The times., 1898-12-11
HIGH ART IN WASHINGTON
Some Notable Pictures at the
Fischer Gallery.
A MASTER OF THE BRUSH


Charming Work of the Dutch
school-A Period fn the History
of Painting = Water Color Club
Closes N Successful Exhibition.
A furry was caused last week in ar
tistic circles by the advent of some nota-
unusually large example of Constable
and some Dutch water colors by Mauve
and other distinguished painters of ,ne
Holland school,
1t may be interesting to the general
public to know that Constable is the
English landscape painter on whose orig
inal work the great school of Corot, Ros-
not extravagant to assert that today
anything from the great Englishmans
brush is reverently regarded by connois-
seurs and all modern landscape painters.
Constable was the first to declare that
nature, pure and simple, was higher law
than the conventional standards which
obtained up to his time-standards which
landscape the only way a painter dared
look at nature. This unique genius wor-
SHIPPED alone at the shrine OF blue sky,
white clouds and fresh air; juicy. living,
green verdure appealed 10 him. He
gloried in nature as he found 1t in the
quiet pastoral scenery Of his native Eng
land. Constable was born in 1sI6 and died
in 1887 The influence of this artist upon
the painters who followed him is past
measuring.
The example, 1.-The Vale of Dedham" is
one of the largest and best known of his
works. The canvas measures As by "a
inches. In this great picture Constable
is found in all his glory. One can imag-
Inc how Claude would have impaired to
this scene a romantic look which would
have made 1t impossible to tell whether
it was Italy, or Greece, or some locality
in England or in Northern Europe. How
English this delightful picture is, even
now, with its added tone and color, that
heritage of time TO all paintings in oil.
Its Maxtcrful Technfque.
To the student it is OF immense inter-
est The profound truth of observation
and the masterful technique impress
him. lie notes the bigness and grandeur
of that Incompatible sky; the winding
river of Dedham through this lovely
vale; In later day hands it would have
been simplifed, but this devout master
would not trife with "A vale so dear to
him His manner of treating the compo-
sition is full of artistic skill, but rever-
ence for facts was upon him, and so he
created a picture more than usually full
! of nature. This picture must be seen to
be appreciated, and, once seen, is almost
postgraduate course in art. as when
one who has seen Forrest or Laura
Keene, the bare fact seems almost to
make the fortunate person competent
critic of things theatrical.
1t is hoped sincerely that this Consta-
BILE, SO large and important, may not
leave town, but remain In the city TO add
to the already conspicuous collection of
undoubted masterpieces that belong
here Nothing would be more interest
ing than list of the famous pictures
owned in Washington. Some of them
are really better known in Paris and
London. excepting those in the Corcoran
gallery, which the public know well.
Constable's period Is one of the most
interesting in the whole history of art
The son of mil4er. working with his
father until he was twenty-three. he en-
tered the Royal Academy as student.
1t was twelve years after he had begun
to exhibit pictures before any of them
sold. At forty-three success came with
his picture, ''rhe River Stour." which
made him an associate of the Royal Acad-
emy. Exhibiting in the Louvre, he was
given a gold medal by the king of France.
and it was In France that his influence
was greatest From there It returned 10
England. until the whole of Northern Eu-
rope and America accepted the revelation
of art that he brought into the world.
For a time. Turner's influence bade fair.
guided by Ruskins powerful pen, to dis
place Constable. That spectacular school
has had its day however, and. be 1t said,
to the unerring wisdom of the moderns.
the worshipful attitude of Constable to-
ward nature is accepted as the only atti-
tude that is always safe and true.
A Gratifying Fact.
No city of Washington's size or near 1t
has gathered there so many distinguished
examples OF the great masters.
,, The Dutch water coiors, coming here
fine collection of pictures. The choicer
ones are excessively broad in treatment.
Some of them mere sketches, slight
things, but never trifiing. nofsdo they lack
earnestness. These water eolors at the
Fischer gallery seem slight, but to the
critical connoisseur some of them are a
delight There Is a charm and fascina-
ton about. eAem which elaborately finished
pictures rarely possess. AS one recalls
the Dutch water colors at the Chicago
Fair. which, by the way, was perhaps the
most important and representative collec-
| tion of finished water colors of this school
ever brought together, let it be remem-
bered also that some of the choicest OF
these Chicago pictures are now in the
superb Waggaman collection of Dutch
water colors.
elaborate picture express rain as does the
example by Weisenbruk would bring into
the world of art something entirely new
\ new starting point would be made for
| twentieth century landscape. One hesi-
| tates to say that thing cannot be done
however much he may believe it, but one
is very safe in saying that it is not done
| This picture of a rain storm across q leve
| stretch of Holland landscape with scarce
| ly shrub to relieve the monotonous fiat
ness, is great Two blots stand for wind
mills. deftly introduced for force and con-
| trast. This picture is the most incomplete
sort of a thing to layman; yet once he
| gets the painters point of view he be-
| comes impressed with the sense of actua
rain.
A Picture Enchanting.
It is simply phenomenal. The artists
are all discussing this picture and dwell
not alone upon its realism. which they
| admit is remarkable. but its singular
| beauty as we'll; beauty. SO delicate thai
| II eludes the most skiIlful effort to re-