Evening star., 1897-05-15
9>-5 49, . 9GS7FETWsS<7
ART Al Nd ARTISTS

At the meeting Of the Society Of Wash
tngton Artists held at Mr.. Dunbars studio
on Tuesday evening, the proposed perma-
nent exhibition hall on Connecticut avenue
was the principal topic of discussion
Enough money has already been raised
through the associate membership to COM
mence operations, and the remodeling of
the hall during the summer has been
placed in the hands Of a committee. Con-
tributions have been steadily coming in.
and 1t is to be hoped that ell those willing
to forward the good work by becoming
associate members will send in their names
at ence. in order that the committee may
know what amount it can depend upon.
The meeting was the last regular one of
the season, but an adjourned meeting Is to
held next week in order to settle some
hall.
Mr.. George Gibbs has just finished a
strong series of drawings in black and
white oil. illustrating events m the life
Of Commodore Bainbridge The series
deals largely with the naval engagements
In the Mediterranean during the war with
Tripoii. and there are many spirited
scenes. Mr.. Gibbs is entirely in his ele-
ment In marine work, and portrays vessels
In action with spirit and animation which
make the scene seem very vivid and real
Take, for example, his drawing showing
the recapture of the philadelphia, - by De-
/ catur. where the deck is lit only by the
of the men on board the ship as they
hastily catch up their weapons is very
well rendered. Another interesting draw
ing shows the commodore and his officers
in arfG In Trf, to1,s I,o hrv,,
bardment of the city from their narrow
grated easement. The capture of the
Java" pictures the deck of vessel after
severe engagement, with the disabled
many other scenes of an equallysinterest-
ing character.
Miss Emily Humphreys, who has been
making brief stay in the city. brought
with her a number of excellent specimens
of decorative design, which is the branch
of art she has chosen. Success in this
work depends to a considerable extent on
the full recognition of it's limitations, and
the aim of the designer is to give artistic
effects in the simplest manner possible, in
order to conform to industrial require
ments. The artistic result must be pro-
duced by the clever combination of a few
colors rather than by the use of a large
number of hues, and in the most effective
OF Miss Humphreys designs only five or
SIX tlnts are employed, and in less elap-
orate work an even smaller number may
be used She uses flowers a great deal in
decoration. and the purple crocus has been
introduced effectively in one of her wall
paper designs. In the regular pattern as
well as In the frieze and the ceiling design
the .arrangement of flowers and leaves is
both graceful and decorative, and the color
ing is delicate and pleasing. A wonderfully
rlch and striking scheme of color is found
IN her iris design for silk pattern and
many other specimens show an equal apti-
tude for color.
The exhibition Of water colors by Lucien
Powell which has been on view in the
basement gallery at Fischers will be con-
tinued for another week, and will be the
last exhibit of local work held here this
season. There is wide range of subjects
and scenes in Amiens. Turin, Venice and
Holland hang side by side with views Of
the country in the environs of Washing
ton. Mr. Powell is more than ordinarily
successful in his handling of street scenes
and number of his European pictures
are OF this character. His Venetian sub
Jects and marines also find general favor
and his present exhibition is not lacking
IN good specimens of both these lines of
work. There are a number of very pleas
ing little sketches, such as the Wind Mill,
Surrey, but the artists greatest success
appears to be in the handling of large wa
ter colors. His bold, effective technique is
well suited to the covering of large sur
faces, and he handles a large water color
with almost the strength of an oil.
The meeting of the Water Color Club
was held at Miss Ferries studio in the Art
League building her studio having been
fixed upon as the regular place of meeting
on account of its accessibility A very
large number was present, and the discus
sion was confined mainly to the next an
nual exhibition. 1t has been decided to hold
IT IN the early part of December, and the
arrangements for the place of exhibition
have been confided to the board of manage
ment.
Prof. E. F. Andrews has now upon his
easel portrait of DIR. jenkins which prom
ises to be an exceptionally fine head when
1t Is completed He has already made two
portraits OF DR.. A F. A. Kings mother.
and Is now at work on two of his father.
The head is very interesting one, and
with the costume Of many years ago the
portraits will undoubtedly prove very strik-
on the strong three-quarter-length portrait
OF Mrs. klotZ, which he commenced a year
ago. and 1t is even in its present state
very good as a likeness and effective as a
study of light and shade. Mrs. Andrews,
who is now in Ohio on brief visit re-
Gently completed a delightful water color,
in which she presents picture Of her baby
peering out the studio window
Three new pictures loaned for exhibition
have been placed in the Corcoran Art Gal
lery. the most important of these being an
immense canvas by Mihaly de Munkacsy.
loaned by Secretary Alger. 1t Is called
''The Last Hours of Mozart" and shows
the dying musician listening to the requiem
mass which he had composed. 1t is pic
ture of rare dramatic power, and the figure
of Mozart is remarkable in its conception
The singers gathered around the piano are
well grouped, and the whole picture is a
wonderful study in composition. The ether
pictures exhibited are two Marines 1.-THE
Burning of the Bon Homme Richard -
painted by Hamilton, and a view of Ben