Evening star., 1897-05-08
A RI AND ARTISTS

this praiseworthy enterprise, there seems
little doubt that the plan can be brought to
a successful consummation. To those who
are not already familiar with the details of
the scheme word of explanation will not
be out of place. 1t is thought that a build
ing on Connecticut avenue. near L street
the rent of which has been generously
placed at a nominal figure. can be secured
and remodelsd at a small cost into a large,
well-lit gallery The two large annual ex-
hibitions could then be held here. and when
not otherwise occupied the gallery could be
Used foc the exhibits of individual artists
and other collections. The society plans to
solicit and defray the expenses of contri-
buttons from the very best artists from all
over the country; and the educational value
which such displays of pictures would have
both for the public and the artists them
selves cannot be overestimated. In order
to carry out its plans, the society needs
FUNDS, and has created an associate MEM
bership. which entities the holder to free
access to the exhibitions and to Invitations
to all the receptions and entertainments
the society may hold. The dues will be so
tor one year, $50 for ten years, and 500 for
life memb ership. All who are willing to
help along the good cause by becoming as
soc1ate members are invited to send their
| names to the secretary, Mr.. w. II. Chand-
lee, Evening Star office. The movement
has attracted some attention in other cities.
and among those who have added their
HduuSS 10 tEe i1St are MT. y. an morn
Of Boston and Mr.. Thomas b. Clarke who
has one of the fine private galleries in New
York, and who is well known as a patron
OF American art, and as the founder of the
his check, saying, II wish you and all
those identified with the laudable plan to
advance art in the nations capital a great
measure OF success"
Washingtonians will be interested to
know that at the semi-annual exhibition,
which opened recently at the Metropolitan
Museum in New York, Thomas Hovenden's
painting called THE Last Moments Of
John Brown" appeared among the new ad-
ditions to the museum. 1t shows John
Brown with his hands bound, and attended
by his guards, leaving jail on his way to
execution and pausing to kiss colored
child that is held toward him by its mother
Among the most attractive exhibitions of
the year are those which Max weyl and
Richard N. Brooke are now holding in their
studios in the Barbizon building The dou-
BILE doors which connect the two rooms
have been thrown open, and the studios
decorated with huge masses Of lilac, present
a gala appearance. The exhibits, which
will remain open for another week, are well
worth a visit. In Mr.. Weyrs atelier can
vas which at once attracts attention is his
blossom Time" motive of which the
artist never tires, and which he renders
with unfailing success. In strong contrast
10 the delicate freshness of the color in this
picture the sober hues of his Morning
On the Shenandoah" There are a number
of very pleasing pictures in which bright
sunshine prevails, but he seems TO be most
fortunate in his gray day subjects, where
the blue sky is partly or entirely overcast,
and in his glowing twilight studies. Among
his favorite themes are the scenes on the
Potomac marshes and wood interiors re-
vealing a glimpse of distance through a
vista in the foliage, and he has presented
these motives in number of varying forms
and with different atmospheric effects.
The picture which first catches the eye in
Mr. Brooke's studio is the large canvas en-
titled 1.-The Home Bringing which hangs
over the mantel 1t bears the legend I'm
finished" but even in its present state it
cannot fail to impress the visitor with its
forcible qualities, and 1t promises to be the
best of all the artists truthful portrayals
of negro life. Gathered around table
| fairly loaded with good things are the rela-
tives and friends of the newly married
couple, who sit at one side Of the festive
board, paying little attention to the rest of
the gathering, so absorbed are they in
each other. The colored nanny who pre-
sides at the end is just preparing to make
a spirited attack upon the turkey which
has been set down before her, Drowned to
turn, and a liberal supply of cider adds
to the good cheer of the assembled COM
pany. There is much fine study of gesture
and expression in the guests ranged on
both sides of the table. and the compost
ton and grouping are admirable. The pic
ture tells its simple story of darkey life
clearly and well, and is very true to nature
Beneath this canvas is a large landscape.
with shepherd seen driving his flock
homeward in the twilight, and there are a
number Of exceptionally fine sunset effects
among the pictures exhibited.
Mr.. w. Mills Thompson. student from
this city, was one of the most active men,
bers this year of the Society of American
Fakirs,'' as the group of students holding
the annual mock exhibition In the New
York Art League Is called. This years
burlesque exhibition closed with the usual
sale, and Mr.. Thompson, in grotesque CO.'S
tune. oficiated as one of the auctioneers
contributing in no small degree to the mer-
riment of the occasion. There is little seri-
Gus work done in the league just before this
exhibit, which has become a regular insti-
tuition in the school, as most of the stu
dents are busy evolving caricatures and
take-offs upon the pictures exhibited in the
Spring Academy and Society. An indica-
ton of the general interest taken in this
strange show is found in the fact that Mr.
T. s. Shaw, the well-known art patron Of
fered small prize for the best fake this
year, and his lead was followed by several
others. One Of the most ludicrous pictures
in the show was a caricature of Mr.. Nae
gle's portrait of Mr.. Shaw, painted on a
couple of rough hemlock boards. Two knot
holes served for eyes, and with this foun-
dation the artist created so successful a
caricature that the masterpiece was eventu-
ally knocked down to Mr.. Shaw himself
Miss Emily Scudoer. who has had a stu
dio in this city for severa; seasons past is
now in charge of the art department of
the college in Santiago, Chile. She was
called to that position during the winter.
and has been working there for several
months. endeavoring to bring the work of
the school up to as high an artistic stand
ard as possible. She will probably remain
there number of years, but she still con-
stdeIs Washington as her home center in
the United States.
Next week. in the main gallery at Fisch-
er's there will be an exhibition of paintings