Evening star., 1896-12-19
A RT AN D ARTS T S

As the new Corcoran Gallery building
Eears completion it receives more and
more the warmest concentrations. not
alone of those directly interested in art and
architecture, but of the patriotic public at
large which views with pride every step
taken toward adorning the national capital
ard making it in all ways worthy a great
ard prosperous country. In points of dimen
sions and splendor of decoration 1t will
not of course compare with the magnifi-
cent new library building. but in its way 1t
is hardly less fine and pleasing than that.
Its exterior. dignifed and chaste in style,
admirably indicates the intended purposes
of the building. and ample as its external
proportions are. its noble atrium, grand
stairway, and spacious exhibition rooms
cannot fail tc be delightful surprise to all
visitors when they first enter its doorway.
Especially do the fine proportions and un-
surpassed lighting of the second-hoor
rooms to be devoted to the display of
paintings impress those who not unjustly
found fault with the inadequate light af-
forded in some of the galleries in the old
building. In these respects 1T is claimed
that the new picture rooms will not suffer
by comparison with those of any gallery in
the world. This is claiming a great deal:
but 1t is not claiming too much, If the
opinion of those who have had ample op
portunity for judging correctly can be re-
lied upon
There is reason 10 believe also, that
when those possessed of ample means or
| fine works of art see and fully realize what
an admirable casket the new structure will
be for the proper display and permanent
p, eeervation Of artistic gems they will not
be slow to enrich is collections by gifts, of
both paintings and sculpture, which will at
once delight the public and reflect credit
alike upon donor and donee
Indeed. it may be said that some sug-
gestve movements in that direction have
I,lr do tIn III, ,l;t;o
as we'll the needs of the new gallery in
view, few Washington gentlemen some
time ago united in the purchase of a fine
example by an artist Of wide reputation
which was presented to and now hangs in
the present gallery; and now it is under
stood that Mr.. Ralph Cross Johnson, of this
city. has set aside one of his valuable paint
ingS for presentation to the new gallery ON
the occasion of its formal opening Anoth-
er compliment of the same character Is ex-
pected tc come from New York. The widow
| of an artist of considerable note who died
in that city some years ago has signified
her intention to send one of his more i'm
portant works to the new gallery as a me-
mortal gift These three contributions
! ought to be but the beginning in the work
of enriching the collections of the gallery
outside of the somewhat limited income af-
forded by the endowment of its munificent
founder. AS Washington is in fact the
capital city of the whole western hemis-
phere, and as the gallery here will be visit
ed annually by the citizens not only of more
of the states of the Union but of more
foreign lands as well. than that of any 9TH
er city, the well-to-do people of the whole
country ought to vie with each other in the
noble work of making it at once worthy the
national capital and equal to the high pur-
pc ses it has in view.
X >.
Miss Alice Archer Sewall of this city is
at out finishing her $1,000 commission I'm
mural decoration in one of the fine private
houses on 57th street, New York The
commission embraced three panels, and
| also the design of window, which will be
executed by John La FARCE Miss Sewall
has been the recipient of many honors in
tie way of teas receptions ETC.. by the
New York women artists, including Mrs
Kenyon Cox and Mrs. Ella Condit Lamb
and her work has excited considerable in
terest in the decorative art circles of that
city. She is expected home before Christ
mas. and will thereafter devote herself 10
work for the spring exhibition of the New
York Architectural League.
Mr.. Walter Paris will give reception ex-
Eibition of his summers work in his studio
rooms, on the upper floor of 1 424 New York
avenue. on Monday and Tuesday next
The display will consist mainly of work
done at Bar Harbor, and those who have
seen some of the drawings say they prom
ise a varied and interesting exhibit
Miss Bertha f. Ferries exhibition of
water colors at the Art League building
closed Thursday. The one most generally
admired was "Rowley Meadows" which
was exhibited at the New York Water
Color Club in November and is perhaps.
the best landscape that has yet come from
| her brush. The atmospheric quality In 1t
Is admirable. and the effect of distance is
wonderfully good. Rocks by the Sea-.
which was also shown in New York, is an