New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
INTERESTING STUDIOS.
HOMES OF THE WOMEN WHO WON
PRIZES AT THE PRESENT ACAD-
ENVY EXHIBITION

Miss Mary Theresa Hart who has won the Nor
W. Dodge prize of $500 at the present Academy
exhibition, and ber sister, Letitia B. Hart. who
ceved it in 1895 have interesting studio in
this city. 1t is full of the atmosphere that sug-
gests years of growth. The room is the top
floor of old fashioned house, and is old fash
ioned in all its appointments tall carved screen
serving to conceal the stove that alone supplies
heat. The wall is covered with a paper of an old
fashioned design toned down to a gracious mono
tone of brown by the smoke of innumerabIe fires
and lamps, for gas is be numbered among
the comforts of this unmodern room.
One enters by pushing aside A drapery that forms
tiny vestibule within the door, and the first thing
is a curtain opposite high the wall. 1t is
a thing of beauty in itself, and added pict
uresqueness is gained from vase of tall hydrangea
branches each side reaching almost TO the cell
ing. These stand a shelf that around the
greater part of the at about twO-thirds the
height. and holds odd bits of pottery and brass.
Everything in the room is old-the desk the small
tables, the carved chairs the quaint fOotstool
Most of the pictures hung extremely low only
two three being above the two-thrds line.
Many studies stand unframed the floor with
bits of drapery behind beside them cunningy
arranged to bring out the color. An open door has
the drapery drawn aside to allow free communi-
cation with the adjoining studio, which belongs to
the father of the artists. James VI. Hart
The Misses Hart have painted almost from in
fancy. Miss Mary T. Hart studied at the National
Academy School. and In 1888 took the first prize in
painting. Her sister began exhibiting at age
when the average schoolgirl has hardly dismissed
her dolls and she still keeps the painting shown AT
the Academy in 1885 "It was probably the mere
good nature of the jury that admitted it she said
frankly. Il suppose they thought 1t would be
pity 10 have the child work hard only to be re-
fused" The picture is called The Cares of a
Family" and represents a little girl surrounded by
her dolls and giving medicine with
preston of the most anxious maternal solicitude.
Miss Clara McChesney who took the second Hall
garten prize OF 800. has delightful studio, COM
prsing reception room that is full Of queer and
cosey corners and the studio proper.
The latter is more less n workshop in appear
ancc as it's owner thinks that she works better
without much decoration yet 1t is an extremely
attractive with its framed and unframed
picturcs. numerous studies, few fine pieces of
furniture and by no means least its great Persian
cat. brought from Paris
The reception room is study in interior decora-
tion. The walls of soft, satiny buff make an
effective background for the rich coloring of the
pictures, which copies of masterpieces made In
European galleries. Miss McChesney believes in the
necessity for the constant study of the best in art
and thinks that the presence such copies ones
studio is an inspiration.
one corner is arranged with divans draped with
golden brown VcourS and with cushions. The
wall above is covered with Oriental stufs above
which is a plate rack holding some fine specimens
of pottery. A superb Chinese robe OF embroidered
blue crepe forms the novel piano cover. and the
tea table and Chaiing dish suggest Cosey hours. In
the quaint little recess the other side hand
soney carved plate racks filled with rare
briC-A-brac picked up in Europe and elsewhere.
California girls who have won success in various
lines in New-York. We have 20 come East" she