Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10
ART AND ARTISTS

The collection Of old prints and drawings
in ink and water color recently placed in |
the temporary exhibition cases in the |
graphic arts department. OF the Congress
sional Library will prove of exceptional in |
terest and value to all Washingt onians who |
are interested in the city's history. The ex- |
hibit is composed of different architectural |
plans for the Capitol and White House, |
with color prints showing these buildings |
at different periods, and presenting views |
of Washington as it appeared early in the |
century. The architectural plans in this |
collection were presented to the library by |
Mr.. John H. B. Latrobel Of Baltimore, a !
grandson of the architect Benjamin La
trobe, whose designs for the Capitol sub
mttted in 1911 are included in the exhibit. |
The Capitol series commences in the first |
case with the drawings Of the east and |
west elevations of a proposed structure de- |
signed by an unknown architect. Next to |
these are placed Stephen ]. Hallett's plans, |
which the commissioners accepted in 1892, |
leaving the east front recess open for |
further consideration" Passing farther on |
one coIles upon Dr. Thornton's design, |
which was submitted a year later as a |
modification of Hallett's plan, and was
finally adopted almost in its entirety. The |
original plans for the north and south |
wings are also shown, and water color |
drawing of the east elevation as 1t ap-
peared in 1923. One of the colored prints |
shows the structure it appeared after
it's partial destruction by fire in 1914 and |
there Is another Autograph which presents !
a view of the Capitol when the wings had
been added, but the dome was still want
ing. The print is, by the way, a remark |
ably good specimen of color reproduction |
for publication bearing the date 1852 |
Behind the Capitol, which acquires promi-
nence by being placed in the foreground |
the city lies spread before the eye like a |
panorama, and the details worked OF t |
with such care that 1t is fascinating task
to study this print in connection with a
view of the city taken from Anacostia
Heights about fifteen years earlier To |
the younger generation a study of these
autographs is full Of many surprises, and
1t is interesting to observe long stretches
of canal that have been entirely obliter-
ated, and other landmarks of which the
Wh1lom existence is now not even sus-
pected. Among the few pictorial records of
the White House in its early days one NAV
mention the water color fac SMILES of the
drawings made in 1907 of the east and
south fronts of the building, and the itho-
graph showing the Executive Mansion az
1t looked after the confiagratien in 1914.
X
Mrs. e. F. Andrews, who has been stay
ing Tor some time past at Fairfax Court |
House, expects to go to Stockbridge, Mass,
about the list of July. In all the Berkshire |
Stockbridge Bowl, and Mrs. Andrews will |
be able to find an endless variety of sketch |
ing material without seeking any distance
for good motives.
MI Carl Rakeman, who went abroad |
some two years ago, has about completed |
the course of study which he wished to |
take in Dusseldorf, and expects to go to |
Munich in the fall. The special character |
lst1c of the Dusseldorf school that he has |
been attending is th0roughness, as is easily |
shown by the fact that there are nineteen |
professors aided by equal number of |
assistants, and each professor devotes him |
Sell exclusively to some particular branch |
OF instruction. For example, one profess |
sor will teach nothing but ANATOMY an
other perspective and still another instincts |
the pupils in the study of drapery Each
student is expected to put IN as much as |
ten hours day in work of some kind. and |
pupil leaves the school with q very thor
ough equipment of knowledge. instead of |
the smatterfng gained under more super
fetal instruction. Mr.. Rakeman has found |
the artsuc atmosphere abroad so con-
genial and so conducive to progress In his |
life work that he wishes to settle there IN
follow his artistic career. and If he re- !
turns to America and to Washington it will
probably be for short visit only
MISS Aline Solomons has just finished a |
striking likeness of Baron Hirsch, in pastel
and she is now employing the same medium
In the execution of portrait of the Baron
esS Hirsch Her work on these heads has
been the means of bringing her another
order for the portraits of the phianthropist |
and his wife, and she will soon commence
Oil portraits which Mr.. Simon Wolf of this
city has commissioned her to paint for the
Hebrew Orphan Asylum in Atlanta, Ga |
Miss Solomons feeling for color makes her
successful in her flower subjects.
and the study of purple iris that she has
just painted Is an instance in point. After
her usual manner she has studied the flow
efs In mass rather than in detail, and she |
mas caught the rich color and naturally |
decorative effect of these queenly blossoms |
Another flower study which attracts at
tention, though hardly more than brushed
In, Is a bunch of white pansies.
X u
Mr.. W. Balfour Ker. who became known
to quite q wide circle of Washingtonians
during the period he passed in art study
here in the city, is now located in New
York. Mr. Kers forte is in the direction of
drawing and painting, rather than plastic
art; but he is at present working with |
Proctor, the animal sculptor endeavoring |
to pick up some knowledge of modelling.
u
X
MI Carl Heber, whose name Is associated
by many with Mr. kers, for the reason
that the two had a study together during
a portion of the time Mr. Heber was in
Washington, left New York for Paris a
couple of weeks ago He carried letters to
many of the leading sculptors, and the
friends who best know Mr.. Hebers ability |
feel confident that he will not only be able
to secure work, but to successfully direct
his artistic career along the lines that he
wishes to follow.
Won Gloves and a Seat.
From the Kansas City Star