The times., 1901-03-28
WORK OF BRUSH AND CHISEL.
Annual Exhibit of the Society of
Washington Artists.

washington Arf1htA-
In it's eleventh annual exhibition, which
opened last night at the Hemicycle of the
Corcoran Art Gallery, the Society OF
Washington Artists set a mark ana a
standard for itself. The society has made
a step since it's last exhibition that is no.
ticeable not only to artists, but to simple
picture lovers. The quality of work ex-
hibited is far better than that at previous
exhibitions given by the society, ana
there has been an advance also In the
number of pictures hung.
Altogether the exhibition is pleasing and
satisfying. The hanging committee has
done its work well. and even in the great
crowd that packed the exhibition room
last night it was possible to get some
idea of the exceilencies of the pictures
and of the exhibit as a whole.
The paintings by artists outside the
city are more numerous this year than
heretofore. and though they form in
certain way the high lights of the eX-
hibit, they by no means overshadow the
really meritorious work by Washington
artists of which there is an abundance.
There are shown eighty-nine pictures
and six pieces of sculpture. OF these
about fourth are by artists from other
cities. representing probably the best
names. If not the best examples OF the
best names. in American art of today
New York is wen represented by Carroll
Beckwith. Bruce Crane, Chilled Hasstm.
Birge Harrison, Albert Herter, and j. NJ
Gleeson. Boston is ably represented by
Laura Hills. whose miniatures are IN
many respects the most interesting part
of the whole collection George Gibbs.
now of Philadelphia. and who is still
iad r.yit q
and Parker Manu. now of New York. but
also formerly of Washington, both send
meritorious canvases.
The immense crowd made 1t difficult for
anything like fair judgment of the pict-
ures hung to be made last night, yet pub
lie opinion seemed to fall In line with the
award of prizes as made by the commit
tee. By all odds the most interesting, the
most artistic, and the most intellectual
picture on the line was that of Irving r.
Wiles, to which the first prize was award
ed 1t shows two figures. a man and
woman, in modern dress. seated close to-
gether on a diyan. They are in profile,
and lean against each other. The lines
of the limbs and the draperies fail gently
and quietly, and give to the whole an
effect of intense repose, which is carried
out in the serene countenances The
picture is painted for everything that
there is of sentiment in the quiet COM
panionship of two. just past middle life.
The feeling is of something inward. some
thing undisclosed and transcendental
The picture is pitched in low key and
the coioring Is gently subdued.
Quite in another vein Is the picture
which carried off third honors. by Spen-
Ger Baird Nichols. 1t is portrait of out
sides. of the appearance of things. done in
blacks and deep blues. but enlivened. al
pies on the breast of the black -garbed
woman who sits with bent head, in pro-
file. 1t is ably done, but the inevitable
comparison with the remarkable WileS
picture naturally SubdueS its excellencies
For miniatures that are in their way as
fine as Mr.. Wiles portrait. Miss Laura
Hills, of Boston, gets second prize Such
work as Miss Hills shows has rarely
ever been seen here, and in any part of
the world it would be difficult to find a
miniature reaching further into the
realms of great art than the Fire Opal,
which took the prize.
Miss Hills paints her miniatures with a
finenesS and yet a breadth that an artist
in life-siZe oils might envy. She has done
things in coloring that miniaturists have
never yet done. Witness her Cold Fish
most bewitching little study of brilliant
orange.
The Parsons prize goes to Richard n
Brooke, for small canvas sketch broad
ly done with delightfully."- few strokes
showing cool evening in the shadow of
hay stacks, with misty and hilly dis
tance stretching away.
OF the other Washington landseapists
Max Weyl. Clare Messer and j. FL Mos
er vie for recognition as holding first
place. Weyl shows a chara cteristic can
vas of the riverside near Anacostia which
has sentiment. atmosphere, and feeling
OF DISTANCE Messer's Hillside Road,
Maine, is full OF freshness and feeling for
nature. Great trees grow beside the shad-
owed road which leads the eye most
alluringly over hill into distance that
is bright and cheerful. Mosers Near
Pittsfield is a fine study on a large can
"A ct iI,E
clearing off III the distance.
The exhibition Will continue until April
i3 and VIII be open to the public without
charge from a. m. TO D. m. and from
TO 10 in the evening SUNDAYS il win be
open from / To 4 O'clock in the afternoon
In connection with the Society of Wash
ingtOn Artists. in the main nart of the
gallery, the Washington Architectural
Club is giving its annual exhibit, consist
ing Of many interesting plans and draw
ingS.