Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-12
THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE.
An Organization of Earnest Workers
The Fifth Session Opened.

The Art students league of Washington has
opened its fifth session. This league. which is
modelled on the plan of the Art students league
of New York, is the outgrowth Of a sketch
class whose moving spirit was Jno. NJ. Burnett,
brother OF DR.. Burnett, the eminent oculist and
physician. and brother-in-law of Frances Hodg.
son Burnett. His sketches in Oil and water
color gave promise of brilliant future. but
not very long after the organization of the
league his health failed and he went to a pre-
mature grave at the early age of twenty-five.
Many OF his sketches adorn the homes of DR..
Burnett and DR.. Galaudet. Mr. Burnett
gathered about him a band of ten jealous and
enthusiastic students. who determined to create
Tor themselves what was then wanting in Wash
ington, a school of art.
The members of the league were not artists,
but art students. and so they at the outset pro-
cured the services of Mr.. ]. NJ. Burnett, and
Messrs. R. n. Brooke. s. Gerome Uhl
and A. G. Heaton as instructors during
ihe first year. Mr.. Heaton continued
his connection with the league until
the present winter. and having seen it perma-
nently established felt at liberty to retire and
devote himself more to his own work. Mr..
Brooke's connection with the league has been
interrupted from time to time by absence
abroad. but his interest has been hearty and his
cooperation most valuable. The members OF
ton to resume his old connection with them
during the coming winter. Since its organiza-
ton the number has been augmented by the
procuring of the services of Messrs. Holmes,
Messer and Gill.
Mr. W. H. Holmes is equally well known in
art circles for his water colors, and among SCI
entists as an authority on pottery.
THE MEMBERSHIP
The members Of the LEAGUE are modest enough
that fha ,haro nj tod
for their enthusiasm rather than for their capa-
bility, but they have been very chary of making
additions since, and election to membership is
now given only to those who offer promise OF
genius.
The league was not. however selfish organ
izatlon. Following the example of its sister So
ciety in New York. beside providing for the i'm
pr0Vement OF Its own members. Ii has offered
classes for all grades of art students and during
the i've years of its existence has had urder in
struction more than two hundred students.
The league numbers among its members some
who have already received recognition abroad
Miss Tiers, Miss Perrie and Mr.. Hatch, one OF
the most noted young engravers of the United
states. Modesty, as was said above, Is a distin-
gushing characteristic of the league and there
are many sketches lying In studios which would
attract considerable attention If their makers
mad sufficient confidence in themselves to allow
others than their intimates to look upon them
In the art exhibition of the Cosmos club spe.
cial space was marked off for the league. and
the exhibitions and public lectures at the rooms
OF the league were numerously attended, and
favOrably commented upon.
IN NEW QUARTERS.
The league has established itself in new quar-.
tiers, coo street. A member. speaking to a
STAR reporter, said: with SO great an art gal.
lery as Mr.. Corcoran gave to the city. and the
presence Of so many art lovers it seems strange
that the perpetuation of art ability should be
left to few devoted students. The time may
and probably will come when the capital city
will have a national gallery of art joined to 8
national academy of art. Till then the credit oil
keeping the flame alive must be awarded to the
art league of Washington"