The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-18

( ing the year and it is only fair 10 say
| that though the patronage has never been
great. The Washington public has cor
daily supported this effort on the part OF
/ the local artists 10 give annual exhibitions
! after the manner and custom OF other
| cities. strong and influential associate
| membership conn 1sed Of ladies and gen
| tiemen interested in art has enabled the
| artists 70 establish the first real art gal
/ lery here Excepting OF course the Cor
/ coraHi, where large collection OF pictures
! could be properly shown. The society's
! galleries. as to arrangement ana light
! is not surpassed by that Of any ether
/ similar art organization IN the country.
! The tenth annual will be followed by an
! exhibition Of local work at the Corcorsn
I Gallery q Art.
The trustees have for some time contem-
plated flooring over the beautiful hemi-
{ cycle gallery. and. with the most modern
! electric light system. including the Frick
. refectors make Of ii an available gallery
I for local exhibitions. which NAV be held
{ independently Of the Corcoran Gallery OF
( Art. This in itself is The NEST important
thing that has happened in the interest OF
local art since the new gallery was built.
and. IN the minds Of some. removes the
only real reason for the existence Of the
Society OF Washington Artists galleries.
that the hemi-cyclc viii be ready for the
ladies inaugural exhibition, which is 10
open about the LIST Of May
Mrs. J. r. Henderson. herself an ana
teur painter Of ability. and one Of Wash
ingtons leading art collectors. a social
leader. and widely known and esteemed for
her enthusiasm and interest in local art
and artists. has Interested many other la
dies prominent in society here in com
prehensiye exhibition Of local art work
This exhibition, which is not to be con
fined TO pictures never before publicly
shown here. as are those Of The s W A.
ANIMALS. viii be Of unusual interest. and
10 only remains FOR the managers to be ex-
acting In the matter OF standard of merit
ln the work accepted for the exhibition 10
make 10 great success. II the works Of
fored arc accepted fairly on their merits as
works OF art in an impcrsonal fashion.
there can be no doubt but that the con-
templated exhibition will win laurels for
the ladies and demonstrate 10 the doubt
ful that Washington possesses q band OF
artists whose collective work will com
mand the respect OF = critical audience
anywhere. not excepting New York. Bos-
ton, Philadelphia. or any other larger
American cities. But a note Of warning
is here sounded.
There are artists whose regulations have
been wrecked by the public exhibition OF
work incomplete or caTelessly drawn. or in
some other way inferior to the standard
they have reached IN previous exhibitions,
and If caution is not exercised in the mat
ter Of accepting work for the proposed
Corcoran exhibition the display may be
pulled down 10 q level Of mediocrity and
the good important work shown make it all
the more apparent to the critical observer
that a large exhibition is not necessarily
good enc, and that a first-class picture
show can only be made by selecting the
better pictures from the mass that are in
variably submitted 20 the exhibition jury.
The best wishes and gratitude OF the ar
fists go with Mrs. Henderson and the eX-
cellent ladies who are 60 conduct this i'm
pogtant new venture In the field of local
art. There is room FOR two permanent or
CARNATIONS here Il IL seems desirable
Such rivalry could not but be stimulating
and in the end bring about that time con-
hdently anticipated by the writer when the
Washington school will make a world wide
reputation for artistic sensitiveness and
skill second 10 no other city In America
rot even New York, which is too cosmo-
politaB to be Individual
JAMES HENRY MoSER.