Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21
A R 7 AND ARTISTS

Johannes A. OerteL who is now in Bel
Air. Nd, is still working on the series of
religious subjects, the first of which was
exhibited here in the spring in St. Johns
Parish Hall. This large canvas. which was
called The Dispensations of Promise
and the Law is now at the Centennial
Exposition at Nashville. There are to be
two other compositions in this series which
comprises the entire plan of the Redemp-
ton, as historically fulfilled, The Re-
demption Accomplished and THE Era of
the Holy Spirit II is on the first of these
Two that the artist is now at work and il
Will be completed in a month or two
While the first of the series contained
over hundred figures, this compost; ION
includes but five: The Savior the repre-
sentative Soul and its enemies Satan, Sin
and Death. The figures are full life size,
the canvas measuring over by II feet
There is some probability that the painting
Will be exhibited here in the fall In all
of the artists work the religious note is
dominant, and he will soon commence a
large altar piece for a nilsson chapel in St
Louis, depicting THE Martyrdom of st.
Stephen
Water colors have been claiming Spencer
Nichols attention of late to the exclusion
of any painting in oil, and he has done a
good deal Of black and white work as we'll
as several good studies in full color
Among the latter may be mentioned a
very delicate effect wherein a partly ruined
building half hidden among rankly growing
weeds and bushes is outlined with soft
insistance against an evening sky. When
working in gouache, which is a favorite
medium with Mr.. Nichols the soft atmos-
pheric effect Of wash may be employed III
distance
oil painting may be given to the fore
ground. This is the method he has fol-
lowed in a pleasing gray day sketch which
he made recently. The Georgetown canal
has furnished him with many motives aad
he is now busy with still another, an effect
of late afternoon.
Another artist who is working in water
color at present is Mr.. Jules A. Dieu-
donne and he has now upon his easel an
unfinished picture, which he thinks should
prove instantly popular if there is any
virtue in the old adage, "An the world
loves lover" He has shown an affection
ate couple seated log near their
pleasure boat, which has been drawn up
on the sand Mr.. Dieudonne can do very
clever things in water color. as is evil
denced by this subject. but all his more
serious work is done in oils. He has in
contemplation very large canvas in oil,
and the preliminary study which he has
already made promises remarkable pie
ture. The scene which he depicts is An
dromache lamenting over the body of Hec-
tor, and the eye is at once struck with the
fine lines of the composition. The two
central figures are thrown well into prom
inence. and the couch upon which the
dead warrior has been laid is surrounded
by persons whose faces express deep
grief in many different ways. The manner
in which the masses of light AMI shade
have been arranged is admirable, and the
coloring is subdued and harmonious. Ex-
ceiient opportunity is given for rich color
in the costumes of the figures and the
costly materials with which the dimly
lighted tent is hung.
Mr.. r. LIE Grand Johnston often turns his
artistic ability from painting to other
channels in the summer months and
shows his versatility in divers ways. He
has recently carved for his own amuse-
ment masnificently enriched table, which
he has stained in imitation of teak wood.
The workmanship en- this fine specimen of
wood carving reveals the master hand and
proves that the artistic spirit finds vent
even in work which at first sight seems
to be rather mechanical.