Evening star., 1900-02-10
AR NO TES.

Some quite important and highly attrac-
| tive accessions have recently been made to
the art collections of the Corcoran Gallery,
which, though not yet in place, will proba-
| bly, be ready for public inspection early in
| the coming week. Most of the paintings in
question were purchased at the sale of the
Evans collection, which took place in New
York last week. At the time of its disper
sion this was undoubtedly the largest and
| finest collection of works exclusively by
American artists in existence; and. though
| less in numbers, it was in quality hardly
inferior to the famous Clark collection, sold
last winter, and from which. it will be re-
membered. the gallery brought away some
Veritable treasures
The new acquisitions referred 10 above
embrace characte cteriStic examples in land
scape painting by Robert c. Minor George
H. Smillie, and Theodore Robinson. and
figure subjects by George Fuller. Charles F.
| Ulrich. and John G. Brown. OF the land
scapes Minors ''Eventide'' touches one of
| the highest points in his achievements, and
| is certain to be popular, 1t deserves to
be, with both critics and the general public.
AS an artist Of some reputation character
lied it, it is a delicious little poem. Less
poetical is tho Long Island Farm by
Smillie, but it is a faithful and entirely
pleasing presentation of a lovely bit of
everyday nature, and sure to be generally
admired. Robinson's canvas shows a broad
sweep across the valley of the Seine near
Giverny, with a white arched bridge span-
ming the river houses scattered about the
bottom lands, and "a range of blue hills in
the distance. 1t possesses the fine quail
ties of color, the realistic aspect and lumi-
| nous atmosphere which generally marked
that artists work, and while it will proba-
bly, not at first be popular with the masses.
it is likely to grow in favor with longer
quaintance.
Artistically considered, Fullers "Lorette''
stands far and away at the head of the
trio of figure subjects just acquired. 1t
takes place, indeed, with the best three
canvases of its class from the easel of that
consummate artist, whose works take
higher rank in public esteem with each
passing year,-the two others being "Wini-
fred Dysart' and the "Romany Girl" AS
to which of the three Is to be considered
the best of the trio will depend rather
upon the taste of the beholder than upon
artistic merit. So nearly equally they
balanced in quality. This canvas repre-
sents a harvest field at Lorette near Que
bee, showing, in Hfe-size three-quarter-
length. young French Canadian peasant
girl, holding some stalks of wheat in one
hand, which is pressed against her bosom,
while the other carries a water jug. In the
dim distance IS seen a CLEANER with a
sheaf her shoulder, which adds con-
siderably to the interest of the picture.
The time chosen is sunset, and the whole
scene is pervaded by the rich tones and
| mystic charm which characterize Fuller's
highest efforts. Less admired by artists
and critics. but likely to be more popular
with the majority, are Ulrich's Land of
Promise and Browns "LOngshoreman's
Noon Both are characteristic American
subjects, faithfully and artistically por-
trayed, and may be said to stand well
toward the head of their class in Ameri-
| can art Evidence of this is shown by the
| fact that the Ulrich took the Clark prize
at the National Academy exhibition in
| 1884. medal at the Paris exposition in
| 1880. and medal at the Columbian eXhi-
| bition. Chicago. in 1893, while the Brown
received honorable mention at the Paris
exposition in 1889. in competition with
works of its class from all the continental
| countries.
Not content with the fruitase yielded by
| the Evans sale. the Gallery acquired about
| the same time, by purchase from the artist
| fine example of landscape painting by
| ii. w. Ranger, whose work is fast attain
| ing, or, rather has already attained a high
| position in the esteem of conno:sseurs.
| There were no less than nine canvases by
| this artist in the Evans collection, several
| of them of Importance in size and subject
| but the consensus of opinion among judges
| was that none of them equaled in quality
| and pictorial effect the landscape which
| came to the Gallery.
| While the acquisitions above noted indi-
cate the purpose of the trustees to make
| the Corcoran Gallery the acknowledged ag-
| gregation of the best examples of Ameri-
| can art in this country. it must not be sup
posed that fine works by leading foreign
| artists will be overlooked when favorable
| opportunities to obtain them are presented.
| This is shown by the purchase this week,
| through the friendly offices of Mr. v. G.
Fischer, of a fine landscape By Courbe:,
| whose leading position among French paint
| ers of the present century is unquestioned.
| In size it is not imposing but in subject
| treatment and quality it is probably second
| to nothing by that rare genius owned in
| this country. If in France. and is free from
| the discordant note which lessons the value
| of some of his important and ambitious
| efforts. in the esteem of his most ardent
admirers. OF course IL is too much to ex-
| pect that each one of the newly acquired
| canvases will be equally admired by every
| body, but there can scarcely be a doubt
| that the general sentiment will be that as
| q whole they constitute q distinctly valu-