Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09
ART NOTES.

jerome Uni. Oh TINS city. q COMMISSION TO paint
portrait in oils Of President Cleveland, TO be
added 10 the series of presidential portraits now
belonging to that institution, and displayed in
its east gallery.
On the urgent request of the artist and his
friends, N. Detaille's famous painting, entitled
The Passing Regiment" belonging TO the
Corcoran Gallery. has been taken from the
walls Of that institution and sent to Paris, 20
represent its painter in the universal exposi-
ton to open there in NAV. This picture has
generally been regarded by critics and connois-
seurs as Detaille's masterpiece, and the action
on his part above referred TO would seem to
indicate that that is also the artists estimate Of
it.
In the exhibition room Of the Cosmos Club
has been shown during the week a very inser-
esting series of paintings by Mr.. Theodore
Wores, illustrating life and scenery in Japan.
They are especially interesting for the picture
they give Of the daily life of the people OF that
far away Countrywide faithful representation
OF which is certified by those competent 10
1udge,-but they are by no means devoid of
artistic merit. On the other hand. some of the
inquire compositions and architectural studies
show great skill and very pleasing effects,
allke In expression. form, and color.
or the amateur artists Of Washington few
have made more progress or show greater evil
dence of talent than Miss Helen Nicolay, the
daughter of Col. John G. Nicolay. She is a
most conscientious and intelligent worker, and
seems alike at home in figures, landscape and
marine subjects. Some sketches ami studies
made outdoors along the New England coast
last summer are much more than a mere prom
Use In themselves though unambitious in sub
1ect and simple and unaffected in treatment
They show keen observation of nature, and
more than In apsfa rin0 tha
spirit as well as the form and color of things to
canvas.
AT the Corcoran Gallery may be seen three
portraits by Mr.. Uhl, recently placed on ex-
hibition there. The first is the likeness Of
Hon. s. Shellabarger, referred to some time
ago in this column; another is the charming
representation of little girl, acting as brides
maid, in the quaint costume of her grand
mothers period; the third is a portrait of the
artist painted by himself. Both the others
are exceptionally fine pieces Of work. in their
way. but the latter can hardly fail to be re-
garded as one of the strongest examples of
portraiture ever produced in this city. In
pose. modelling and tone it is all that can be
desired. and in some points il recalls parts Of
the best efforts of Bonnat. although that dis
tlnguished artist was not the master of Mr..
lhl. While i'll Paris he studied under Carolus
Duran.
- The Washington artists who sent contrlbu-
tions to the water color exhibition now open
in New York seem to have Jared very well. both
in their treatment at the hands of the hanging
committee and in q commercial point of view.
OF three accepted from Mr.. Holmes. the largest.
ION the Sands" was placed on the line. and
sold the first evening for $3.50. Miss Tiers
sent seven, of which one was "liner,' and
three We're promptly sold OF three accepted
from Miss Bertha Perrie one was given place
on the line, and found a customer at once
MIR. j. II. Moser, who sent six, had similar sue
cess; and Mr.. De Lancy Gill is also represented
by SIX contributions, but whether any of them
were sold We have not learned up to this time.
But the fact that all the offerings sent were so
well received must be gratifying to the artists
and their friends. as it is also evidence that
Washington talent is beginning to be properly
appreciated away from home. And well it may
be, for some remarkably fine work in water
colors as well as in oils is being done here now.
OF MIR. Holmes work the critic of the New
York Tribune has this to say: Mr.. ". ii.
Holmes. We believe. has exhibited with the
society before, but his charming landscape,
and his figure study in the north gallery. ex-
ecuted in light washes and without any attempt
TO force the medium. represent a growth in
ability which will receive recognition"
/ A project is on foot to have an art exhibit
in Washington at an early day which will be at
once promotive Of art in general and entertain
ing and instructive to the people of the ma
tional capital, whether residents or visitors
Having in mind the famous exhibition of the
hundred masterpieces in Paris several years
ago, the idea is to bring together in this city a
collection of examples of the very best work by
the best or best-known American artists, in or
der that they perhaps in the first place, and the
cause of art in the second, may have the bene-
fits which come from such a display, and on
other q of fhs ~
may have the opportunity of seeing in one
comprehensive representative grouping what
native artists are capable of accomplishing
The details of the affair will be in the hands of
Mr.. y. F.. Montross, of New York. whose rela-
lions with the artists of the country are such as
TO insure their hearty concurrence in the enter
prise. and 10 him. with their aid and counsel
will be entrusted the general duty of making
the selections, collecting and hanging the pic
lures when brought together. In its
larger aspect il will be held under
the auspices of committee of
ladies and gentlemen of this city, prominent in
social and public life, interested in the devel-
opment of American art, whose connection
with il will be in every respect a sufficient
guaranty of its character in all particulars
So much interest has already been created in
regard to the matter that one public-spirited
gentleman Of Washington has volunteered to
protect the projectors of the enterprise from
pecuniary loss by agreeing to meet from his
own resources any expense attending the eXhi-
bition not covered by its receipts. Many de-
tails. of course. remain to be perfected, but
enough has been settled to warrant the state
ment that the elegant residence recently pur-
chased by Mr.. Morton, Vice-President-elect on
Rhode Island avenue and Scott Circle. has been
secured for the purpose. and that tie exhibi-
ton will open with full dress evening recep-
ton shortly after the 4th of March. and con-
time for about three weeks thereafter. 1t is
expected that the exposition will embrace
something more than hundred superior works
in oils to be secured by loan from the artists
or their present owners, as the case NAV be.
1t is intended also to have col
lection of water colors on view in
one or two of the rooms, which, though fewer
in number and smaller in size than the main
exhibit, will yet be large and fine enough to
constitute in itself very attractive feature of
the display. 1t is likely too, that there will be
one or two rooms devoted to etchings of the
higher class. number of leading artists have
already expressed not only willingness but
desire to participate in the exposition, and
there il every reason to believe that the display
will be thoroughly representative in character,
and at once q credit to the contributing artists
and source of just pride to the country.
Those Dirty Programs.