Evening star., 1894-03-31
IN WASHINGTON STUDIOS.

Pictures, great and small, good, bad and
Indifferent are waiting their acceptance or
rejection by the committee Of artists who
have been elected to the difficult task of
selecting from the several hundred can
vases submitted for inspection those deserv-
ing place in the coming exhibition OF the
Society Of Washington Artists. Almost
every artist in the District will be repre-
sented by one or more paintings. and the
subjects range from a bit Of seacoast and
sky to the most ambitious portraits figures
and landscapes. Several canvases have been
received from American artists who are
abroad, but still wish to be represented in
the home exhibitions. Difficult as it is 70
form definite opinion Of the paintings, In
their present disordered arrangement, II Is
safe to predict that when the exhibition
opens, on the 9th of April, an array Of can
vases will be shown which would do credit
to any city. One rather striking popularity
Of our American artists is the total lack of
uniformity in the style of handling their
pigments. To any one at all familiar with
the different schools of art, the German,
French, English or italian method can be
detected at a glance in the canvases of their
various national brush wielders. With US
each artist is law unto himself, each hav-
Ing his own peculiar style, regardless Of
school or method, endeavoring to express
his conception Of the subject in the manner
best calculated to impress his idea upon the
spectator. In this way our exhibitions es-
cape the monotony of handling, color, and
OFTEN subject matter, which visitors to the
foreign salons SO frequently criucise.
During the past week the principal point
Of interest for the art lovers and critics of
Washington has been the exhibition which
Mr.. E. c. Messer is holding in the Fischer
gallery. In many ways this artists recent
work has created intense interest among
the brotherhood of local artists. His sub
Jects, whether idealic or material, are treat
ed in bold. almost impressionistic manner,
which is entirely different from his usual
familiar style. Especially is this noticeable
IN large canvas,entitled The River Road"
In this the stormy clouds, wind-tossed
trees, with the shadowy foreground bright
ened by single gleam Of sunlight are ad-
mlrably represented and show the artists
Iamillar1ty with the most difficult features
OF landscape work. An exquisite bit, down
In the catalogue as Pasture Birches," is
treated in tender grayish greens, with a
summer sky which is almost perfection IN
its atmospheric effect. Passing Cleans
ls another difficult subject cleverly handled
IL represents piece of meadow land, across
wnlch lie the various light and shadow ef-
Iects or passing clouds A number of fine
eanvases have been marked sold" which
Is pleasant assurance OF the interest
which the exhibition has occasioned other
wise than as an artistic event.
Prominent in the collection of busts. bas-
reliefs. etc., which will represent Mr.. Dun
oar In the exhibition is bas-relief In plas-
ter Of Mr.. Leo Wheat, the pianist; also one
OF Mrs. Senator Faulkner and one of Mrs.
Dunbar, the two latter being artisticaIlv
framed In the graceful Rocco style of Lou
Is XIV period. Mr.. Dunbar's work during
the past year has been unusually clever and
SHOWS that the sculptor and artist is a most
SUCCESSFUL combination. One Of the artistic
productions Is an exquisitely painted land
scape' which will be hung in the exhibition.
Mr.. E. H. Miller has recently completed
q striking portrait Of Miss Edith Pratt,
painted with all the artists customary at
tention to detail and delicacy Of coloring.
the mesh tones being particularly well
handled. An interesting feature of Mr..
Miller's studio is an immense portfolio Of
etchings, fac similes Of work which have
won Tor the artist a wide reputation Most
OF MS subjects are familiar ones to the
washington public. which is perhaps, one
A noticeable feature Of The many exhihi
lions which have been recently held here is
tnat the most familiar American subjects
are invariably the first marked sold" 1t
httle tribute to patriotism which is ap-
lists. ~ a
MI. r lie Grand Johnston expects 10
ieave the city before long. to take up a per
manent residence in the country, where he
can build model studio, and have an un-
li"'ted supply OF rural subjects
valuable collection of paintings has
peen placed temporarily n the Corcoran
Art Gallery. one Of the finest of the canvases
exhibited being "sheep in Snow Storm" by
schneck 1t is painted In a mastery fash
Ion. and with such combination Of subdued
tones and colors that a fascinating studv ,s
made OF what might, with less clever treat
ment, be decidedly unlnreresting Another
Juoltn, by Benz. Constant is AIuaIly fine
Inc noble hgure, with its well-poised head.
Is nnely drawn and artistically handled ana
coiored TWO OF the best marine scenes which
have ever been exhibited In the gallery are
by II, af Sillen, and entitled, respectiveIv
French Ironclads'' and Entering the
Harbor."
There will be on exhibition In the Lehman
building. until April Z, a number of pic
lures by Mr.. Langston Truesdell, formerly
or Washington. Among them is the cattle
piece which received a second medal at the
saion Two years ago. the highest honor vet
earned by an American artist 1t Is a
AsM11S,