Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26


s. Jerome Uhl will return on the 10Th in
slant from Springfield. Ohio. where he has
pleting from life a number of portraits
commenced in his studio last winter.
Miss Alice Archer Sewell returned last
week from an extended sketching tour
through the north. and is getting her new
studio into order for the winter. Some of
the most striking results Of her recent work
are life-size portrait in oil of Mr.. Charles
G. Smiths little daughter and a number OF
designs for mural decorations.
F. NJ. Pebbles has postponed the intended
trip to his home in Illinois, and is working
on a large portrait Of Postmaster General
Wilson.
Miss Juliet Thompson's friends are con-
graduating her upon a recent appointment
as instructor of art in the Norwood Insti-
tute, and, in addition to her new duties.
she Is working on and rapidly completing
a graceful, well-handled study of nude
figure, which is intended for the approach
ing exhibition at the Academy of Fine
Arts in Philadelphia.
One of the most interesting and success
full canvases executed by Miss Jane Bridg-
ham Curtis while at Gloucester during the
past summer was a life-siZed bust portrait
of Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward. a repro
duction OF which will be used as the from
tispiece of an autobiography upon which
the authoress is engaged.
-.
Miss Aline Solomons and Miss Anna
Sands, both prominent members of the Art
Students League, have established them
selves in a studio at GA 18th street
Quite a number of the local artists have
during the past year given serious atten-
ton to the study of illustration, with very
successful results. Among those whose
work is rapidly becoming known as rank
ing with that of the best modern illustra-
tors are Mr.. George Gibbs, whose drawings
and designs, particularly of Washington's
socisl life, are looked upon especially at
tractive features of the several current
magazines in which they appear, and Miss
Sophia Loury, who has developed a unique
and wholly original style, that has met
with great favor among the patrons of IL
Illustrative art. LIE Grand Johnston has also
accomplished some clever things in this
particular field and has recently designed
a number of exceptionally we'll executed
drawings, which are shortly to be pub
lshed.
A movement which is being agitated by
Mr.. F. B. Mcguire and Prof Hinckley Is
creating some stir among the younger art
lists. 1t is the organization of a society to
be known as the Friends Of Art" the
probable formation of which has been fire.
quently mentioned during the past year.
A lagge number of people prominent in
social and official circles have evinced their
desire to become patrons, and every evil
dence is given of successful carrying on
Of movement calculated to prove very
practical incentive to artistic aspirants.
The competition, which will not be limited
to art students of the District will be
opened early in April, 1896. and the award
will be 500 to be given for the best paint
ing in oil of head by an art student under
thirty years of age, the canvas to become
the property of the Corcoran Art Gallery.
The award will be decided by the Society
of the Friends of Art" each member hav-
ing the right to vote once.
=.
A somewhat misleading paragraph has
teen going the rounds of the press in re-
gard to a projected historical painting by
Mr.. Robert Hinckley of this city. The note
In question unintentionally, no doubt. con-
veyed the idea that the painting is being
executed for DR.. ]. NJ. Toner, the WELL
known authority on matters relating to the
American revolution. This is in no proper
| sense according to the facts. The only in
terest DIR. Toner has had with the matter
was to suggest the disturbances of such a
painting which grows out of his general
interest in everything relating to the his
tory of the revolutionary period. and he
has therefore freely given to the artist
everything at his command in the way of
reliable data and friendly suggestion, in
order that the painting might be made in
every way worthy its subject, should 1t
ever be undertaken on the scale projected.
and carried to final completion.
The scene intended to be represented. and
which has already been Sketched In color,
on small scale, is the first meeting of the
convention called together to draft the
federal Constitution, and shows Washing
ton standing on the dafs in the room where
the Declaration of independence was sign
ed, gavel in hand, with the other members
of the convention disposed in groups around
the room, some standing, others seated. and
all in easy and natural position. The con-
ception and arrangement of the person.
ages throughout is wholly that of Mr..
Hinckley, and while he is as yet in a meas
ure uncertain as to his future action in re-
gard to 1t, he has given the subject much
careful thought, and has already brought
together information and material bearing
upon the federal convention of the greatest
possible value. For example, he has au-
thentic data for the portraits of fifty of the
| ffty-three participants in the momentous
discussions which led to the draft of the
constitution, with much other useful mat
ter, relating to contemporary costumes.
be completed 1t would not only represent
one of the most important events in the
history of the country, but be literally cor
rect as to those many minor details which
add much to both the interest and value
of such work.
AS Indicated above, Mr.. Hinckley has al
| ready made a sketch ir miniature of tho
proposed composition, and will doubtless
carry the matter along still further. as
other engagements permit; but whether
the picture shall be ultin ately finished on
the scale projected, that is, of life-size por-
| traits. must of course depend upon the
probabilities as to its disposition after COM
pletion. No artist could afford to paint a
picture of the size this should be- and in
volving so much thought and labor, with
out some pretty positive assurance in ad-
vance that in the end his efforts would be
| adequately compensated. And, naturally,
a commission of this character could only
come from government, or from some pa
triotic and wealthy institution or society;
and for such an ownership 1t would be q
most appropriate and invaluable acquisi.