Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-11
ART NOTES.

been made that . special committee on that
subject has been created, with instructions to
have prepared and submitted to the board Of
trustees, with recommendation. Ut q early a
day as practicable, q set Of suitable plans, ele-
vations, &C., for the projected structure. This
it is intended shall be something more than
twice as large the present building, and
SO planned that it can be extended.
to meet future needs, on the unoc-
cupied ground in the rear without disturbing
the architectural effect or harmonious arrange
ment of the initial structure, the front OF which
will face the park below the Department Of State
building, and occupy the whole 18th street side
OF the square lying between New York avenue
and Z street.-some $50 feet in length. Mr..
Edward Clark. architect of the Capitol, is
chairman Of the special committee, which it is
understood has already made considerable
progress i'll the performance Of the task Inn
posed upon it.
In the coy little gallery in the rear Of the
Fischer art store may be seen a couple Of land
scapes lately received from the studio Of Mr..
Charles H. Davis which are well worthy the
attention Of art lovers. Mr.. Davis's specially
seems to be the portrayal Of pastoral scenery
with effects of late afternoon or evening light,
and in the subtle Interpretation Of this phase
Of nature it may be doubted whether he has a
superior if indeed an equal now living in this
or perhaps in any country. The two canvases
here referred TO are Of this class, and if smaller
than some of his more important works, they
will take RANK in poetic conception and treat.
ment with his very best efforts. Though painted
in an entirely different key. the two pictures
are equally attractive, each possessing a charm
OF its own. which will appea. to the sensibiities
Of observers according to temperament.
-.
Hardly less meritorious, though considerably
less in size than those of Mr.. Davis are a little
group Of paintings by local artists displayed in
the Fischer windows. That by Mr.. Messer is
particularly forceful in motive and strong in
color. 1t cannot fail to attract the eye of any
appreciative passer by, and ought to be speed
lily transferred from its present temporary
line in one Of the many fine houses in Wash
ington that only need few choice paintings to
give them that coup de grace which only works
Of art can lend.
Among the most important works Of art re-
Gently acquired by Washing tonians is a charac-
terIstic canvas by the great animal painter.
Rosa Bonheur, lately bought in New York by
Mr.. George E. Lemon, who has sumptuous
apartments at the Shoreham. This is believed
To be the only painting by that famous artist
owned in this city, and it is said to be an ex-
cellent example.
The number of visitors to the Wsggaman gal
leries SO far this season has been much less than
it should be, whether the importance Of he
collection or the object for which it is thro ~n
open to the public on Thursday afternoons be
taken into the account 1t is not often that
one can contribute to charitable object and to
ones own elevating enjoyment at the same
time, and when so excellent an opportunity pre-
sents itself to do both by stroke so to speak,
the chance should not be allowed to go by I'M
improved. During the last summer some i'm
portant additions have been made in both oils
and water colors. of which note has already
been made in these columns, but in the de-
partment of oriental objects the acquisitions
have been even more marked and valuable. No
one interested in keramic products should fail
to see and not only 10 see but to study the
contents of NJ. Waggaman's cases, which are
fitted with rare aud beautiful pieces.
-
The most important picture sale Of the season
that which took place at the American Art
Galleries IN New York couple of weeks ago. 1t
comprised the collections or selections from the
D. IL. II
Thorne, and L. S. Chaplin. included ninety nine
oil paintings and water colors,-some of
which were small in size and unimportant in
quality,-and produced the aggregate sum of
S14l.4i5. The highest figure realized by any
one canvas during the sale was s17, 900. which
paid for Jules Bretons Departure for the
Fields, 25x39 inches in size, and perhaps with
exception the best work by that artist in
this Countrywide exception being Twilight at
FinIsterre,' now owned by Mr.. Mitchell. the
new Senator from Wisconsin. Next to this in
price VAS an Oriental Carpet Bazar," by
Gerome, 33x26. which produced for its owner
100. It is trife stiff in drawing. and
rather garish in color, but the mellowing infiu-
ences of time will probably make it the best
Gerome in the United States. A fine example
by Troyon, 20x28, brought $500. A
single figure by MISSIONER, representing a
Cavalier on canvas only Il1zx71& in size.
brought $1,000. The same amount was paid
for Detaille, 32x51. A Transport of Prison
ers. by De Melville, 47x32, sold for Sc, 900, and
a replica of Vibert's "Schism'' or Theological
Dispute" in the Corcoran Gallery here. but
smaller in size and inferior in quality, brought
$4,000 An illustration Of the decline of an
artist in public favor was offered in the sale Of
Munkacsy's I'm the Studio" 1t is 63xS6
inches in size. and when painted con-
siuSIeu az HupoI WOIh, YET IL Wds kuOCheu
down for the comparatively Insignificant sum
OF $2,S00. This result is partly due
to q change Of taste or fashion, but
in a larger degree, no doubt. to the use
by the artist Of some deeterious ingredient in
his pigments, through the effects of which the
face of his canvases turns a dull black. From
this cause some of his pictures have become
almost indistnct, and therefore of impaired in
trinsic and market value. This canvas, for ex-
ample, has heretofore brought a very much
larger price than tine above named sum.
One of the most industrious bidders at the
sale was Mr.. De la Mar. who is well known to
many Washingtonians. He carried away no
less than eleven prizes Of more or less value,
representing an aggregate outlay of sic, $780,
He paid 81, 000for an unattractive Temptation
Of st. Anthony" by Louis Leloir; a, 700 for a
Rosa Bonheur, and SC 800 for a life-size nude,
entitled Aurora by Bouguereau-a rather ex-
trnvagant figure for picture which is far from
one OF the best efforts Of an artist manfestly
on the down grade Of favor, in the mind OF
critics and connoisseurs.
-.
The number Of visitors at the night exhibi-
ton Of the Corcoran Gallery last evening was
/, 00S. This. considering the unpleasant
weather, may be regarded as a very fair attend
ance, and illustrating, also. both the wisdom
of evening art exhibitions and the disposition
of the general public to avail itself of such OPP
r.