Evening star., 1896-11-28

lunettes he has represented the Evolution
of the Book, from the earliest methods Of
transmitting thought to the invention of
printing. Thus in the first panel he shows
people Of primitive race placing boulders
in piles as means of communication with
other tribes. In the next lunette is an
Arab recounting to an interested grouD of
listeners the tales and legends handed
down from father to son. Further on we
find an Egyptian carving in stone the
strange symbols which We're the beginning
of writing, and in still another panel is a
man writing upon skins. II the next tym-
panum the scene is shifted to a monastery
and a monk bends laboriously oyer vol
ume which he is printing and Illuminating g
entirely by hand. This lunette is one OF
the most pleasing of all.
In the last painting Of the series the
artist has shown the first printer, pre-.
sumbaly Gutenberg, examining with a
friend the first sheet printed from move
able type. Mr.. Alexander is not essentially
mural painter, and he does not express
himself naturally in decorative compost
tions. His panels were painted not so
much with relation to their architectural
setting as in relation to each other, and
as result they are most satisfactory when
considered as pictures rather than as mural
decorations.
Carl Melchers' paintings entitled Peace
the library. His canvases were painted to
fill the large semi-ellptical panels at either
end of long room opening off the west
main entrance hall on the second floor. The
subjects are the same as those of his dec
orations at the Chicago fair, and he has in
War frankly adapted a large part of mis-
composition for the manufactures building
The figure of the mounted leader Is the
same, and the man holding the hounds
straining at the leash is also taken from
his first design. One traces also resem-
biance In the shouting figures following
behind in disorder. The figures bearing the
stretcher have been introduced and the ar
rangnment of the groups has been changed
The background is a bleak plain and is in
marked contrast to the green foliage which
forms the background for the figures in
Peace. In this last panel the lines form
ed by the procession Of figures are all
vertical and are in direct opposition to the
conflicting lines in War which suggest
strife: Mr.. Meichers has thus called on the
aid OF composition in expressing his mean
Ing. His work is very bold, and the treat
rent In some ways too broad as the pam
els have almost an unfinished appearance.
war Is, however, very we'll conceived and
MI: Melchers' strong handling is especially
well suited to such a subject.
~
unique feature of the exhibition of
water colors at the Cosmos Club is a small
collection Of sketches by Phil May, loaned
by Mr.. TX. Millner. Phil May, although in
the early thirties of his years, has devel-
oped a finish of style which ranks him as
a leader among caricaturists. His work on
the Sydney Bulletin in Australia attracted
attention to him to an extent which has
eliminated in his being appointed the sue
cessor OF Du Maurier on Punch. His carl
catures are noteworthy for the manner in
which they convey the humorous sugges-
ton without sacrifice of artistic spirit.
Personally Mr. May is described as most
congenial friend and good deal of a wit.