The times., 1899-11-12

There is now at Veerhof's a collection of
drawings in pastel. pencil. charcoal. and
crayon by the weIl-kuown American paint
Ct. Carroll Beckwith-some Uwenty-eight
members in all; and with these aIr. .Vezrhoff
opens The season at his very dignifed and
handsome new gallery. Nothing could be
mere auspicious than the opening Of the art
season here by the two leading dealers
y ith art displays Of such importance as the
Jefferson collection" at Fischers, and the
''Bockwith collection" at Veerh0H's The
Wafer Color club viii open the Connecti-
cut Avenue galleries Of the Society Of
Washington artists. shortly, with its
fourth annual exhibition Of local work. It
is hoped that there viii be no depreciation
il The standard set by these opening eXhi-
bl-ions, for certainly. If that standard can
be maintained, the predictions made as TO
Washington becoming DO art centre in the
very near future VIII be fulfilled.
The BeCkWiIh drawings are far from inn
posing ther IS 10 mounting or as 20 draw
iug for The frames are The simplest auI
there are no large drawings among them,
Lut they are pictures o. such delicate and
sensitive quality and so very ably drawn
~ no - fy the most eZactng critic in
that regard II Is well known by those in
formed On American art matters that there
is group Of strong men. also residing in
New York. who might make a showing Of
drawings equally interesting with this per-
hEps. hut there Is stiIl in these things By
BeckP-ith a personal and individual tone
which is like Beckwith and no one else
and his personality is charming Such
craftsmanship as this was unknown in
frequently met with ID New York and by
local men. Ico. as III is ia Paris or Lon
don But drGfrsma nship. important as ID
is Is not all. The possibilities Of the
study and the sketch 10 express ones TEN
persmenral qualities. are limitless.
The Touch of True Art.
The play of fancy. the value Of sugges-
t.0n as opposed TO Photographic accuracy.
ana simple realism. is indicated here in
most entertaining fashion. tie Losing ard
finding Of a line. the complete mission of
features which seem 10 De uune1- ssary ID
the mood expressed; that Indifference to
Ihe quantity Of bare paper which remains
.nd. lastly. the utter disregard as 10 the
appearance OF surfsce. once the suggestion
las reached that fine point 30 difficult 10
determine. where the imagination may he
safely trusted to do the rest. This Is true
orr. AID reveals in the highest degree Mr..
Beekwitns s artistic seusLtiveress.
This is the sort of sensitiyen=zs and
taste which places painter very high in
the personal regard Of his professional
brethren. The regret is frequently eX-
pressed that nc finished example Of Mr..
B5ckNith Oh poryEaiture is shown with
these drawings. that comparison might
De- made between them and has conventional
work Excellent as that work is 10 is
never SO distinguished as these more sub
IIe ana less obvious things.
There is a similar fascination about the
recently published letters Of RobIt Louis
Stevenson. The cultivated reader, familiar
with that writer's work from his novels 10
his cniid poems. without peraaPs thinking
less Of them. finds in the letters flavor so
delicate q touch so artistic and through
out az Incompatible intimate quality and
charm which compel the reader for the
time being 10 forget the masterpieces which
gave Stevenson his place in literature
Ono has only 10 observe how the artists,
the students and the genuinely Iulu-
waited counolsseuT-Dct the mare collector
fingers over these drawings. TO realize
that there IS 90 the study and the ake5ch
something rarely. II ever, found in the
finished picture.
il IS bits like these here shown which
1nake those relief spots Do library OF
den. and on which the eye falls with a
leeBer relish than wouId De possible IL
these -ere formal paintings. or even dec
o.ariFe things Ct a poster characte~. Moth
ing appeals NOR directly TO The iutellec-
tual side of q person ~ true culture than
nazfefiy scraps OF this order. Air. Beck
UfEs toulh s 50 sure has appreciate
~ beauty SO delicate. his observation "a
ulErrHE and above ElI his altistie sense
Is 50 aue thal the impression one gets Of
tEcse heads aud studies of The figure is
such as to place him very high up among
The leading Americans 10 50 nose skill, abil-
iig ara taste the country IS indebted for
1n9 very respectable place American work
jakes iH that hr0ad field of art which
1ucEs no couatry and is without local
limlia. ions.
some Conspicuous NumbcrS
There is such variety ia this collection
THAI lt Is impractical 10 attempt compari-
SONS buL Is i- worth while TO mention few
Of The numbers and note the peculiarsy of
treaf meur SIC. - study of = Nude Roy
holds The observer by virtue of l;a exact
draVils and thoughtful modelling. 4 nude
boy lies prone uirh his arms above his
mead. Tho iesh Interpretation is most XIII
fully managed with pencli paint Tone and
value arc EiYcu 10 the flesh by thC intro
ductf0n q q background produe1d by q
mass 81 creamy white chalk. Three on fo4r
Etrsies o. q scarlet crsE1u, Ausgcst % pillow