Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-20
ART BY ELECrRiC LIGHT.
A Large Number Of Visitors ct the Corcoran
Art Gallery Last Night,


Art Gallery Last Night.
The evening exhibitions Of the Corcorsn Art
Gallery were begun for the season last night
with . full blaze Of the hundreds Of electric
lamps with which it ID now illuminated. There
has been some doubt - to the advisability Of
opening the gallery ct night, and the attend
ance last night was to be noted in order to as
certain whether or not the movement war
ranted the expense. Al least 700 people
availed themselves Of the opportunity thus
presented to see the pictures and statuary un-
der the softening glow Of an incandescent wire,
the stream Of visitors beginning TO arrive a.
soon as the doors were opened at 7.3O and con-
tinuing without much interruption until at
least o'clock. The gallery was closed at 10
and there were then hundred people inside
eager for just one more look.
THE EXPERIMENT A SUCCESS.
The expression Of interest in the opening Of
the gallery at night seems to be strong enough
to warrant the directors in keeping the plan up
for time. at least, and it is probable that those
who were unable to get to the gallery last night
or those who did not know that it was to open,
and there are good many Of the latter sort,
will have many opportunities in the future.
1t is thought that this movement, which was
really inaugurated last spring, will result in q
great benefit to the thousands of sight-seers
who come here, increasing, as it does, their op-
portunities to see all Of the points Of interest
about the capital, Of which the Corcoran GAL
lery is one of the first visited and most famous
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BUSY IN THE DAY TINE.
The two hours and half that are thus af-
forded to the visitors are quite ample for any
ordinary mortal to see all that is in the gallery
both paintings and statuary, although it has
been said that one could spend week among
these useful object lessons without wasting
time. But few persons in the ordinary walks
OF life can afford the time to 60 to the gallery
during the day, when the cares of business
leave but little chance for the qualification Of
unable to spend half or even quarter Of the
time that is supposed to be essential to obtain
glance at each Of the many objects Of interest
on and around the walls. Dozens, scores, in
deed hundreds, will be very glad OF this oppor-
tunity to take enough time out Of the resting
period Of the day, one night Of the week, to
get better idea Of art than they could If they
went all OF their spare moments during the day
for q month.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE LIGHTS.
The lights that illuminate the walls Of the
gallery are arranged around the roof at care
fully calculated distance from the line, 80 as to
throw an even, well-distributed light over the
entire surface, and to prevent the glare Of re-
hecton that often takes away at least half of
.AS "AuO Va PaiuLUS. 1uere 0Te ABOUT LOW
lamps distributed throughout the building, the
greatest number, of course, being in the main
gallery at the head Of the stairs. Here they
are placed very near together, making q strong
light that is a close stimulation of the shaded
beams of the sun. Each tone and value of the
painting comes out with nearly, If not quite
all, OF the effect that is produced in daylight,
and 1t is said by artists that such an exhibition
as that at the Corcoran Gallery is quite as good
as a view in the more ordinary hours Of sight
seeing.
ART CLUBS.
1t is being proposed in certain semi-literary-
artistic circles of the city to form parties to 60
to the gallery at night for the purpose of making
q regular course of study of the works there
contained in systematic manner. Such clubs,
If they are formed, will undoubtedly be of
great benefit to the members il under the
guidance of some person we'll qualified to talk
about art, history and other topics included in
the range of such broad subjects as painting,
sculpture and design. 1t is predicted that this
will before long become quite fashionable
means of spending the early part Of Friday
evenings and it is expected that the attendance
at the Friday night exhibitions will soon be the
largest attended of any held by the gallery