International studio (25.1905)

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THE DINING-ROOM

f H *\HE EXHIBITION OF THE
p SOCIETY OF AMERICAN
S ARTISTS. BY ARTHUR HOEBER.
THE most interesting exhibition of the
year in New York is that of the Society of Amer-
ican Artists and this is not to say by any means
that it is invariabiy an ideal display, since both
the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia shows surpass it
each season. Yet it must be remembered that the
directors of those institutions annually make the
rounds of the studios and collectors and invite
particular works, an excellent system that might
well be followed in the metropolis. Since all the
contributions here, however, are the unsolicited
ewoM of the painter, criticism must be more
lenient. It is therefore satisfactory to announce
that this year's exhibition, at the Fine Arts build-
ing on West Fifty-seventh Street,—the twenty-

seventh—is quite the most encouraging in the
history of the society, that the average is much
higher than ever before and that a general feeling
of sanity prevails, the faddists being in a minority.
Not before has the jury had such an extended
choice, more pictures having been accepted than
could be hung, which if heartburnings ensued,
make for the excellence of the appearance of the
walls. A low tone prevails throughout and, of
course, the portraits predominate. Fifteen hun-
dred pictures were submitted and nearly five
hundred have been hung, together with a few
pieces of sculpture. The prize awards are quite
as satisfactory as such aSairs go. Louis Loeb
obtains the Carnegie five hundred dollars for a
large landscape which he calls MorMfwg', but which
is by no means up to previous performances along
the same lines. Yet it is an able rendering of
nature out-of-doors, in colour that comes danger-

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