The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04


Page facetiously remarked: THE fact that
/ am president of the Art Students League
is proof enough that interest in art here
in Washington is about as low as it car
get" But the friends of local art know
that he is wise, able, and sympathetic
proud Of him Mr. Page thanked the lart
audience for the generous support which
their presence indicated. and IL caused a
ripple when he said of course, your pres
ence here this afternoon is entirely due
to your interest in the league" Mr..
goodly number of contributing members,
who paid s. annually toward its support,
but hastened to explain that contributions
we're not limited to that amount.
Mr.. Smith. in an interesting preface to
his reading, touched upon the present
lively interest in art education manifested
in all parts Of the country. He said: "Not
alone in the cities. but in the villages Of
the West. as well as in the South and East.
art clubs are being formed. Most of these
org izations were started by women. "
Then referring to Washington, he said, in
substance, that we,with our splendid advan-
tages-the Corcoran Gallery. the Library,
and numerous fine private collections
struggled TO keep alive local art orgsniza-
tions. while little towns. with compare
lively no advantages. supported thrifty.
hourishing art leagues and art clubs.
America. in his judgement, was destined
TO lead the world in art. No nation at
present had so distinctive and individual
a school as ours.
Mr.. Smith paid high tribute TO George
Innis. declaring that, with a full and clear
appreciation OF the achievements of Con-
stable. Turner, Corot Rosseau. d'Aubigny.
and the rest. Innis was the greatest land
scape painter that ever lived-not perhaps
the painter Of the greatest single picture,
but his average was higher. His daily
task Mr.. Smith said. was fulfilled with a
conscience, an answering devotion to ma
ture. and. withal. an artistic and poetic in
sight so sensitive and true that Innis out
ranked them all, and this. Mr.. Smith add
ed, was American. OF the future. he was
more than hopeful-he was certain. With
art leagues all over this great country and
forceful talented young men and women.
Industrious and enthusiastic, taking adj
vantage OF this progressive training, he
was sure the nearby years would prove the
truth of this prophecy Of American pre-
eminence in matters of art. When this
crop of young artists is gathered, said
he. English and Continental artists will
discover that they have been in rut; that
they have been outmastered by Americans
whom il has so long been their custom TO
patronize." Twenty-Five years was Mr..
Smiths limit of time fixed for this great
development, and those who have eyes
to see" said he, know that it Is begin
nirg right now
One hears it widely remarked how sin
glarly exact in local color are Mr..
Smiths renderings of character in his
readings; his dialect is so subtle, the
shadings OF his voice SO very true, and the
emotional features SO finely rendered
This is the art of an actor, but it., also
the fine intelligence OF a skilled painter
whose observation nothing escapes. There
is not only local color, but in such read
ings there are values" and tone" added
10 the purely literary qualities of the
work. An audience is nothing to Mr..
Smith. he goes about his task. whatever
it may be. to do it with all his might. In
the solitude of the studio. the north woods.
busy Venice, ct a crowded opera house. IL
Is all one to him. As a result he captures
ones attention ut the beginning. holds ii
throughout the reading and when the cur
tain falls one is not a little surprised TO
find that there were other eager listeners
besides himself. And dear Mr.. Page-well
he is an artist. too. Where may one find
the peer OF "M'Lady." The reader of
these lines will perhaps think of some one
or another of the great short stories
whose coming has caused a gentle wave
of delight to ripple round the world. The
writer thinks only of THE Counting c1
Dina Shadd."
MIR. Smiths Pictures.
There opened on Thursday last at The
Fischer Gallery another exhibition of F.
Hopkinsou Smiths water colors. The
whole of the south wall of the shop" is
covered with thirty-two water colors. The
effect of so many of these bright, clear
things grouped together is one
Of the pleasantest imaginable. As the
years roll by and the lines on Mr.. Smiths
method are drawn tighter, and his manner
grows more individual and unmistakable,
enc cannot but congratulate him upon the
artistic excellence and value of his work.
Many another New York artist has this
but, alas, it is individuality
alone. The sterling qualities, the nature,
are lacking in their work. This is doubt
less due largely to the fact that they never
had Mr.. Smiths genius. but it is also TO
be attributed to Mr.. Smiths practice of
painting every picture in the presence of
he scene 1t represents, while the others
nave only the memory OF nature and lux
lrious studios for inspiration. Because
picture sold, they set themselves at the
ask of perfecting il in the studio, and,
Tear after year. as they repeat themselves.
Zach picture is a little less like nature
han the preceding one. Poor souls. they
ire blind to the truth, and scold because
heir public has grown lukewarm ard pass
IS by on the other side. This fate will
never come to Mr.. Smith. for when he can
not paint out of doors he will cease TO
paint at all.
This years collection is nightly like
he last. both in su ,ject and treatment.
the merits of this collection
with some connoisseurs. the writer and
hey agreed that as a whole this is ae
pest exhibition of his work that Mr.. Smith
has yet given here. Be that as it may. the
,ormer exhibitions were good enough for
anyone anywhere.
The catalogue which Mr. Fischer has
gotten up this year is made especially in
eresting by an excellent portrait of Mr.
;mith and an introduction by Mr.. Fischer
Then follow some interesting clippings
rom the metropolitan dailies on this col
ection. that of Royal Cortezoz in the
New York Tribune here given. being
he most satisfactory estimate of this |
ears shown
The Venetian subjects. happily in the majority. |
re altogether delightful. Although their merit |
yves something, no doubt, to the aTectionate
ssiduity with which the artist has returned |
hem until he knows them through aud through, |
feel in his work now what I felt at the begin. |
ing, beauty sprineing from instructive syn.
stly, not merely from study.
The sceues, the compositions. the same he l
as painted scores of times before but enthusiasm
nderies his art. he is spontaneous and as full |