quality there | | is in the sanddunes; Yelland and Latimer | | have reproduced the quiet pastoral bits of | | the interior valleys. Several of the artists have produced pictures of scenes along | the bay. In decoratiyeand still life work there will be a large quantity, but of as good quality as can be found in any city of the United States. There will not be a AN APRIL SHOWER' THoS HiLL large number of portraits, but then San Francisco painters never did do much in that line. A tour of the studios was made a few days ago by a CaLL representative and most of the pictures that will be placed on | public view next Friday were ‘‘putina | good light'’ for inspection. The tour was 1 a most gratifying one in every respect. J. A. Stanton was putting tbe finishing | touches on a “Holland Sea Coast,” while all aboult were pictures from sunny France. Stanton loves to paint the Nor- mandy peasants in their picturesque gar- desert vegetation are depicted admirably. This work is excentionally good in color. There are several other smaller canvases ever picturesque Seine and in the depths ments, and certainly does it in a credit- able manner. All of his pictures are full of light and color and have a tender senti-- ment most subtly expressed. Mr. Stanton will exhibit five canvases in all. One of these is a most creditable composition en- titled “The Star of Bethlehem,” and on which he received a medal while in Paris. “Waiting for the Boats” is a characteris- tic bit of Holland coast portrayed in a most forcibie and graphic manoer. “Low Tide, Brittany,” is a most interesting study of French fisherfolk. “A Ballet Girl” is a pretty picture devoid of all seri- ousness, but full of good drawing and color. In addition to these there ure a couple of very meritorious marines. E. M. Pissis will be represented by sev- eral canvases showing scenes in both France and California, “On the Coast” is a splendid study of that piece of coun- try lying along the seashore south of the SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29. 1896 the facts of nature. At the same timea posetic 1nterpretation is given .them, so that the result is most pleasing. “Twi- light” is a picture full of rich color. The sun has already sunk beneath the horizon and the face of nature is partly veiled in a vurple mist. On the whole a very credita- ble piece of work. ‘‘Monterey Moorlands'* is a typical bit of Calilornia coast with a ART PAINTED FOR THE FA harsh. It has a’peculiar redness that prcduees an unpleasant effect. d L. P. Latimer sends three pictures, two in water color and one in oil. All of them are characteristic of Mr. Latimer and fully up to his usual standard. *‘Live Oak, Berkeley,” is a good piece of paint- ing. The composition is simple, but the color is rich and strong. “The Edge of | sonted by two dog pictures of a high Cliff House. The wastes of sand and the “Autumn Woods” is a splendid study. showing bright bits of nature aloug the of the romantic forest of Fontainebleau. Mr. Pissis’ painting 1s conscientious 1n the extreme, but at the same time easy in handling and rich in color. R.D. Yelland sends three good-sized canvases in his best manner. All show a great deal of study and an effort to get at bright sky and a rich foreground. “Earlv Moonrise’’ is a transcript from nature. It shows a spot not far from Pacific Grove and tbe effect is most pleasing. The soft glow of the moon is all-pervading and pro- duces a mystery in the deeper shadows that create a slight feeling of awe. It is a pleasing picture and at the same time can truly be said to be well painted. William Keith sends several landscapes painted in his best style. There are no large canvases among them, but all are interesting and full of color and life. “Summer Moonlight'” is one of Mr. Keith's latest works and, it might be added, one of his best. The composition of sky, trees, water and foreground does not differ materially from his usual style, but in handling and color it is a distinct de- parture. Broad and vigorousin treatment, it makes one feel as if he ware really look- ing at a bit of nature. The light from the moon touching the edges of the clouds is little short of wonderful. Thomas Hill, who is now in San Diego, has sent four large canvases. The vest of these is entitled ‘“An April Shower.” It is a vigorous piece of painting, and fu'l of color. Itrevresents a scene in the moun- tains, and the rain is beating down with great fury. Every partof the picture is dripping wet. *“Evening in the Pathless Woods” is astrong pictare, with a large- ness about it that is remarkable. The redwoods are actuolly gigantic, and the forest interior seems