Evening star., 1884-01-19
ART NOTES.

Max weyl recently sent two landscapes 10
Western New York, and is now engaged on two
more. also 10 GO out of the CITY, He recently
sold large and very attractive view from the
foot OF the Observatory grounds TO a gentleman
OF this CITY.
Mr. James E. Fitch has lately added to his
collection Of choice parlor pictures a beautiful
marine In oils by Mr.. W. c. Richards. whose
large painting Of the same class IN the Corcoran
Gallery Of Art is so greatly and justly admired.
Though smaller in sire. its motive IL similar 10
that. and il shows throughout the excellent
qualities which make all the work Of Mr.. Rich
ards so popular on both sides OF the Atlantic.
Mr.. Brooke is engaged upon a portrait Of
little daughter Of Mr. 7. 4. Waggamsn,
which, when completed, can hardly fail 10 add
TO MS reputation. In pose and accessories it
has all the ease aud charm Of an ideal subject,
whiie the likeness is admirably preserved. thus
giving IL double value. Mr.. Brooke homes TO
nave II nnished In time to exhibit il at the pro-
! posed AIT Club reception, where, We are sure,
| II will attract favorable notice
Our readers will be pleased to know that
there VIII soon be an opportunity TO see I'm
| Washington some Of the more important work
done by Mr.. Gaines Donoho since he has heen
abroad, OF which mention has from time TO time
been made In these columns. The expectation
is TO have two OF three OF his LARGER landsranes
on exhibition at the coming reception of the Art
Club. with which he was formerly connected
That they will be inspected with interest can
very safely be predicted
| - Visitors TO Paris during the current season
will be robbed of one OF the charms OF stay in
that city I'm not being able TO see the Venus OF
Milo. That matchless piece OF sculpture now
| les prone on bed of straw out of sight of the
public, where IL will probably be kept for wear
| or more. The basement room IN the Louvre
where II was shown proved to be so damp that
| some alterations and Improvements were neces-
sary. and TO carry these ont required the retire.
| ment OF the statue FOR a prolonged term.
Mr.. Montague has lately placed examples
OF his landscapes in black and white on view In
the Corcoran Gallery, at Fischer's on 18th
street, and at Smiths, on PENNSYLVANIA avenue,
next door to THE EVENING STAR ONCE. This
is we believe the first time Mr. Montague has
made SO conspicuous a display of his paintings
| In Washington, and the exhibitions now male
| give the public better opportunity than il has
| had heretofore for Judging OF his powers In the
special field he has chosen for their exercise and
the wonder Is general among observers that he
Is able by the Use OF so few and such simple pig-
ments to SO admirably produce reflections. rra-
cations OF distance. and transparency OF atmOs-
phere In addition to these merits however
MIR. Montague's subjects are well chosen for
scenic elect, and his drawing is true and firm.
- Among the latest art purchases credited to
Mr. W. L. Walters, OF Baltimore, is a Saint
| Sebastien," by Corot,-sad to be one OF that ar
fists very finest works. This painting after
being altered and touched up several times by
Corot, finally brought him 81 500 and the buyer
afterward sold it for $1,000 The price paid by
MT Walters is understood to be $1,000, and
| TINS is considered little more than half what it
would bring In Paris at the present time An
| other somewhat recent important accession to
| MT Walters collection is THE Night Watch"
by Briton Riyiere, measuraby familiar to the
some time ago as the companion to the same
| artists ''Persepolis." and which may be seen In
| most OF the art stores The price asked for this
painting when II trst came to this country was
S25,OO0.
| - The Washington Art Club, at its regular
monthly meeting. held last week. took steps
| looking to an exhbtion-reception at its rooms
In Corcoran Building some time during the next
| few weeks. Aspecial committee was appointed
TO consider the whole subject aud take such ac-
| tlon as may be deemed necessary under the con-
clusions they may reach, and IL Is said that thus
laf the prospects for an affair that shall be alike
a credit 10 Its projectors and q source of nleas-
| ure TO Its participants are most encouraging
Inc tiub, though not so strong numerically as IL
| ought 10 be- has members enough and talent
/ sufficient within its membership TO make an in
| tereStlnT and meritorious exhibition and if
those composing the organization show the
union and energy they should the proposed en-
| tertainment cannot tail to be one of which ALI
cOnnccted with IL may feel proud.
- Mr.. William Magrath. who. with Mr.. Walter
Paris, is pleasantly domiciled over eOl Fifteenth
street, has sent number of water color draw
| inSs to the coming New York exhibitions He
has, however, sufficient number still i'm his
portfolios to make visit to his studio a very
interesting event to lovers of art He seems to
| be equally at home in landscape aud architec-
tural subjects, and one never knows whether TO
most admire his lovely bits out of Surrey and
A rfV-. of h..
picturesque street scenes and buildings of Rouen
and other attractive French cities. Always re-
garding himself as New York artist, Mr.. Ma
| grath has spent much OF his time in Europe and
especially In the British Islands, as his sketches
and studies bear testimony; and while he prefers
water colors as his own choice, he Is equally at
| home in oils, though he has no examples in that
line here to exhibit at the present time In
aquarelles however. 1t may be said that he has
mad no superior in Washington. and his choice
OF TINS city as place Of residence makes a very
Important acquisition to its art circles
1t Is not greatly to the credit of what NAV
be called the upper classes OF New York that
| Mr.. vanderbilt has not yet determined whether
he VIII reopen his picture gallery to privileged
! few this season or not. on account of the manner
| In which his hospitality was abused by those
j fortunate enough to gain entrance to il on for
mer occasions. In one instance we are told a
single card was held to cover the admission of
fourteen persons, a number of whom were chill
dren. Frames were damaged by chairs canes
and umbrellas, and in not few cases the paint
| 1ngs themselves were injured In the same way.
Statuettes. books. photographs and drawings in
portfolios were irretrieyably ruined, through
carelessness or malice. while those who cared
less for the treasures of the gallery than FOR the
| general equipment OF the house forced them
selves as sght-seers into its private apart ments.
| Like experience has been that OF Miss Wolfe,
| Mr.. Belmont, and several Others. who used to
| allow limited number Of presumably well-bred
people to enjoy the pleasure OF inspecting their
collections but who now refuse to open their
doors except to persons whom they know or
who are well avouched If charges such as these
were made against a crowd of illiterate and rude
people visiting free public gallery or museum
for days outing some excuse might be ad-
vanced, but that people who are supposed to
represent the taste and culture of great city,
or who, at least. have access to its charmed cir
Giles OF wealth and fashion, should be guilty of
such outrageous practices is objectionable, and
In the highest degree disgraceful, although,
perhaps, not surprising.
The Corcoran Gallery Of Art received this
week from the medalist selected for the work q
| draft of the design chosen for the medal which
| it proposes to give annually hereafter to the
copyist who shall show the greatest improve
ment during the year in drawing from casts In
the Gallery. The sketch gives every evidence
that the medal will be q most beautiful and ap-
propriate object. 1t will be about two inches