Evening star., 1901-03-02

ly appreciated by them.
While the arrangements for this exhibl-
ticn are being pressed with energy and alb
sorbing much attention the Society OF
Washington Fakirs is by no means idle.
week or so ago little card bearing the
title of this organization appeared in the
appropriate space on a letter box In the
Art Students League building. Their exhi-
bition will probably take place the third
week of that Of the society's, about April
Is, as has been the custom for the two past
years, at which time these clever people
will with pen, pencil and brush carica-
ture the pictures by their brother paint
ers there exhibited, as we'll as the artists
themselves in the bargain. All in spirit
of good-natured funmaking however, which
in almost all cases is as mucn enjoyed by
the victims as by any one else. OF course,
nothing can be done toward the exhibition
until the annual opens, but the first part
of the catalogue Is given over to literary
witticisms and can be prepared beforehand,
and it is upon this work the fakirs are now
vastly occupied.
X X
A remarkable collection Of Photographic
portraits by Mr.. G. C. Cox of New York
was exhibited at the Cosmos Club from Feb
ruary % to %. 1t consisted of go photo
graphs, many Of which were Of dstin-
guished authors, artists. actors and states
men. 1t carried with it a much deeper in
terest, however, than that derived from its
mere subject matter, for it demonstrated
the helplessness Of the camera unless oper-
ated by an artist, by exhibiting the height
to which photography can be carried as an
art.
This exhibition has been followed at the
Cosmos Club by one of water color flower
paintings by Mrs. Rowan, which opened
yesterday, and is of both scientific and ar
tistic interest. Mrs Rowan has given her
entire time for the past years to this work.
She has visited the most remote places in
Australia, the South Sea Islands, the West
Indies and the United States, travelling at
times with an ambulance and tenting out
fit into the heart of the wlds in order to
obtain specimens Of the wild flowers native
to these countries. This and their botan-
ical exactitude make them Of the greatest
value scientifically, aside from their ar
| tistic merit which is great, and much en-
| thusiastic praise was heard last fall Of the
hundred or so that were then exhibited at
| the Smithsonian Institution. Her entire
| collection numbers over 1,OOo paintings,
| for which she has received numberless
| medals and of which Sir Francis Leigh
| ton has said: mo more superb collection
| of flower paintings was ever done IN Inc
| history of art" These pictures Will be on
exhibition until the Sth, when a COLLECTION
| of rare Japanese paintings Will take their
| place.
| Mr.. Gilbert Munger will hold an exhibit
| ton of paintings at the Veerhoff gallery
shortly Mr.. Munger has been abroad for
a number Of years. during which time he
| has received several decorations from for
| eign powers He was formerly resident
| of this city, where his work is well known.
*
The Vedder collection lately exhibited at
V. G. Fishers may be seen now and until
the 9th in the hemicycle of the Corcoran
| Gallery where it makes an admlra bic
showing. Mr.. Vedder's work is in itself SO
| large, both in conception and execution
| that it can only be seen to advantage IN
sizeable exhibition hall.
| X X
| At the Congressional Library the collec-
ton of portrait engravings Of Washington
has been attracting much attention. 1t is
indeed both curious and interesting. Many
of them are frontispieces to rare old vol
umes, printed away back in the early part
of the nineteenth century, and are in them
selves treasures Of quaintness and an.
tiquity. 1t is interesting to note the ex.
treme diversity Of opinion as to the great
mans appearance, or skill with which his
likeness was portrayed. Some of the por'
| traits are so libelous that seekers aftel
fame should hesitate and ponder the cost
if at least we are to believe Stuart, Peale
or even the silhouette drawn by Samue
Povee mayor of Philadelphia, from the
shadow cast by one of the first argan6
| lamps invented A number of Autographs
by Currier of Philadelphia of Mt. Vernon
about the year 1852, are also shown, anG
are of very unique interest.
X
| A lecture on Michael Angelo, his life ant
works, will be given at the Corcoran Gal
lery by the Rev. Frank NJ. Bristol, DID.
on the evening of March 8. This will b.
the second in the course given under tn
auspices of the sculpture class Of the Cor
| ccran school. The next will be on Pari
by Mr.. G. H. Totten, the architect, an,
| will be fully illustrated by lantern slides
These lectures are intended specially TO
the students Of the school, but are free t
all who may be interested in art. 1t is
delightfully."- progressive step, and one wac
must needs prove most helpful to the stu
dents and meet with the hearty co-opera
ton Of the artists and their friends.
| X y
An interesting illustrated lecture on Al
bert Durer was given in the Washington
Club ON Wednesday evening by Miss Elle
| F. Longfellow.
4 X
Mr. Carl F. Smith has Just finished hi
| portrait Of Mrs. F. T. Sander. 1t is paint
| ed with great strength and skill, and is Il
J every way to be considered most success
| full. He has also been doing some inter
esting out-of-door pictures, of which on
| o. sheep returning home at evening Is spe
| cially attractive, with its soft twilight shad
ows and glowing western sky.
| X X
| Mr.. e. F. Andrews Is painting a portal
| Of Washington, which he will present whel
| 1t Is completed to the historic old cour
house of Fairfax county, Va. to become
| part OF the collection which Mr.. Waite
| Moore Is endeavoring to get together O
the men of the county who have beel
| prominent in the history of the Unite,
States, and where among other relics o
interest may be seen Washington's origt
nal will 1t was entered for probate.
I
Miss Anna Sands has finished the larg
portrait study upon which she has latel!
| been working. It is fine, strong painting
full of delightful color and individuality
one that will not only attract attention