Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-01
ART NO TIES.

works of art brought together by the late
Mr.. Walters. of Baltimore. Although 1t is
generally conceded that its destination can
not be known until the provisions of the
will Of the deceased. If he left one, be made
public a studied effort seems to be made TO
create the impression that 1t will or should
go to the Metropolitan Museum OF New
York. But just what grounds exist for such
a surmise it is not easy to understand. 1t
would seem to be far more natural ana Mt
ting that 1t should be beqleathed to Mr..
Walters only son,-wlth whom many tastes
We're held in common, and between Whom
there were strong bonds of attachment-or
remain in Baltimore intact, gift to that
city, to serve as suitable permanent me-
mortal Of the liberality, good judgment and
catholic spirit of its founder.
A portrait of Satolli, the eminent Catho-
lie prelate, by Mr.. A. Muller Ury, has re-
| Gently been placed on temporary view In
the Corcoran Gallery. The distinguished
churchman is represented at full life size,
seated in an arm chair. and wearing rich
crimson lobe partially covered by another
| of white, trimmed with heavy lace. AS
| a mere likeness 1t will doubtless be re-
| garded as fairly satisfactory, though the
expression is hardly what one would like In
| a bosom friend, and as work of art IT Is
| not likely to take high rank The flesh
| tints are far from good, and the treatment
| of the drapery is little or no better.
Mr.. H. H. Kohlsaat. late proprietor of
| the Chicago Inter-Ocean. has given a COM
| mission to Thomas Mast to paint a his
| torical picture representing the Surrender
| of Lee at Appomattox, which he intends
| to present to the City of Galena, General
Grants place of residence when the war
| commenced, and also Mr.. Kohlsaats birth
place. The painting, which will be ten by
| size figures, Is to be hung on the walls or
| the Grant Memorial Hall, recently erected
| in Galena, and it is intended that the for
NAL presentation shall take place on
| Grants birthday. April 81. This is not Mr..
\ Kohlsaat's first benefacton of the kind to
| the same place. A few years ago he gave
| to Galena fine full-length statue of Grant
| in bronze, by Gellert, which was inaugu-
| rated with appropriate ceremonies and
| now stands in public park of that city
established for the special purpose Of pro-
viding proper site for it.
| '-"Old Masters bring fabulous prices In
| the old world. at either public or private
| sale, but they don't seem to count for
much when put under the hammer in this
| country. At the sale of a collection Of this
| class. so-called, I'm New York the other
| evening, the catalog of which contained
many famous names, one hundred and
| the comparatively Insignificant total sum
| Of $2,613! OF these "a Spanish Nobleman"
| claimed to have been by Nelasquez, real
| lied $225; a portrait of Sir Joshua Rey-
! nolds said to be by himself, went for 500,
and a smaller canvas, credited to the same
| distinguished artist, was taken at $40. An
Alteration" bearing the magic name or
Raphael; Lot and His Family Leaving
| Sodom," and Portrait of His Son." both
| said to have been painted by Rubens, were
| knocked down for an even 500 each. These
| prices are calculated to give rise to the
suspicion that either the collector of this
| croup of alleged masterpieces was aw-
| fully duped when he bought them, or that
New Workers don't know a gem of art
| from a daub when they see IL. An irrev-
erent Chicago person would very likely ex-
claim Both
No more do pictures by the once favor
| ite Bierstadt bring such prices as they for
merly commanded. One of his canvases, OF
| very considerable size representing the
| "Farallone Islands," showing lively sea
| with groups of sea lions in the water and
| en- the rocks, sold at public auction In this
| city last week after being we'll advertised.
| for $315,-probably not ten per cent of his
asking or studio price. There are some fine
| rassag GEES in tho picture, notably the match
| less color i'm the high curling wave just
| about to break into foam in the fore
| ground. and in the light and cloud effects.
But whole the work is not of his best.
! and the subject or composition is not
| pleasing one. The latter special fact
| doubtless had an influence in determining
| the price, but the general fact remains
| that Bierstadts paintings are no longer
priced as they once were. Fashion changes
| in art as in other things, and so also, hap
| PLY. 1t may be said, does the taste of the
| public.
The colossal statue of William Penn. to
| crown the high tower of the new city hall
building in Philadelphia was placed in
position last Wednesday, without any cere-
| monial observance, and fortunately with
| out accident of any kind since work was
commenced upon it. The figure, which is
some thirty-seven feet high, stands on an
! elevation about 5i7 feet above the street
| level Save the statue of Liberty" in
| New York, 1t is the largest figure on the
| western hemisphere. and is undoubtedly
the largest in the world on 50 lofty an
artificial elevation. Unfortunately, the
architectural conditions of the building re-
quire that the statue should front to the
north. instead of southwark In which posi-
ton the features would be properly lighted
during the entire day. AS II is, the face
will remain in deep shadow constantly, SO
that much of the artistic effect must be
lost
The very respectable sum of $4,000 was
contributed some ten years ago by the peo-
pie of New York for the purpose of erect
ing at some appropriate point in that city
statue of their eminent fellow citizen Peter
Cooper, but though the work has long since
been executed, il has never been set up.
Not that any fault has been found with
the quality of the statue, so far as can
be learned, but for the reason that the city
authorities have so far refused or failed
to designate site for 1t. Hal MIR. Cooper
been Tammany maGnate instead of
one of the most distinguished philanthro-
psts of his time his effigy would doubtless
have Jared better.
The grand jury of Philadelphia county
| has done itself credit and the public a
| service in bringing in a presentment against
| the display of vulgar and obscene adver-
| Using posters in the windows and on the
| fences and dead walls throughout that
| city. Like bodies in other cities might well
| follow this example, for many of the de-
| signs used for this form of advertising
| throughout the country are an outrage On
all sense of decency. Some of the theater
| or variety show posters are vile enough,
| but the worst offenders are those used in
| the tobacco or cigarette interest. Not
| few of these, while not unattractlve in