Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-18
AND ARTISTS

The structure rising on the old rink site
on New York avenue between 18th and 14th
streets has puzzled not few of the many
passers by, and as 1T is now rapidly nearing
completion statement of the general
features of the scheme will not be out of
place. The edifice Is merely an outer shell
iEclosing accurate reproductions of the
halls Of the aneients, which are to show
forth the art, architecture, manners and
life of the Egyptian, Assyrian, Grecian,
Roman, Byzantine, Saracenic and East In
dian peoples. Mr.. Franklin w. Smith, who
Is best known by his reproduction of Pom
peiian architecture in the copy Of the house
OF Pansa which he built at Saratoga Is the
promoter of this new enterprise, and his
main aim in constructing these halls of the
aEcfents is to arouse public interest in the
development of the project on the grand
er scale and in the more perfect manner
which he has had 10 mind from the first.
Eight years ago he Conceived the idea of
erecting a systemeticaHroup Of reconstruc-
tons which SHOULD have permanent edu
cational and archa eoagical value. and the
,s unahg e now o, IN roas OF erection is in
ures of the plan. The halls of the ancfents
will not be entirely finished before the Ma
tional Educational Association meets here
In July, but five of the halls will be thrown
open at that time, 'asAhey are to be filled
with the educational exhibits of various
publishing houses. The front OF the edifce
Is In Egyptian style. with openings for
light in the form Of the claustra Of Egyp-
tan temples. and section of the hypostyle
hall of Karnak rises majestically as q CO.
ossal entrance portal. The columns are re-
produced In full size, being seventy feet
high and twelve feet in diameter. and in
thE
upon the originals are to be faithfully
copied. On entering the visitor will find
the first hall built and decorated to repre-
sent the interior OF an Egyptian throne
room with twelve columns twenty-nine
feet high and five feet in diameter, and
this room Is to contain paintings iIustrat-
ing the life OF the people, one Of these pic
lures being copy of Longs Egyptian
Feast" Above this hall of the kings is a
hall of arts and crafts, illustrating the me-
chanical and other practical employments
of the race. and adjoining it is Assyrian
throne room walled with casts from the
slabs of Nimroud. and having copies of the
human-headed bulls to guard the entrance.
The other halls on the second and third
| floors are the lecture hail. containing an
immense painting, fifty feet by seven feet
| in size, which depicts the grandeur of
Rome in the time of Constantine; the hall
| Of the model the picture gallery, which Is
| to contain an exhibit Of 100 engravings by
Pinelli, and the Saracenic rooms, which are
| to be decorated with casts from the AL
| hambra and from the hall Of Benzaquin in
Tangiers. The greater part Of the lower
| floor of the building is to be occupied with
a perfect reconstruction OF a Roman house.
| The details are to be modelled closely after
those in the house Of Vettius. which was
discovered about two years ago. and Is con-
| sidered the most beautiful structure that
| has been exhumed in Pompeii.
|
| Mr.. Trentanove has been in the west for
several weeks. having gone to Marquette,
Mich, to be present at the unwilling of his
bust of Peter White, which was presented
by the citizens to the free library founded
by that public-spirited gentleman. The
bust was unveiled with appropriate cere-
me niles on the oath of May, and the sculp-
| tor has since been the recipient of many
congratulations from the admirers of his
latest achievement in marble. Though re-
ming during the summers to his Italian
| studio. Mr.. Trentanove has put himself
| into such close touch with American life
| during the years that he has lived in this
| country that few will be surprised to learn
| that he y now a full-hedged citizen of the
| United States. having taken the oath of
allegiance In Milwaukee two weeks ago.
/
| X X
| The season for exhibitions has practically
| closed at all of the local galleries, but small
groups of pictures are still placed on view
! every now and then. At Fischer's three
new canvases were exhibited recently, a
| figure composition by Benjamin West and
| landscapes by Corot and Inness. The pic
| ture by West represents Christ healing the
| sick, and, while not remarkable in arrange
\ ment or in the drawing of the figures. pos
sesses undeniably good qualities Of color
| In the two landscapes there is an interest
| ing contrast betweenTt the silvery gray of
the placid scene by Corot and the rich.
| luminous warmth of the small picture by
Inness. The latter work. though a pleasing
impression of sunset color. hardly shows
the great American landscape painter at
his best, but 1t is NEVERTHELESS executed in
the style which marked his greatest pro-
auctions. The scene by Corot is a thorough
ly representative example of the masters
art. bearing in every part the stamp Of his
| last and best manner, and. though it is
perhaps unfair to compare the two land
| scapes in direct way, their exhibition to-
I gether gives opportunity for an interesting
study and comparisoni,of styles.
tHx Ia
| Mr.. James Henry M6ser has been spend
ing good shareio Ills time on a number
Of views Of Washington. some painted from
old memoranda and others from brand-new
| impressions. The city as IT appears from
Arlington has furnished him with several
| slightly differing motives. one Of the very
| best of these being q view in which the last
| rays Of sunset illumine the buildings and
| throw them into sharp relief against the
distant line Of purple Fills. Another glimpse
OF the city which he has now in his studio
| Is crtsply treated study seen from the
heights which lie beyond the Eastern
branch at the point where 1t Is spanned by
the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge. More ar
| tistic than any OF these water colors Is his
recently completed picture showing the
dome of the CAPITOL as 1t appears from
| East Capitol street silhouetted against the
warm glow Of a twilight sky. In the exc
cution OF this subject MIR. Moser has lost