257

ART AND SOME ART MATTERS

Mrs. Peattie Writes of the Recent Academy Exhibition in This City.
She Finds Much of Merit in What Was Shown by Omaha Makers of Pictures.
A Little Dissertation by Mr. Snyder on Local Studies--A Column for Art Lovers.

The Art academy gave an exhibition of its work Friday afternoon and evening in a large, well-lighted room over the [nataroium?] on Howard street. The exhibition had not been contemplated, but at the last moment Mr. J. Laurie Wallace, the director, concluded to make a showing of the work in hand. Much of it was unfinished, but was none the less interesting on that account. And, indeed, one felt that the element of self-consciousness had not entered into the work of the students as it might have done had preparations been deliberately made for an exhibition.

The rooms in which the exhibition was held had been made very attractive by the young girl students. They had cleaned and tidied, strewn rugs and hung draperies, arranged [?] and secured punch, and what with these comforts, a grand piano, the pictures themselves and the young ladies who [?] them, the place was a very esthetic one.

In the evening there was a musical program. Mr. Albert was present with his violin, Mr. Gahm was at the piano, and Mrs. Metcalf and young Mr. Fischer sung. There was a large attendance, and the young girl students talked high art, and talked it in beautiful costumes. Miss Uhl wore a Turkish costume, Miss Lumbard was dressed as a lady of the empire, Miss Dillon was in Japanese dress, Miss Ruth in a jaunty continental costume, Miss Brown was in Grecia robes, Miss Evans in Japanese and Miss Young in seventeenth century costumes.

As to the pictures, there were some beautiful water color sketches of Santa Fe by Miss Evans, the instructor of drawing in the public schools; and an exquisite water color of a vista at the World's Fair by Miss Young, director of art work at Brownell Hall. Miss Young also had some copies of pictures at Lininger's gallery. Mr. Huntington, who is in the hide and leather business, and who paints pictures at night, because he cannot help it, and who, by the way, points some of them [?] well, had a number of things on the wall. Among them were two beach scenes in oil, very delicate and true. Mr. Fred Parker kindly sent down a mellow woodland scene, which is one of the best things he ever did, and which gave decided tone to the modest display. Frank Shill, who is doing some good work, has a number of things on the wall, among them a portrait of his mother, which, though still unfinished, gives promise of being excellent. Mr. Shill is hardly a student of the academy, although he has studied some good work. Mr. Wallace had nothing displayed at all, which was certainly over modest. Omaha is interested in Mr. Wallace and likes to look at his work. Moreover, there is every reason to feel that he is fast reaching the place where he will definitely decide in what way to express himself. Some ambitious pictures are expected of him. At the World's fair his pictures looked very creditable, even in comparison with the work of much older men. It is said that Mr. Wallace contemplates the painting of society pictures as his specific line of work. He will try to paint the emotions of faces of the affluent, the self-contained, and the cultivated as they have been painted in thousands of times in the faces of the lowly. It is a thing requiring much ability, a sincere art feeling, enormous study and a story of [pictorist?], histrionic power, if the expression may be used. But there is reason to suppose that if Mr. Wallaces bends his energies to the task he will succeed.

Mr. Rotbery sent over one fine portrait.

As for the students, their work was not being censured. It was often unfinished, as said before. In many cases it was the result of but a few months' study. It showed thorough method. Sometimes it showed he individuality of the pupil. The charcoal work was good and honest. The studies in oil were some of them really delightful. Some were very crude-that goes without saying. Miss Uhl's work attracted a great deal of favorable comment. Miss Dillon was given the prize for the most rapid advancement. Miss Uhl, Miss Brown and Miss Ruth were pronounced competent to teach. Mrs. McKnight had a good interior in quiet colors. Mrs. Clement Chase a chic head in water colors. Mrs. Monell was represented by a study of white and maroon-colored chrysanthemums on a table covered with maroon plush. The effect was artistic and the work good. Miss Uh's portrait of Miss Winter was among the best things in the selection.

Some little unframed sketches of sunrise over the bluffs, or of sunset on the prairies, or the river bottoms, done in the true art of the impressionist, were in a way, the things which held most promise. These were done by a number of the students, and indicated a line of work in which they may hope to find some expression of their environment, some expression of their environment, their capabilities and their own individuality. Fortunately they have an instructor who appreciates to the utmost the value of the truth in art, and who will encourage them to paint, what they see and in the way they see it.

The work of the Art academy appears to be thorough, sincere and aspiring.
ELIA W. PEATTIE.