Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-06
ART NOTES,

The singular statement comes from Europe
that Herr Won Lenbach has gone to varzin TO
paint. tor the Pope q portrait of Prince Bis
marck.
A State Art Association has been formed at
Topeka. Kansas, which proposes to make an art
collection. to start an art school and to hold
annual exhibitions
1T is reported that another Of Millet's cele-
brated paintngs-"The Wnnower."-has been
sold to come to this country. The purchaser is
said to be lady, and the price is put down at
$35 600.
- Leon y Escosura. the well-known Spanish
painter, is now in New York on a visit. While
here he will execute few commissions but his
trip is made mainly for pleasure. as was his
former visit several wears ago.
The Venus of Milo has been returned to
the room in the Louvre where it formerly stood.
no other apartment being found so suitable on
the whole for its proper exhibition As was in
tended, while the room was being improved.
the statue has been oyerhauled and somewhat
changed. The surface has been carefully
cleaned and the result is very striking. The
face and torso are white. while the draperv re-
naips dull color. The statue is thought TO
have gained in refinement and perhaps 10 have
lost little in force in consequence.
- Mile. Vauquelin. the young French sculp-
tress. who has heretofore exhibited in the Salon
under the name of Mile YeIdo.--and whose Of
ferng was rejected last Nav because it is said
ner brother contemptu0usly cut his painting
from It's frame in the Salon in 1888 for the rea-
son that he thought the hanging committee had
placed 1t too highs reported as coming to
TINS country in short time. to execute some
commissions she has received here. What these
Ujy iS tod
- The Improvements made in several of the
rooms of the Corcoran Gallery during the period
it has been closed will add much TO their APP
pearance, while the new and attractive casts
put in place will increase its interest for visitors
a. we'll as students. So far during the present
year no original works of Importance have been
added to the collection. nor is there at present
any prospect of such acquisitions the rea-
son, as Is TO be presumed. that Just now there is
little or nothing that is specially desirable in the
market. The Gallery. it will be remembered
VIII De reopened to the public next Wednesday.
- American artists and other citizens Of the
United States residing in Paris have projected
movement for securing a reduced copy of Bar
thodi's statue Of Liberty, to be set up in the
French capital as testimonial of the people of
this country to those of France. 1t is proposed
that the reduction shall be about thirty feet
i
VI this sum Il, 600 francs have already been sub
scribed. and steps are being taken to raise the
remainder. The idea is very happy one and
it is to be hoped that it will take less time and
trouble to carry it out than have been required
to raise the money for the pedestal of the orioi-
nal statue in New York.
In the death of Mr. James w. Claghorn.
which occurred in that city, recently Philadel-
phia lost most valuable citizen. and art
liberal sincere. and intelligent friend and pa
iron. The Philadelphia Womans School of
Design was almost wholly Mr.. Claghorn's Gre
alton, while to his personal efforts in its behalf
and as its President, the Pennsylvania Academy
OF Fine Arts owes its present prosperous condi-
tlon. II not indeed, its actual existence. In
every walk OF life he was enterprsing. generous
and genial. and deserved as he enjoved the re-
spect and confidence OF all who knew him. In
addition to his other encOuragementS of art
MI. Ciaghorn was an enthusiastic collector of
prints, and was the possessor at the time of his
death of one of the largest and finest collections
OF engravings in the world.
- 1t is said that American dealers and anna
tours bought 81. 754 600 worth of pictures and
other works of art at the late Salon. notwith-
standing the thirty per cent duty, or nearly as
much as the previous year. when the purchases
amounted to S1.997. 600. Undoubtedly most of
the last purchases were made with the expecta-
tlOn that the United States tariff law would be
changed at the last session of Congress. and
works of art admitted free Of duty or at a very
low rate. Whether every thing bought will now
be imported remains to be seen. Ii so. the pub
lie revenue will be increased from that source
10y S526 200. This Is a considerable sum, to be
sure; but the country could very we'll afford to
do without it. derived from such source. In
deed it would have been tar wiser and better to
have expended that amount in patronage rather
than collect it as tax on art
Mrs. Addie Barnes Benedict, the artist. who
spent several months OF last winter here. has re-
turned to the city with the intention of residing
here permanently. For the present she has
temporary studio at 9O3 10th street where she
has quite collection OF her paintings. Among
the most notable of these are the studies of an
imal heads from life. Dogs and donkeys are
favOrite subjects with the artist and there is in
her collection striking sketch OF the head of a
buffalo. and also one of an Alderney calf Mrs
Benedict has number of fruit and flower pieces
which she uses in her classes In Chicago where
she resided during several years past she was
very successful as teacher. She has, how ever
chosen Washington as her future home. because
of the advantages afforded not only socially but
artistically.
- Mr.. Wv. Birney. who has recently returned
from four years course Of study in Europe,
will take studio in New York next month. and
probably make his permanent home in that CITY,
Although WIS slep Is uOuDLleSS 10 Ills OWN a0-
vantage, it is greatly to be regretted that sutfi
cient inducements do not exist to lead him to
locate in WASHINGTON. to whose art circles ne
would make most valuable addition. Most of
his time abroad Mr.. Birney spent IN close study
in Munich. where his gratifying progress under
her best teachers was from time to time duly
noted in these columns: but after his term of
tutelage there he still farther equipped himself
for his profession by extended tours and pro-
longed stays in other parts of Germany. and in
france and Italy. Mr.. Birney brought home
many and highly creditable evidences of his
devotion to art in several large portfolios filed
with carefully made studies and sketches, and
a number Of finished pictures. both in oil and
water cOlOrs. His subjects include landscape.
architecture. interiors and still life. as well as
figures. but il is to the latter line OF art that ne
has given most attention. as from it he evidently
derives most enjoyment and upon it his future
reputation will undoubtedly rest. His work
combines excellent drawing and bold and free
handling. yet with delicate touch. where deli
Cacy Is required. and fine sense of color. The
examples on view at the residence of mis- father
in LIE Drot Park last week show great versa
tility, as well as conscientious labor and earnest
ness of purpose and from them it is quite safe
to predict tor the young artist high position in
the ranks Of his profession.
A Foolish Fraud.
From the New Orleans Times Democrat
''You would be surprised" said post office
official recently, IF you could know how fire.
quentlv stamps are used a second or even