The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
THE HIGH ART STANDARD
Additional Notes on the COrcOran
Water Color Show.
Fine Work by the Clubs Secretary,
Miss Atwater-The One Negro Study
Work of Dawson of Boston-Decor-
alive Interpretations of Nature by
Una Atherton Clarke and c. l.. Bull

Mark Twain, at the recent Lotus Club
dinner. referring to some criticisms made
upon him, declared that it was not the
ISLANDERS, oh, no; he did not mind them;
Il was the facts he objected to! l am
strongly inclined to the idea that opinions
of this character prevail among some OF
my fellow-painters regarding criticisms
of their work found in this column. 1t
seems to me one has no cause for alarm
or that account, for If criticisms are not
convincing and obvious to the reader,
those criticisms certainly make friends for
the painter, and weaken the critics in
fuence; while, If they are true. the sooner
one pulls away from that provincial at
mosphere of security and gets out under
the light where things may be seen at
their true value the better 1t Is for him.
II il has not already arrived, the time
is certainly near at hand when local art
work must be good art anywhere If it is
10 have the respect ard patronage of
Washington people. 1t may be prodigious
conceit on my part, but that is a small
matter, II better art and higher standards
follow this crusade against superficiality
and sham standards. 1t should always be
remembered that these comments are only
those of a painter not widely verHed in
art. but very much in love with painting
for its own sake.
Tho high average of merit of the pres
ent Water Color Club Exhibition at the
Corcoran is something TO be proud OF.
It's advance in that respect over former
sc l1in
for love feast that ends in a mutual
admiration society. What we want here
is good art and il the talented and sue
cessful group of painters upon which the
matter SO largely depends will stand to-
gether firmly at all times and places Tor
what they know is excellent and sincere
they will win. Now that We are IN
aense under the patronage OF the Cor
coran 1t is all the more our duty to hold
the standard high and do work worthy
that great Institution and those fine mas
ferpieces In the permanent collection
there, for II Is in their SHADOW our pic
tures have the honor TO be exhibited.
There Is. by the way, one detestable
habit some artists have that must be
stopped-that is. when piece OF art
work mat has been rejected is shown by
some poor unfortunate who is blind TO
It's shortcomings, rather than admit the
hap lose this beginners friendship. they
sympathize with him and, if they do not
cay IL. lead him TO believe that II they
lss only been on the committee the pic
fsre would have gone through all right.
Tg;s habit, prompted generally by selfish
Interests, cannot be too severely con-
cssssed. for IL IL their plain duty TO
sssfa6 IN the fury and hanging committee.
TIE Jury haze the right to expect this
1sssity :fob the man or woman whose
SssF tas been hung on the line because
~ ia sesI merit, Df coDfbe, IL the pic
ssfe = ROO, they are right in defending
= s,Ss ~ fe.s,it1 contribution rarely Is.
.sf5es Eese S Esfs job 81 II nj beat and
Sesssss ftse ssg,Sfi ~ every garment
,ssySky, S,le sfess weary ~ saying that
tesiiy s,.,ss ss1F Is ssssf tfissteg. The
syyy 1sslf f-sf s.,fa ~ fsjsst ~, Their
srl-.fs s,sypsse * ~ see Bs8 eoSg show
sAey e4f 81 NJ, MI hep many bsg things
sNey e&E ~ together,
Ftae yye44ss essisftfSs IL 4 ssissdn Sue
cssS a t3-4 ssSssey "A selection sas PAR
4sSli3sJy ssssessf< ~ ne ssEsihs, Every