Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
A RI AND ARTISTS,

In this country it Is seldom that one
sees examples of the earlier Italian mas
tiers. and one would have to look long to
find finer specimen than the Fra Angeli-
CO now at Fischer's. 1t Is indeed a rare
painting, for it was executed in the artists
best manner, and Is in an unusually good
state of preservation. 1t Is one of the
many Madonnas that this inspired Domini-
can friar painted and it is notably fine in
color. On either side of the mother and
child are angels in alteration, and all the
figures come out in delicate relief against
background of gold, which is intricateIy
engraved in a number of places. The gen
eral effect is very fiat and decorative but
there Is none of the severe formalitv OF
line that characterized many OF the paint
ers that preceded Fra Angelica. On the
contrary, the figure of the Madonna is
graceful In tbs, extreme, and there Is
delicate spirituelle beauty in both her
face and that of the child nesting in her
arms. The hand of time has mellowed In
stead OF destroying the pigments with
which this panel was executed, and there
is a beautiful quality of color In the dark
drdpsfy with an almost lmperceptible
greenish tint, and in the pale blue and
heliotrope of the lighter portions. Giovanni
da Fiesole CT Fra Angelica. as he is more
commonly called. is one of the most inter-
esting figures of his epoch. He was well
endowed with worldly goods, but forsook
all to enter the Dominican order of friars,
and threw himself into his work with
calm fervor that has never been surpassed.
X X
AT the sixth annual exhibition of tie Bal
timore Water Color Club, which has just
closed, three Washingtonians were repre-
sented Miss Lillian Cooks Dutch interior
tt,est Il,
of the many good things she has done in
that medium. Mr.. r. LIE Grand Johnston
contributed characteristic examples of his
work in landscape, and Mr.. Walter Paris
was also well represented. Several Balti-
more artists have returned the compliment
by entering works in our own water color
show, which opens next Saturday.
The Art Students League is at present
endeavoring to enlarge the list of annual
members and Is sending out circulars to
this end. The annual members are recruit
ed from the ranks of those who are inter-
ested in art in a general way, and who are
willing to aid the school in the work it is
doing. Each member has the privilege of
naming a student to compete for the lin
tied number of free scholarships that the
league provides and receives cards of nd
mission to the entertainments and exhibit
tons.
Mr.. Edgar Nye has not touched brush
for over a month, and now that he is on
the mend after his severe sickness he Is
keen to be at work once more. The can
vases of the summer have not yet received
the studio touches which eliminate the oc-
casional crudities Of direct outdoor work,
but they are highly satisfactory just as
his usual breadth of treatment and he has
fully demonstrated that he can handle
large canvas as easily as a small one. Most
of the subjects are from the neighborhood
of Rockville, where he spent much Of his
summer, ard his best cinvases show
scenes along the edge of the woods, with
a contrast of near shadow and sunny dis
lance. Perhaps his most successful picture
is composition of that style with a gray
sky overhead and a delicate atmospheric
haze making itself felt everywhere and
shrouding the distant trees The gray
greens of the foliage and the cool tones
throughout the rest of the picture are
worked out in admirable harmony and the
color effect is very restful.
X X
There Is now on view at Veerhoffs an
exhibition of oil paintings by Gean Smith
the painter of the stylish thoroughbred
horse, the society horse. 50 to speak
A large number of his pictures are scenes
at the New York horse show and the art
list excels in delneating the beautiful,
clean-lmbed animals most in evidence
there One of the horse show subjects
shows a fine four-in-hand going around
the ring in front Of the admiring specta-
tors. Other events in this same show are
portrayed with equal merit, but the artist
Is handicapped in his work by his ina
bilitv tn draw of
men with anything like the skill he dis
plays In an equine subject. The unsatis-
factory background in his largest pic
trre. The Futurity Race" prevents the
fine action Of the animals from affecting
the beholder as favorably as it otherwise
would.
X X
In the fascinating collection of Japanese
Cloisonne that has been placed on exhi
bition at Veerhoff's there are MANY Won
derfuily beautiful examples. Some of the
most perfect specimens are free from any
design, but are covered with a Transparent
enamel of rich red hue. In these pieces
the copper box. vase umbrella handle or
whatever it may be, Is given plating of
Sold winch CLOVIS through the translucent
enamel, and all the specimens show that
natural instructive taste for color and dec
orative effects which is the birthright of
the Japanese.
Mr.. Edward Siebert has Just commenced
work on an important figure composition.
which promises to occupy his time for
some months. 1t pictures the interior of
well-known coffee house in New York.
the haunt OF writer's, actors, artists and
men in all walks of life. The gaslight
falling ON the faces of the men grouped
around the tables heightens the effect
and makes the study of light and shade
very interesting. Mr.. Sebert made many
sketches there. and has in his note book
any Number of types from which to choose
The arrangement Of the figures is notably
good, and the postures and action of the
different men are well suggested. Mr.. Sic
bert has made recently number of sue
cessful still-iife studies, and makes oc-
casioral excursions into the country. On
one OF these he painted very truthful
study OF scene out near the Eastern
branch, where stunted cedars are a feat
ure Of the landscape.
Inc loan exhibition which closed on
Tuesday was financial as well as an
artistic success. While all the returns will,