Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14
ART AND AR TlsTs

The annual exhibition Of paintings by Ed
muEd Clarence Messer has been the at
traction at Fischer's gallery this week. Mr..
Messers pictures have q certain poetic
quality which cannot be thoroughly appre-
ciated at the first glance, but on a longer
acquaintance they disclose new beauties
hidden to the careless observer. In furnish
ing material for his landscapes, Maine and
Virginia pretty evenly divide the honors.
"a New England Pasture" his largest and
most impor tant picture, gives view of roll
ing pasture land, crossed here and there
with the picturesque stone walls Of that To-
cality, with threatening sky overhanging
the scene. Not inferior to this are his
Twilight at the Cap "A Valley Road,
Grape Island, Mass"-a glowing sunset
effect-and Showers" enc Of those strange
Heating effects Of light in which the artist
delights. September is a small picture,
showing couple Of tall trees, with delicate
gray green foliage. standing on a grassy
Slope and is very true to nature. 1.-THE
Young Satyr' Is an illustration of the ar
lists fondness for peopling his quiet wood
land scenes with fauns, satyrs, dryads and
all the mythical creatures Of the early
Greek days. One Of the less pretentious
pieces of work is his Palette Knife Study"
which, though of necessity broadly treated
is full of feeling, and is as delightful little
sketch as one could wish for.
Mr.. j. Fl. MOser Is to follow Mr.. Messer
at Fischer's, and his exhibition bids fair to
be the best that he has yet held here 1t
will be as large as the space in the gallery
will easily permit, but will be withal the
cream Of his work for a year or more. Most
of the pictures are in water color, and are
landscapes taken to a considerable extent
around about West Cornwall, Conn. where
n~tfc l.;
years. though he still holds himself to be
one of the Washington fraternity. He spent
over two months in the White mountains
last summer, part Of the time at Lake Win
nipe saukee. where the magnificent scenery
supplied him with an unlimited amount of
material One Of his best things is-Mount
Washington at sunrise, showing the early
September snow on the mountain top red
dened by the first shaft of sunlight. In ad-
ditlon to mis- landscapes, several figure
pieces are to be shown, among which will
be one Of Mr.. Moser's inimitable darkies.
Those who had the financial part of the
sixth annual exhibition of the Society of
Washington Artists in charge are much
gratified with the result. The receipts
from the sale of catalogues covered the
entire outlay and left a neat little sum in
the treasury. 1t is to be regretted, how
ever. that more sales of pictures were not
made.
x
Mr.. II. J. Ellicott has just returned from
trip to Providence, where he examined
the bronze casting of his statue of General
Hancock. which is now completed. He
considers the bronze one Of the best casts
that he has ever seen, on account of its
fidelity to the original and the excellent
finish In general. Colonel Wilson also in
spected 1t a short time ago. and found
1t entirely satisfactory. Mr.. Ellicott has
been invited to compete for an equestrian
statue of Major General John +. Rey-
nolds. to be placed on the field of Get
tysburg. and has a model already pre-
pared in his studio. His bust of Com
modore Melville Is now at the foundry
Mr.. Noel. who has been working under
Mr.. Ellicott's direction for about a year is
busy constructing a large anatomical fig
ure.
novel decorative scheme in the shape
of frieze for drug store has been oc-
curyng the better part of Mr.. Jules Dieu-
donne's time during the winter, but is
now about finished. There are thirty
six little cherubs in the frieze. each one
showing forth something pertaining to
pharmacy and medicine. For instance,
the first figure is the medical student with
AAAS DOSAhSb
dents experimental practice. Graduation
is portrayed by a head crowned with
laurel and surrounded with flowers, while
near it a wise old owl perches, showing
the artists aptness in expressing his mean
ing by the use of symbols. Further ON a
little fellow is studying prescription. and
next to him several cherubs are carrying
on Investigations with the apparatus of a
laboratory, while still further along one of
them Is pulverizing something with the
time-honored mortar ard pestle This
part of the decoration is very appropriately
placed over that part of the store where
the prescriptions are compounded. So
the frieze runs along. in one place the
figures gathering medicinal herbs and in
another winged messenger summoning
the doctor. One youngster with a purse
in his hand is being besieged by two little
maids. who wish him to buy them some
perfume that Cupid holds in one hand, art
fully concealins his weapons behind his
back with the other. AS one nears the
soda fountain scenes pertaining to drink
ing predominate: the eherubs of one group
come bringing vases, two little fellows are
drinking from a fountain. which is SYM
bolical of the mineral waters. and a bevy
9th OF them are q , good.naturedly over
some grape juice. Mr.. Dieudonne deco
rated the ball room Of the Chinese lega-
tion last year. and is at his best in deco
rative work, though he has painted q num-
Der OF good portraits. such as the full
remember.
Mr.. U. s. ]. Dunbar has started a bust of
Robert Stockwell Hatcher. and has also be-
gun work on a life-size figure which he
calls young America" Not long ago Mr..
Dunbar took a cast from life Of the face
OF Carl Hunterbroeken, a model who ts
well known in most of the Washington stu
dos. He Is young fellow who has posed
for Bouguereau. Alma Tadema and other
great artists abroad. and has been in many
OF the larger cities in this country.
X Il
At Heftmdl1er's the exhibition of wafer
colors by Lucien Powell has proved a
drawing card during the week, and as 1t Is
to remain open another week, those who
have been unable to attend will have still
an opportunity. The collection is a strik-
ing one as Mr.. Powell, unlike most work.
ers In that medium, paints in bold, free
manner, and handles a large picture as
easily as small one. This is shown in his
nfain