The morning times., 1896-11-29
Art Notes.

A meeting of the Society of Washington
Artists was held Tuesday evening, when
the place for holding the spring exhibition
was discussed.
The committee appointed to investigate
the progress OF the work on the hemicycle
of the new Corcoran Art building, where
it had been proposed the next meeting
should be held, reported unfavorably.
This part OF tue building Is designed as
lecture room and has floor sfantlng
toward the stage. To make II available
would have to be constructed over the
pit, and in its present unfinished condt
ton, it was learned that the floor could
not be built by the required time. 1t was
then proposed that the Cosmos Club gal
leries be secured, and the exhibition will
be held there sometime in April.
The nature of the works 20 be accepted
was the next subject under discussion.
and the decision was to exclude water
colors, thus making. the two exhibitions
separate and distinct in regard to mediums.
with the exception of pastels. q
The works eligible for admission to the
spring exhibition are oils, pastels, and
sculptures.
A movement is on foot among the artists
of the country to petition Congress 10 re-
store the duty on works of art A paper
to that effect has been circuIated among
several wer-known local artists. and j
number OF them have the subject under
consideration.
Two years ago a petition calling for the
removal OF the duty was presented to
Congress. the artists acting under the CEN
victlon that all art should De free and that
the standard of works in this country Would
be raised in consequence. The result.
however. seems to have been widely diff
ferent from that anticipated and she market
by the foreign dealers. The tendency Of
art collectors in this country 10 cater TO
the foreign stump rather than the true
merit of the picture. has reduced Tie price
of American work. and the artist now
feels the disurganizing influence brought
about by cheap foreign com petition.
Mr.. Caesar Philip, of Berlin, Germany
had an exhibition Of his work during the
past week at Veerhoff's galleries His
most ambitious piece was large Cehvas
divided into four panels representing the
seasons
Spring is represented by female figure
seated on the edge OF fountain. catcning
two little cupids who are tum bling among
the flowers in the foreground. A white
dove flies from the fountain, symbol OF
purity.
The panels also symbolic the seasons
Of life, and this one is entitled Youth
and Innocence The central figure Of this
group is done in shadow, and the bright
sunlight, striking here and there through
the foliage, makes the color scheme quite
effective.
dense green wood, constitute the sub
ject for ''Summer." The woman is seated
on bank with flow ers in her lap, and has
Just finished n wreath which she places
on the brow of the man leaning near. A
bit OF bright sunlight near the top of the
panel balances the deep shadow. in which
the greater part OF the picture is treated.
Summer symbolizes the leye-time OF
life. :.
The central figure is boy with n basket
of fruit, coming down a terrace. Two
little cherubs are scramblng for some
apples that have fallen by the path. A
mother with babe in arms and a sheaf
OF wheat in her apron is an interesting
group in the middle background. The fruit
Is very beautifully painted, and the flesh
unts clean and pure.
An aged and bent man, with a small
fir tree swung across his shoulder, and
some Christmas toys tucked in his robe,
who has been accosted by two little
urchins in coats and Inittens and draw
Ing 2 sled across tn, the snow is the theme
anG the church windows in the distance
are lighted with Christmas candles. This
panel Is in marked contrast to the others,
both in conception and general treatment.
AFTER the Bath" is Pompeiian picture,
1 effectively colored and well drawn. A wo-
man Is lying on q marble bench after bav-