Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-01


ness about these pictures, a lack of atmos-
phere, a hardness as well as sharpness of
outline that was deplorable. But they pos
sessed very many redeeming qualities. of
which great technical skill was not the
least This was displayed in a remarkable
degree by w. w. Dovener in number H. in
which a bottle, some glasses and a gener-
Gus slice of cake on polished mahogany
table were represented with bewlderlng
realism. Several of the other still-life COM
positions were excellent, and one little head
Of child by Mrs. Willis was quite worthy
of note. Miss Lewars, Miss MCGOWAN, Miss
McMullin, Miss Hanson and Miss Colosimo
all showed several fine canvases, evincing
faithful work and hard study. 1t is indeed
in every way desirable that the instruction
in the several schools should be thus dis
similar and that In this day of extreme and
advanced methods, when the tendency is
toward overlooking detail and minimizing
the value of technique such teaching can
be obtained and like work produced, help
ing, as 1t were, to keep the balance true.
A strikingly fine portrait of General Arson
Mills by Mr.. Hinckley has lately been
placed on exhibition at Veerhof's.
Mr.. Harold Macdonald has just finished
an admirable portrait of Professor New
comb, the eminent astronomer. 1t is
strong painting. excellent in color and mod
ner. Both as a portrait and a painting it
should take high rank. Mr.. Macdonald Is
now finishing one Of Mr.. Curry, the trustee
of the Peabody and other funds, which is
likewise strong and broadly handled
X
An out-of-door sketch class for school
children will be conducted by Miss Louise
Hull of the Art Students League during
the month of June. Short trips to the pic
turesque outskirts Of the city will be made
three afternoons week, and the work Is to
be done altogether in black and white.
The Washington School of Design will
hold it's closing exhibition in the Metzerott
building from June to inclusive.
A seriously misleading statement con-
corning Detaille's famous painting, entitled
1.-The Passing Regiment which has long
been one of the attractions of the Corcoran
Gallery in this city. appeared in the New
York Journal of last Sunday. The article
referred to, which was accompanied by
half-tone representation of the picture, ap-
peared in the form of a letter from Paris,
embodying what purported to be state
ment by the artist, wherein it is made to
appear that the painting in question was
stolen from the villa of his mother, near
Paris, where, 1t is said it was almost an
object of generation by her." and before
which she used to kneel in an attitude of
prayer"
The missing picture must have been the
original sketch or study for the large can
vas, which did so much to give the artist
his worldwide reputation. This picture has
been the property of the Corcoran Gallery
for more than twenty-five years, and in its
unbroken possession all the time, except
when loaned, at the request of M. De-
taille, for exhibition in the Exposition Uni
verselle,' held in Paris in 1878. 1t was first
exhibited in the Salon in 1875 and subse-
quenly in Brussels, and was acquired by
the gallery in the same year.
The esteem in which this painting is held
by the artist will be best understood from
his letter requesting the loan of it for the
purpose above Indicated, addressed to the
trustees Of the Gallery, of which the fol-
lowing is a translation:
129 Boulevard Malesherbes.
Paris, % July, 1871
Gentlemen: I have charged Mr.. Lucas
your correspondent at Paris, to ask If you
will kindly respond to my wish to exhibit
in the Exposition Cniverselie or 1913, at
Paris the picture by me which you ToS-
sess in the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and
LIE Regiment qui Passe
am very DESTROYS Of having that picture, |
which consider one Of the most important |
and successful of my works. The subject |
itself, moreover. is of kind that is gener |
ally attractive, and count much upon this |
canvas the capital thing (or GROWING |
one) in my exhibition. / wish to combine |
some pictures for 1873 but l regard most |
the Regiment qui Passe.
II hope gentlemen, that you will appre- |
ciate the motives that induce me to make |
i, nl T.
ton Universelle will give a new consecra- |
ton to this picture, loaned by the city Of |
and which l esteem above all |
others I have made. 1t is understood that
all charges for transportation and insur
ance will be at my expense. 1 hope gentle
men, that you will favorably receive my re-
quest, and that, after having been so hon
ored by the city Of Washington, [ would
also have to thank 1t for the new honor it
would confer upon me, by the loan OF the
same picture
''While waiting for your reply. I beg to
convey to you, gentlemen, the expression of
my distinguished sentiments.
5signed) "EDOUARD DETAILLE"
The annual exhibition Of the work Of the
,upils of the Corcoran School OF Art opened
IN Thursday evening with a large private
yiew and reception at the gallery, at which
line the award Of medals and honors was
For fifteen years gold and
,ronze medal has been given annually to
he best two groups of six drawings made
" students in the school, three Of which
must be from life and three from casts.
This wear there were nineteen competitors,
lot one of whom could be counted out of
he race All the work shown was strong,
earnest and sincere, and evinced both faith
Jul study and excellent teaching. Many of
he cast drawings were exceedingly real
site, and the studies from life were strong