like some vast cathedral. Mr. Hill's other pictures are called studies, painted in a style he used | several years ago. Oscar Kunath has two very creditable figure studies. *“Lady With Mandolin” is a fine piece of painting. The drawing and color are superb- and the smallestdetails are conscientiously worked out. This canvas is very small, and when looking at | it one feels as if it ought to have been larger, so good is the work in every partof it. A half length nude female figure in pastel is good in drawing and a good piece of posing. The color, however, is a litile 2P LATIMER the Meadow"' is a large water color of 2 | fairly good in color and the drawing of the ! characteristic bit of landscape. The other | trees and different objects is most credit- { piature is a small -water color entitled “*Sunset.” | The pictures which Amadee Joullin will serd to the fall exhibition are those { be painted during the past summer. They | have already been described in THE CAvL, able. santhemums'’ has many good points. is strong in color and drawing and the‘ general effect i3 pleasing. so that only a brie! mention is necessary | here. In all there will be five creditable | canvases. “On the Trail” is the largest of these, and reoresents an Indian sneak- ing over a sandhill. The other pictures are “Alameda Sand Danes,” “Stretch of Beach,” “Fish Alley, Chinatown,” and | **A Bketch.” Miss Elizabeth Strong will be repre- order. Her work shows constant im- provement and a steady gain ir strength. “With the First Shot,” is a creditable piece of work, showing a beautiful setter carrying a duck in his mouth that he has just broughe from a marsh. ‘A Meeting” l is a splendid dog picture. The two- ani mals are posed in the most natural man ner, and their tails seem to be actually wagging. In color this picture is rather on the landscape order, but it is most agreeable in tone and scintillating with light. Miss Matilda Lotz has sent in an excep- tionally good cattle study. It represents theinterior of a barn, and a calf in the foreground gives a good opportunity for strong effect, and Miss Lotz has taken ad- vantage of it, for she has handled it ad- mirably. Every part of the animal is carefully studied. All the forms are accu- rately indicated and the general color | scheme is strong and rich. Harry Stewart Fonda isa young man who has lately returned from Europe after an absence of several years. His work, however, is not what would be ex- pected after so much study. ‘“Reverie’’ is rather an ambitious piecs of work, but that is about ail that can be said of it The figure is not bad, and there is some good color in parts, but on the whole the picture is disappointing. “Coast of Con- carneaun’’ 1s a large marine, of which little can be said in the way of praise. The forms of the waves are fair, but the color is jarring. C. Chapel Juison has sent in a large number of pictures of different grades of merit. Some of these show study, but the majority simply indicate an attempt to “turn out” pictures. ‘“Sunset on the Marsh'’ is one of the best of the lot. Itis LL EXHIBITION small water colors with coifsiderabl merit about them. Many of them are studies from nature and indicate a"subtle grasp of the subjects chosen. Miss C. M: Bodwell hassent in two small pictures with a great deal of merit. One 18 in water color and the other in oil The water color, “From Natare,” is very ‘“ From Nature.”” By Miss C. N. Bodley. creditable, both in drawing and color and also in the general outdoor effect. In adaition to the artists mentioned there will be about thirty-five others rep- resented. Over 200 pictures have been re- ceived, but as a number of these will be re« jected, not over 175 will be hung. But this isenough and makes a good showing, andas the merit of the pictures 1s or a high grade, the exhibition will be a credit- abie one, and one that 8an Franciseq may well be proud of. He Won the Bet. Some vears ago the late Major Roddy Owen was at Aldershot, and offered to back himself to -make a horse he was riding jump a straw. Every one laughed, and although his fondness for horses was well known, none believed he could ac- complish the feat. A long straw was pros cured and laid on the ground. Owen | proceeded to blindfold the horse and rode him at the mark, which the animal Miss Matilda Hawpe sends several | cleared with a bound that would have set- flower pieces. A large “‘Study of Chry- | tle!a five-bar gate. When he returned to Tt | coilect his bets all the sportsmen had van- ished—Army and Navy Journal. There are in Paris 8000 women who are Sydney Yard of San Jose sends several i heads of mercantile houses. \ 1 ,r ()