Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-03
New Works at the COrcOran Gallery
OF Art

BIERSTf DTS MOUNT CORCORAN-MAY-
NARD'S Z" ;16,o &C.
Some new works now on exhibition at this
gallery will repay a visit even in this hot
weather.
First among them as a novelty is q large
view in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Cali
fOrnia, by Bierstadt. In the distance is
Mount COrcoran manned in honor of the
founder OF this gallery, whose rocky splin-
tered peaks embOsOming masses of eternal
snow, rise TO q height of nearly 10 600 feet
Masses of gray cumulus clouds roll athwart
the breast and base of the mountain, but
di closes the shelving shore, and out OF the
bosom OF this vapOr silvery cascade leaps
downward to small lake that fills the CEN
ter of the pictrre with its beautiful green ex-
panse, save where Its waters are moved into
Say ripples by the rising wind. On the right
a level point extends into the lake, and from
it towers upward a grove OF the enormous
pines OF CalifOrnta-superbly painted-their
bases in transparent shadow and their lofty
tops finely relieved agar st the var ors
swa,hipg the mountains breast. From tbs
of rocks and trees half submerged. Nothing
can be finer than the finished transparency
of this shoal water, the recedlng indistinct-
ness of stumps and pebbles, among which
trout are seen floating. The sentiment OF
primeval solitude is given 10 the scene by
the solitfry bear admirably paintedJ max
or a bath in the pure lake. Tnis pic,dre is n
powerful example Of Biefstadt'S best style,
and is declared by those familiar with the
region 10 be in all respects true to nature.
The next work is the noble subject OF - 20"
by George {. Maynard, a native OF Wash
tngton. and son of DR. z. Maynard. IL is
familiar TO many Centennial visitors, as it
was first exhibited in Memorial Hall last
year, bit being hung in a co ridor, II never
was seen there to the adv antage il now ell
joys in one OF the spacious galleries of the
"COrcOran."" &c" represents three-quarter
length of a young volunteer of the revolu-
ton, fully accoutred in buff and blue, q mus
ket thrown over his right shoulder, and with
his left hand clasping the pire tree flag of
Massachusetts The general position is easy
and untheatrical. The face of the young
volunteer shows the genius OF the artist. 1t
is not of rough common soldier, or of a
mercenary bOuntyman. There is q quiet
honesty and mildress in the face, which
with the hands grasping flag and musket,
suggests that he has just left the plougl or
show him to be one of the lads who would
defend his flag to the last, or endure the pri-
vations OF Valley Forge. The execution of
the work shows the artists training in
He is now pursuing his studies in Europe,
sT6," aid the skin in handling It, he cannot
fail by his future works, to confer further
Another excellent work on exhibition is a
copy of II ealy's portrait of the late Chief
Justice Taney by Miss Strong, daughter Of
vigorous style OF Healy is well rendered by
the copyist, and the strong points OF the like
ness al S ,bs is dor
10 secure u as an ornament to the court room.
The Gallery has jr-t placed in the bronze
hall superb electrOtype reproduction in
of the famous 'sBernard Strauss Tankard,' %
18th century. A copy In bronze was pur-
chased some time ago. but as the original
ivory is an exact limitation of ii, and there
fore is of more interest. NJ.