Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-06
A RT NOTES.

A most interesting exhibition has been
held at the Cosmos Club this week of draw
ings and paintings of birds and animals by
Mr.. c. r. Knight, Mr.. ]. NJ. Gleason, Mr.
L. A. Fuertes, Mr. Walter K Stone and Mr.
Charles Bull. The work of each was hung
in a separate group, and could thus be
viewed collectively, as well as individually,
which considerably added to the interest of
the whole, they were very distinctive
and characteristic, and though almost all
were done from the scientists standpoint
none lacked in true artistic merit,
The collection of Mr.. Knights work con-
sisted of pictorial water coIors, photograph
ic reproductions from monotint compost
lions and a group of pencil drawings. The
last were most attractive, being done as
studies, several a sheet, some very
sketchy, others quite finished and all ex-
pressve of great scientific knowledge and
maSterful skill. Among them was a lion
spring1ng toward it's prey which was no
tably well drawn and fearfully natural.
Mr.. Gleesons work was more illustrative
and less serious and scientific. His animals
lacked the grace and apparent agility
ticeable in Mr.. Knights but perhaps were
none the less true. They We're likewise
done in various mediums, but those in black
and Chinese white were possibly the most
charming. Several of these were exceeding
imaginative and intended for reproduction
His decorative panel done in colors> on dark
green paper was one of the most attractive
of all the exhibits. 1t represented Now
gli' on the Council Rock, holding in his
upraised hand the hide of 'shere Khan
and was mastery in its simplicity and dra-
matte action. Both Mr. Gleeson and Mr..
Knight are going abroad this summer in
the interest of the Century Company.
The seventy-three paintings of birds by
Mr. Fuertes which were shown were made
originally as illustrations for the new edi-
ton which is being gotten out of Coues'
Key to North American Birds and were
all very beautiful in color and eXtraordi-
narily natural and lifelike.
Mr.. Stone and Mr.. Bull showed four
drawings made Jointly for Outing which
We're most interesting. 1t is seldom that
two artists work is seen to combine so
well and pleasantly. u
ton, and one greatly enjoyed by those who
We're fortunate enough to see it.
HI
At thet Congressional Library two rare
and interesting collections. from among
those placed in the art department for safe
keeping have lately been put on exhibition.
One is the George Lothrop Bradley collec-
ton of Turner engravings; the other the
Thomas F. Richardson collection of cut
tlngS from illuminated volumes. The ma
Jority of the mezzo tints are from plates
etched by Turner himself and engraved by
such Well-knoWn men as LIE keux, Lupton,
Archer, Cooke and Pye, though a few are
drawn, by the ilustrious painter. Many
are from original plates; number bear the
private mark of the famous sale Of '73, and
others are fac SMILES from copies owned
by Mr.. Ruskn and Eliot Norton. With but
few exceptions they date back to the time
known as the first period of Turner's ca
reer before his works showed the influence
of foreign travel, and thus quite naturally
are of English landscapes.
The Richardson collection is of even mere
unique interest, being composed of pages
taken from Illuminated graduals, clinals
and sacred writings Of the twelfth, thir-
tenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries
from Italy, France, Germany and the
Netherlands. Many of these show versal
colored, inside of which are curious minia-
lures of sacred scenes. In some cases the
entire text is surrounded by an illuminated
border in addition to the letter, among the
examples of which may be seen page
from copy of st. Pauls Epistle to the
Romans, made in north Italy during the
twelfth century, and a leaf from the Greek
sacred writing of the thirteenth century.
There are also specimens of early copper
plate prints. which are vellum, and
were colored by hand. The choral books
with their oddly written music, illuminated
versal letters and queer text, are very in
teresting, though the art of illumination
had passed it's height at the time when the
most of those shown were made. 1t Is a
collection possessing very great historical
as well as artistic interest.
An attractive reading room for artists
and others interested in art matters has
lately been fitted up in connection with the
art department of the Congressional Lii