The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25


a work Of art. Your standard is high. an,
this is a fine show. for almost everything
here possesses excellent qualities Of on,
kind or another"
This was said by one Of the friends OF tn,
local painters a. a private view Of he
tenth annual exhibition Of the Society Of
Washington Artists. which was given yes
terdsy at the Connecticut Avenue Gal
leries. Il was a true word. and expressed
the general opinion Of yesterdays visitors
TO the galleries.
The exhibition consists OF less than sew
cnty pictures-the smallest shown in q
long time. but those qualities which give
value and interest to works Of art were
never present 10 greater abundance than
this year Macdonald, whose work is al
ways serious and sometimes pos lively dis
tinguished, is back again after many years
absence from the society's exhibitions His
portrait Of the Secretary of the Treasury.
the largest and most important canvas
shown, occupies The place Of honor at the
end Of the gallery This painting vigor-
Gus and forceful to a point approaching the
dramatic. is wrought out with such pa
thence and skill that IL is simply the Sec
rotary himself poised adroitly. sitting easily
in his office. an interested listener The
conventional accessories which characterize
the average official portrait are absent
Had the subject been commonplace. this
picture must have been barren affair but
Mr. Macdonald was fortunate in his sitter
and as consequence the picture is a TIL
umph Of portrsiture which will long out
live him
This success is particularly gratifying.
for the artist is a plain man Of high ideals.
No detail is so small as TO be unworthy OF
infinite care and patience The public
have been SLOW to discover what the ar
tists always knew, that Mr.. Macdonald's
work is Of the lasting kind because in the I
first place, he is a fine craftsman and
sensitive to color. and in the second place .
he is too earnest 10 be cOntented with .
mere cleveruess.
There is in the present display an alb
seRcs OF portraits Of that perfunctory class
where the sitter's money and influence is
more apparent than the artists Individual
taste and judgment, a class Of pictures
admittedly shllful. but uninteresting TO
anyone. but the sitter and his relatives
This is 8 sort OF infection which few if
any OF the metropolitan exhibitions escape:
hence the present show is in that respect
unique. There are number Of portraits.
but these are pictures fun OF artistic in
terest..
First among these after Mr.. Mscdopald's
work must be mentioned Prince Troubetz-
koys Young Yachtsmsn" and Miss Niue
dens Portrait Of a Lady" These two
pictures are in the Macdonald class
quite as well painted. but as unlike
each other are the three as are Bo-
nat, Sargent. and COurtuois. The Trou-
betzlgoy and Mueden take a somewhat
higher place artistieally, for they possess
besides skillfui painting a sentiment and
a charm which is manifestly impossible to
the other. While Sargent-like in the sim
plicity and skill with which it is executed.
the boy is so delightful in color and tone
as TO give one the deepest enjoyment The ,
sea and sky are masterful 10 degree. /
Honest NlDslOw Homer would like that .
feature while The head Of the boy is
painted in way to satisfy the connois-
seur who looks only for such qualities in {
the early English school It is Reyburn- I
like. finer type Of bOyhood could not Z
we'll be imagined is so appealing One
would Ike to know the child for he is {
scarcely more than that {
The prince also exhibits a portrait of J
purple gowned lady standing out from the
Gelvety gloom Of a rich and mysterious
background. {
Miss Mueden is a craftsman Of such
kill and delieacy that her undertakings .
IRE never unlnteresting. Nothing is more c
pathetic than to behold the blind groping
1f those unhappy souls full Of genius who 9
'annot draw and yet will fritter their lives {
iway endesvOring TO accomplish the i'm I
possible. Men Ike George Fuller of
blessed memory. are the exceptions. which ]
lnly prove the rule. Miss Mueden's two
lift the exhibitions standard d
'ercepubly. The larger one is a fulfill a
nent Of the splendid promise contained in a
Ter fine portrait exhibited at the Water 4
'olor Club exhibition last December Like u
dr Macdonsld's work, that Of Miss Niue e
len f. marked by great seriousness. This q
ree-ousrter length figure Of a lady fac q
ng the beholdeT and seatei IN a chair is o
nely composed The right elbow rests Il
lghtly OIL a table. The dress Is green and
semi-transpsrent shawl Of blue grey is ID
cry agreeable in color, as is also the dark. q
Mysterious, and colorful background. Il
gainst which the head IS projected The h
ace is study. Il is mastery. Features >
hat do not promise to prove beautiful in u
cal life are rendered with a tenderness Of
nd dellcscy which makes for real beauty. Il
IS clear this painter possesses the V
oetic instinct which turns everything il ~
,uches into gold" The critics are united "
according this picture a very high place i'll
! a work OF art Their enthusiasm recalls at
iss Thompson's success at the eighth an si
lsl OF the society held two years ago. n
hen her Portrait OF a Lady was 50 ha
ARMY spplauded. But be Il remembered
lat though both are female subjects this sc
Miss Mueden's Is a much more dificult
-oolem, for j; is painted in oil. and Miss Of
h0mpson's picture was a pastel Miss ar
uedens other contribution is a child's 70
sad. This Is dear little bit Of feml-
nifty, done In a charming fashion en- vi
rely equal 10 the larger picture W
The landscape contributions are scarcely 2
IS distinguished and notable than the az
'ure pictures. Messer leads with large
ID important landscape which IS the eX
pest and most complete thing be has yet an
own. This picture, a serene twilight pi'
nple in composition. is a fulfillment Of W
e promise which his friends found in
s smaller pictures la
fhe beautiful Twilight. sharon Maine" tr,
a large landscape three by four feet. ST.
Is large In every way. compositfon an
Tor. and sentiment. There is about Il
G blgness OF out OF doors. end what is Ian
ore. that subtle charm Of twilight low b
ely and tenderly told This IS the evI
eetest note in all nature. and Mr.. Mes no.
? has sounded it only as the great men an,
Those who know Mr. Messcr's pas- too
'n for the subtle, colorful aspects OF J
ture which Is the Joy OF good Landscape. sti
? not surprised al this success. dir
1 mere are lev men in America very tee
Y, who can paint the peer 10 this \
ldsespe. This picture should 20 10 the hin
rnegie exhibition next year. The mem stf
: OF that lone tree against an even see
! sky Is enc OF the things that will Ia,
. he mo Tsaa