Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-01
SPECIMENS OF ART
Exhibition Last Evening by Pupils Of
Corcoran School.
GOLD MEDAL and OTHER PRIZES
Address by Prof. E. F. Andrews and
Report Of Committee.
7 HE PRIZE VIM E R S

THE PRIZE WIN NEE S
The beautiful Corcoran Gallery of Art
was illuminated last evening and opened
for the exhibition of the work of the pu-
pills of the Corcoran School of Art for the
year 1S99-19OO. 1t was the tenth ami
versary of the opening of the school and
was the occasion of the presentation of
the Corcoran gold medal and other awards
for meritorious work. Three thousand in
vitations were issued and most of them
were accepted, notwithstanding the threat
ening weather.
The exhibition was a most creditable one.
1t represented the work of go pupils, of
which number twenty-three entered the
competition for the gold medal. The COM
petitive drawings were advantageously dis
played in groups on the walls of the main
actium on the second floor. They were
all of high order of merit and evoked
general communication from the visitors,
most of whom were naturally of an artis-
tic turn of mind and were competent to
pass Judgment on such matters.
The exhibition of water colors. which
formed a separate exhibit, was especially
fine. An unusual feature to be considered
in connection with these drawings was
that they were wholly the work Of the
pupils, without the least assistance from
the class instructor, Prof. Moser. The pres
ence of the Marine Band added to the
pleasure of the occasion. and its music
was much appreciated by the visitors.
The exhibition, which was the largest
and best ever made by the school, was
open from until II o'clock and was only
interrupted to permit of the annual award
of prizes, which proved an unusually in
| tjpr 'hn oil
guests were brought together by a bugle
call. and Mr.. S. II. Kaufman, president
of the board of trustees of the Corcoran
Gallery of Art. who presided announced
that Prof. E. F. Andrews, who is in charge
of the school, would make the address Of
the evening.
Address by Prof. Andrews.
Mr.. Andrews said that as this was the
decennial year of the school it was only
proper to make a brief retrospect to show
what the school had accomplished. In the
early years, prior to 1890, persons who did
nothing but copy were induced to study in
the limited space of the sculpture room of
the old Corcoran gallery. The progress
then made by the students prompted the
trustees to offer gold medal for the best
drawings There were then few COMPETE
tors that the drawings were sent to New
York. Philadelphia and elsewhere, where
artists of repute were requested to make
the award. This practice obtained until
1887 and 1885, when, regular instruction
having been provided and the drawings be-
ing more numerous. they were exhibited upon
the walls Of the old gallery and artists were
invited to Washington to pass on the merits
Of the work. During 1889 the great demand
for place in the school inspired the trus-
tees to build, with funds available through
the will of Mr. Corcoran, the room on the
18th street side Of the gallery. 1t was OPEN
ed January 8. 1880. with nearly ninety pu-
pills. The number on the rolls of all the
classes TODAY iS from 90 n 90
A night school was Instituted in 1891
with less than twenty-five members. 1t now
has 100 members. A life class for gentle
men has also been added to its attractions
and its attendance is from thirty-five to
fifty-five nightly. The last two gold medals.
1898 and 1899, were awarded members of
ed water color class. with an attendance
of fifteen earnest working pupils. Today
there are over forty pupils.
During these ten years." continued Mr..
Andrews, I'VE have sent throughout the
land, in every direction, teachers well
equipped for their duties. and we are con-
stantly receiving letters of inquiry for such
from schools, and letters of unbounded
gratitude to the munificence of Mr.. Cor
coran. who established that noblest of all
institutions-one which helps people to help
themselves.
Thorough elementary schools of the
first requirements of art-and this pretends
to be no other-are necessary. Whatever
branch of art one wishes to pursue.
whether 1t De simple uecOTdllOn, decorative
patterns for walls. jewelry, tapestry, car
pets or cloth, it has been the experience
of u the schools with which 1 am ac-
quanted.
Drawings From Life.
I'm Berlin, Dresden, Munich Paris, Ken
sington. New York and Philadelphia, and
wherever industrial and other schools ex-
list, it has been held an absolute require
ment to teach the pupil in the beginning
h.
the human figure from life, as interpreted
by the antique with elementary observa
tons of light, half tone and shadow. The
two qualities mentioned are the A B
and the primer of all art. Give indi-
vidual able to draw the human figure and
to see clearly the simplest elements of
light and shade. he is like the child who
has learned to read. The whole world of
knowledge is then open, but until these
are acquired the student has nothing in
his path but stumbling blocks and bitches.
l aver that after these accomplishments
are once acquired and fastened, the stu
dent is prepared to study the whole field of
her. who is ultimately to be his only
teacher-Nature. Then his predictions
will lead him to admire and love and en-
deavor to reproduce one or many of her
StorehouseS of beauty.
early associations guide many often
with artists. often without artists Often
the natural temperament will guide the
students in selection, but influence of great
predecessors must and always will be
strong working factor. But if the student
will always choose for himself, decide at
once what he loves best, he will always
find noble artists, whose bones are dust.
who saw and loved as he does, and as the
study of art is almost identical with the
studies of the beauties of nature it matters
little whether he stand with Salvador and
view the Alpine storm in the valley Of the
lara; with Turner and see and love the
blazing and flashing Of the sun, half hid
den by the stone pine and his quivering
light on the Bay of Baic, or love. with Ra-
phael and Angelo. the grandeur of human
form: or. with Knaur. see the bewitching
clutch of that baby hand and the peachy
down Of that baby cheek: the roll of the
wave with our Alex Harrison. or the light
on the landscape, like a diamond set in
sapphire with Picknell; or whether he
stand alone in a windy lane in a November
gale and see but the curl Of that little
brown leaf hanging to it's winters bed, he
will hear that mother, Nature, speaking in
voice of power and language unmistakable,
things Of beauty are joys forever"
Report of the Committee.