Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-02-09
ART NOTES,

| best examples of American art suggested for
| the COrcOran Gallery in last weeks notes.
which was not alluded to at that time bat
which should not be overlooked by the trustees
| OF that institution. The adoption of some such
| plan as was therein hastily outlined would not
| end with greatly encouraging American artists
| and enriching its walls with their best efforts
| ltWOuld also give to the Gallery a prominence
| before the world, and commanding position
in everything pertaining to art in this country,
| such as could not possibly be attained by any
| other institution. 1t would almost at once be
| recognized, not only at home, but abroad, As
| well, as the best patron of art and the highest
| authority on the subject in America. All the
| circumstances surrounding the institution are
| favorable to this result. Its location at the
| national capital, its broad catholic character
and its liberal endowment. are all natural
| helps in that direction. 1t only needs suitable
| action on the part Of its managers To enable
| the Gallery to occupy in comparatively Short
time a position in this country differing, of
course, in many respects from each, yet cor
| responding on the whole somewhat to those
| held respectively by the Royal Academy and
ane and S9ath sou nl hsnslngt2n on Museum in England,
| and the Salon in France. As a matter of
course, School of Art in connection with the
| ought to be established with the least delay
| possible. But great deal can be accomplished
| without it, and other things need not wait for
| that cOnsummatiOn The trustees owe it not
| less to the city in which it is located and to
| themselves than to its munificent founder to
| take every step possible, and as rapidly as cir
cumStanceS VIII permit, toward carrying out
| the wise and patriotic purposes he had in view
| III establishing and endOwing the institution.
-Mf. Andrews, whose studio is in COrcOran
Building, has nearly finished his portrait of
Mrs. Hayes, intended as a pendant to that of
the Presidents which he painted some time
ag and which nj fnh haWRSf in one of the family
represents Mrs. Hayes at nearly full length
sitting on sofa, which, with its loose lace
trimmed tnt4 cushion, IS covered with soft light
| ngufe and color. She Is draped in plain black,
| the rather SOmbre effect of which is relieved
by white lace at the neck and wrists. The
back ground to the head is composed of a rich
| yellow silk curtain, sufficiently drawn aside to
| disclose the interior of another room beyond
IN IN which handsome stairway is introduced.
The arrangement of cOlOrS throughout is such
as to make the face of the subject the central
OBJECT In the picture, and, with its fine color
clear expression and jet black hair, it is
Drought out with most excellent effect. Mr.
Andrews IS also engaged on a charming bit of
genre work, in which young lady and bright
niue boy and girl are shown surrounded by
the beautiful and artistic accessories of a well
equipped StudlO,-Such as his own fortunately
happens to be. In this respect alone Mr.
Andrews studio is well worth visiting, aside
from the pleasure of inspecting the produc-
tons OF his pencil. His collection of rare tapes
tries antique furniture, brio a brac, etc. is
unusually large and fine. In this, as well as in
Mr. A. shows the results of a long residence
and thorough training abroad.
- real treat in the way of portraiture is
furnished by some half dozen paintings, the
work of Mr.. B. G. Porter, of Boston, lately
placed on view in the east room of the COrcO-
group are pOrtraitS,-One being a likeness of
Mr.. u. c: French the talented young sculptor
OF this city, the other that of a daughter of a
Boston lady, well known to and greatly ad
mired by many people in Washington, While
the third represents young girl reading We
hope these pictures will be generally seen by
good IS exhibited here. Although yet young
man, and not widely known. Mr.. Por,er eX.
hl6lts such power in handling and mastery of
color as few men possess, and which must
before long place him in the very front rank of
American artists. BY the way, as representing
what the young school can do, the portrait of
the young lady referred to, or some other
specimen of Mr.. POrter'S work ought tn be
included in the collection of American paint
lngs now being brought together for the French
exposition.
We are pleased to have Commissioner
General McCOrmick's assurance that in spite
OF want OF time and limited means afforded
the prospect for a creditable display of Amer
lean art the coming French exposition is very
good indeed. About sixty pictures have already
more Will be added in time for Shipment in
the latterpart OF this month. 1t is not expected
that we can compete with European contribu
al L..
which an Intimate knowledge of the human
form IS required, but there is reason to believe
that IN landscapes the work of our artists will
compare favOrably with that of their brethren
OF any country, with few notable individual
exceptions. At any rate the commission hopes
our display VII average up pretty well in the
Lovers of art in Washington who have
never had an opportunity to see the superb
collection of pictures belonging to Mr.. W. T.
Walters, of Baltimore, will be interested i'm
knowing that his fine gallery will be Open to
the PUBLIC from II a. m. to p. m. every Thurs
day and saturday, from this time until the 2lSt
OF March. The exhibition is for the benefit of
the fund of the Baltimore Poor Association, to
which M the gross receipts are to be given
Tickets OF admission to the gallery, costing
hfty cents each may be obtained at Myers &
Hedlan's art store, on Charles street.
SO much has been said of the decay of Da
Vmcis famous painting of ' The Last Supper
that the testimony of so competent an author
terest to our readers, DR.. Prime visited the
| refectOry on whose wall it is depicted twenty
four years ago, and then wrote of it, " 1t is now
only in 9so he SoW knoT
have come here with some of that next genera
tlon TO see 1t once more. and find it as it was,
IL anything less dim and indiStinct than then"
The conservative-it almost might be said
the represSive-tendency of the British Royal
Academy is shown by the fact that at its last
general meeting, held couple of weeks ago,
only three associates were elected, as follows:
MIR. BritOn Riviere, painter; Mr.. Joseph E.
BOehm, sculptor; and Mr.. Alfred Waterhouse
architect. This beats the justly complained
OF eXcluSiVeneSS OF the New York Academy
by a long way.
A MASONIC LODGE CENsURED.-COntrary to
the usual course of Masonic matters, the
action of the grand master of the state of New
jersey in censuring one of the lodges at Pat
ersOn has been made public, and is causing
considerable excitement among the fraternity.
1t appears that the Paterson lodge in question
accepted wellknown citizen as a candidate,
who had lost the thumb of his right hand by
amputatiOn, and duly commenced to initiate
him. The. grand master of New Jersey heard
OF this, and informed the lodge that he would
be present on Tuesday evening of this week,
when he proceeded to censure the lodge for its
action in accepting the imperfect" candi-
date, and suspended the master of the lodge
for the remainder of the year for his non
observance of Masonic rules and customs.
The grand master of the state also declared
all limitations of such persons in this state to
be null and vOid.-[N. y. Times, 7h.
SINGULAR SUIT BY A CONVICT. - William
Dredger, convict in the Kings county peni-
tentiary, began an action i'm the supreme
court of that county, claiming 5000 damages
from the Bay State Shoe and Leather company
for hay ino hoo 1,xyo hxr