Evening star., 1898-07-23


| there were many who expected to see her
| In Washington before this. Her original
plans, however, have been changed and
she does not now expect ia start for home
before autumn. The portrait which she
exhibited in the Salon won for her some
thing more substantial than mere compli-
ments and she has commission for a full
length portrait, which she must finish be-
fore leaving Paris. She intends to make it
one of her most important canvases, and
will probably give up good share of her
summer to this task. When this portrait
Is completed she intends to make tour
through France, Germany, etc, before sail
ing for America
X X
The work of relaying the hard wood floors
In the Corcoran Art Gallery has been pro-
crossing at a srails pace. and at present is
almost at a standstill on account OF the
contractors failure to supply themselves
with sufficient material to keep the work
men busy. The task is much greater than
might at first be imagined, as 1t necessi-
tates the removal and replacing of all the
steam radiators, and will entail an inn
mense amount of cleaning and renovating
when the work is over. Even If the work
on the floors is pushed rapidly from this
time forth 1t is estimated that it will take
about six weeks to complete 1t, and the
cleaning and refitting that must follow will
take several weeks at the very least. 1t
is therefore to be hoped that the progress
of the work will not be arrested for many
days longer, as much further delay may
render it difficult to open the gallery at
the usual time in the fall.
Mr. Spencer Nichols leaves the city to-
day for st. Louis to join the United States
engineer corps in camp there. He goes in
the capacity of an artist, and his regular
work will be of kind that is not uncon-
genial to him, and it will afford him at the
same time an excellent chance to gather
material that may prove of the greatest
value to him later on. He Is not the first
Washington artist to enter Uncle Sam 8
service, Mr. Blaaen Snyder having been
with the Arkansas volunteers since they
were first mustered in. MIR. Nichols leaves
in his studio many unfinished things as
well as some recently completed drawings
in black and whits, one of the best of which
is the interior Of an artists atelier with
two figures in conversation beside the win
dow.
Miss Hattie E. Burdette has recently fin
ished a charming series of decorative de-
signs drawn for illustration and executed
in pen and ink, which is for her a new me-
dunn. The drawings are made to accom-
pany brief bits of verse and the decorative
borders play an important part in each
One Of the attractive subjects shows "a
beautiful girl playing on a guitar but this
drawing does not reveal as much of the
artists individuality as the graceful figure
surrounded by border of iris blossoms
The Nghtness of touch with which this is
treated ana the extreme delicacy and
freshness OF the whole make the figure it
sef seem almost like a newly opened flow
er In one of the best-drawn designs the
statuesque maiden who lends beauty to
the Illustration is placed well to the left
slde, thus allowing room for a large emp-
" panel where "a neat rivulet of text shall
meander through a meadow of margin. "
All OF the designs are worked out with the
most conscientious skill and are executed in
remarkably fine lines, delicacy that NAV
prove troublesome when the drawings come
to be reproduced
Miniature painting has claimed much of
MISS Grace AtWaters time during the past
season, and she has several of the tiny por-
traits on ivory to do during the summer
She has recently finished a profile view of
Nathaniel Cpham, which she painted under
great difficulties, being obliged to work
from an old silhouette and from the small
and unsatisfactory painted head in a
n
er, which she has started from life. is an
unmistakable likeness even in IT'S ba,f-er-
isheo state Miss Atwater retains the
same fondness for outdoor work that sba
mas always had, and the quick sketches
tidt she mas made this year show her usual
ooiiirlalo 60 E, over the technique of water col
oi, or. one employs pure wash almost ex-
clus,Feiy, ana there is always a noticeabIv
gooo handling in her skies and In her fni,
lase eHects. One Of the sunniest of her
Hipen-alr studies is an unpretentious bit of
landscape down near the monument
hrs' Mlhdeler Is another one of the local
artists who has been spending a large mart
OF her time upon miniatures, and she has
piouuced some very dainty specimens Of
portraiture. Among her recent miniatures
Is likeness of Senator Bakers daughter
ana one or Miss Marian CockeriIl. a char,,-
ing oeilneation of a fine blonde type. In
striking contrast to this is the character
lstic type of South American beauty in
Mrs. Mindeleff's Well painted head of Ma
uaihe uS11 Lazo Arriago The features are ex-
ceiehlly modelled, and the black lace man
Una is handled with skill. One of the
idIsesl miniatures that the artist has done
Iately is double portrait containing the
d1i,lehgth ia hgures of two brothers. Both
U! the children are dressed in white flannel
suns, 10 which the pale blue ties give an
accent of color and there is a pleasing
harmony IN the general effect
as* X
Mr.. Lewis r. Evans. who has been max
ing brief stay In the city, brought with
MIN several oil portraits of people well
known in Washington. The head of Ad-
H1rai Dewey. which will hang in the home
OF the Army and Navy Club. is one of the
oest or these, and is extremely good in
co!or. another portrait which makes a
IaForabie impression is the half-length view
OF justice Field. as 1t is full of character
ana expression. Mr.. Evans portrait of
speaker Reed possesses many good points
ana the heads of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and
Mr. b. n. Warner are thoroughly good
nkenesses The artists forte seems to lie
IN ms ability to paint characteristic like
aok n
Prince Troubetzkoy, who closed his studio
mere short time ago and left for his Vir-
Einia home will be in Bar Harbor for a
lime this summer, as the guest of Mr. and
MRS. Barney Of this city.
Another Washington portrait painter who
expects to spend a portion Of the warm
weather at Bar Harbor Is Miss Juliet
thompson. She will be the guest Of Mrs.