Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-15
ART NOTES.

hioci 9iue W 1tueIdl 1nOilldS Is uHNelleu on
wednesday coming, the next to be placed in pc
sition In Washington will be the colossal statue
Of Admiral Farrasut by Mrs Ream- Hoxie upon
which that lady has been buSily at work for the
last two years or more. AS has already been
stated I'M THE STAR. the plaster model of this
ordnance fOundery in the navy yard some time
ago, and there almost any day the fair artist
may be seen perched high on the scaffod sur
touches thought necessary before casting. It IS
expected that the work of putting it in bronze
will be done some time next month, and that
the statue will be completed IN that form and
ready for Inauguration early in the coming
spring; but, of course, the latter point will be
affected largely by circumstances. 1t Is hardly
20 repeal mere wha most 81 70 our h
full ten feet In height, and Will be placed on
granite pedestal equally high; that it is to occu
py position in the center Of Farragut Square.
between and and 18th and 18th streets north
west; and that tine artists conception OF her
subject meets the warmeSt approval Of the dead
sailors family and friends. Our main object in
referring to the matter at the present time when.
the public mind Is ''ceremonialy" inclined, is to
suggest that suitable measures be taken in sea-
sen 10 secure proper observance OF the event
when this statue shall be formally turned over to
the nation. No country ever possessed purer
patriot, and no navy ever gave to the world a
nOber hero than Farragut.
AT last accounts from Munich Ross Turner
was in that city, and at hard work again after
pleasant sojourn in Venice. 1t is now uncertain
when he will return home, but he will likely
remain abroad another year. -. Holmes, the
clever water color artist was also at Munich
when last heard from. He will probably winter
In Italy. Young Donaho expects to sail for
Europe in a couple Of weeks. As has already
been stated, he intends to remain on the other
side for an indefinite term. Poole is still in
Washington, but thinks of spending the winter
in New York, where he will open studio. 80.
Max Weyl hopes to get off to Europe some time
In the first half OF next month. Before going
be will have sale OF pictures, when the public
work he did in the vicinity of New Bedford last
summer. The type OF scenery represented in
these sketches and studies is quite different from
fessonal point of view they far surpass any
thing he has yet DONE THE flower pieces
exhibited by Miss Messer at the National Fair
were greatly admired, as they deserved to be.
who is at once capable Of studying nature and
reproducing what she sees. Witt is still in
town, working on his portrait of Justice Miller,
but will return to New York in a short time.
....Letters have been received from Mr.. Fisher,
announcing his safe arrival out, but he had not
yet decided where he will permanently locate.
He will most likely settle at Munich. MILLER,
who spent large part OF the summer in Chi
cago and that vicinity, is at work again in his
studio over Galt's.
While as whole or in all its several parts
the art exhibition at the late National Fair
might not have met the requirements of the
most exacting tastes, the common verdict was
that, considering the short time allowed and the
difficulties attending the bringing it together, it
" as remarkably creditable display, alike in e..
tent and quality. The amount OF labor neceS-
sary and the number Of disbursements to be
met and overcome in the performance of that
task are greater than most persons imagine, and
nothing but the strongest determination and
the most untiring energy and industry could
have saved that feature Of the fair from total
failure. The committee appointed for that pur
pose was strong enough, in numbers and cor
sequence, but it did not abound in workers. The
result was that the whole labor and responsible
tty OF the affair fell upon the chairman, Mr..
Thomas Wilson, who fortunately possessed the
requisite qualities; and to that gentleman, aided
by the happy suggestions and efficient cOopera
ton of Miss Calista Halsey, is due whatever in
terest and success marked the display in the arr
brilGing. Had there been more time that eX-
hibit might have been larger and finer, but as it
was The wonder Is not that it was not better, but
that it was so good as 1t finally turned out to be.
Art in Boston has had fearful shaking up
lately at the hands of Mr.. Wendell Phillips; or
rather, we should say, the statuary exhibited in
the public buildings and grounds of that city.
Thomas Balls statue OF Quincy he calls "a
dancing-master clogged Win blankets"
the same sculptor's Andrew, in the State house,
is Falstaf ''smOthered In another OF Balls
horse Blankets the Sumner, on Boylston
street, is ga cask made OF slaves" a 'heayy-
his Sunday clothes;;' the Washington in the
public garden is ga riding master;;s and the
Franklin, Webster, Everett, and Horace Mann
pressed in choice Phillpsian savasery 81 phrase
Everything is not wholly bad, however. The
chronic sccld has words OF praise for Miss Whit
ney's moGel Of Charles Sumner, which, he
charges, was rejected because it was the work
OF woman; also for MilmOreS soldiers monu-
ment on the Common, which he says has only
one peer,-that living figure at Concord, Thy
fears he shall not see it again If he passes that
way the next week."
Mrs Elizabeth Thompson Butler who may
now be called the favorite military painter
England, has received royal commission to
paint the Defense of Rorke's Drift. 1t Is said
that "she has been making preliminary studies
at Portsmouth, where she was enabled to sketch
what amounted to a dress rehearsal of the famous
defense" These sketches will, Of course, be Of
great aid to her, so far as the figures are con-
cerned, but unless she goes to Zululand and
studies the landscape, atmosphere and local col
ortng OF the locality Of the memorable defense,
her picture will have little historical or real artis
tic value. Representing battle In Africa, with
English surroundings, would be much like Titan
going to his old home in Galore to make studies
OF It's mountains, rocks and trees for the back
ground Of his famous picture, the Flight into
Egypt
- Gabriel Max is at work upon new picture
for the owner OF his remarkable Head Of
Christ. 1t is to represent Christ on the Cross,
but, If regarded long enough, it will appear like
an Assumption. Those who have seen the
:" HedQ OF Cnr1SU" referred 10 WILL remember
that at first glance its eyes appear to be closed
while on looking at 1t for a few moments the be-
holder Is impressed with the feeling that they
are open and gazing at him with a tender and
mournful expression, which may be said to be
more spiritual than of this world.
Mr.. Preston Powers, son of the eminent
sculptor, Hiram Powers, and himself sculptor
of considerable merit, has given up his studio
in Florence, for time, at least, and has located
In Cincinnati, the Old home of his father, where
he Is engaged in modelling, and also tnstructing
some pupils. The prospect is that he will have
quite large class.
-Bradford's large picture '"The PolariS in
Thank God Harbor-Looking North into Robson
Channel" which was painted with the idea of
its being sold to the government for the capitol
at Washington, and for time exhibited in the
Corcoran Gallery here, has been deposited by its
owner,-Mr. c. P. Huntington, the railway mag
tory in Central Park New York.
HaWkeye Hits.
- George William Curtis should provide his
young scratchers with gaffs, the next time he
wants them to scratch anything.
- Hanlan, the OarSman, condemns the use of
tobacco and whisky. He also condemns the use
OF bOats-by his competitor.
- George William Curtis standing UP to be
counted, looks as lonely and worried as a soil
tary enquirer" at revival meeting.
= Mrs. General John c. Fremont is with her
husband in Arizona, and she JeSSe'S as popular
and brilliant and handsome as she was in the