Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-16
A NOTABLE COLLECTION.
MOran's Series of Historical Paintings
Now on Exhibition.

The collection of pictures by Edward
Moran, now on view at the galleries of the
Society Of Washington Artists, 1920 Con-
necticut avenue. Is one of unusual impor-
lance historically as well as artistically.
The name Of Moran Is one of the most
prominent in the recent history of Ameri-
can art. Peter, the cattle and sheep paint
er; Thomas, Of Yellowstone Park fame,
whose pictures of the Yosemite and the
Grand Canon of the Colorado are in the east
gallery lobby Of the Senate; Edward, one of
the foremost marine painters of today;
Leon and Percy, the sous of Edward are
among the leaders of the younger set of
New York figure painters. and Mary Nimo
Moran Is celebrated an etcher. The
present exhibition is the browning effort of
the life of Edward Moran. collection of
thirteen pictures illustrative of the marine
history of the United States, the result of
fifteen years of earnest study and patient
work 1t has been a labor of love with Mr..
Moran, and the result is perhaps the most
complete and entirely artistic series of pic
lures ever painted in America. The most
important canvas of the collection is 'The
Highway of the Nations" the boundless
waste of waters as the sea appears on a
gray day; a simple and perfect piece of
marine painting, as naive in composition as
a snapshot photograph from the rail of
an ocean liner, yet it is fraught with mas
terful knowledge and conforms uncon-
sciously to the laws of pictorial compost
ton. A picture of timely interest is Ad-
miral Dewey's homecoming, the Olympia
entering New York harbor on her return
from Manila. The picture entitled Iron
versus Wood,' wonderfully painted and
dramatically handled, is probably the most
attractive of the whole series. The trun-
Gated bulk of the confederate ram Merri-
mac is shown as she plunges her PROV
through the wooden hull Of her opponent
in the teeth of broadside of fire and shell.
The contrast of colors and values is force
fully expressed the black soft coal smoke
from the single stack of the Merrimac
drifts forward and envelops her antag-
ontst as the cuttlefish darkens the water
that it may more easily destroy its victim.
The landing of Lief Ericsson in 1901 and
that of Columbus fleet in 1892. "The De-
barkation of Columbus and the THE Mid
night Mass on the Mississippi over the
body of De Soto are all romantic pictures,
full of color and sentiment.
THE Embarkation of the Pilgrims From
Southampton in 1920 is the poem of the
collection: a picturesque group of Puritan
men and women gathered on the shore of
old England in the soft gray autumn moon
light. watching the May1ower sail away
into the mysterious darkness beyond. The
atmosphere is heavy with signs and tears,
yet somewhere in this silvery symphony
the artist reveals note which portends
the ideal days of independence and vir-
tuous simplicity which await the pilgrims
in the land of John Alden and Priscilla
mere is iiie leeilnS oI daylight III
Paul Jones Flying for the First Time the
American Flag" and a great massing of
color in THE Burning of the Frigate Phila-
delphia in the Harbor of Tripoh in 1904"
In the latter picture the mounting flames
against moonless midnight sky is i'm
pressive and spectacular. In all of his
battle pictures Mr. Moran has refrained
from blood; he has not descended to such
a minor trick to distract the attention; 1t
is always a battle between well-ma tched
giants and the significance of the scenes
is in no wise lessened by this humane omis-
sion