Evening star., 1901-02-09
ART NOTES S.

dainty pink paper shades, shedding a soft,
warm glow over the harmonious surround
| ings The wall paper is soft gray-green,
and the furnishings so simple and tasteful
as to be almost unnotfceable. The whole
possessed a thoroughly artistic atmosphere.
A small but most interesting collection of
| designs was posted inconspicuously. on the
walls, and three large portfolios containing
| some specimens Of the work Of the class
were placed invitingly within reach. Among
| the first We're charming grape vine design
| for stained glass window, by Miss Stanley
| and two very attractive book covers by
| Miss Summer These last were for Hearn s
'Chita." and were both artistic and
| thoughtful. They have been sold, and will
shortly be put in use. The binding is to be
plain dark blue leather, on which the SIM
| pie though expressive designs will be
| traced. There is no more interesting phase
of designing than this, for the artist must
grasp the essential points of the story, as
well as the purpose of the writer, If she
would make it's cover appropriate as well
as inviting.
The leather work done by this class with
in the past few weeks is quite new de-
parture, for not only have they embossed
their own designs, but also colored them.
This they have done with the powdered
paints and treated with coat of varnish-
an altogether original method. One exam
pie of this was shown-a tulip raised as
high as an ordinary bas-relef, and brightly
tinted in its natural hues.
A few of Miss Humphreys striking WALL
paper designs were to be seen, the same
W hich attracted so much hearty commenda-
ton when exhibited some weeks ago at the
league. Among the others were designs
for tiles, oilcloths and drapery silks, many
of them very excellent and notable for
their originality and harmonious color
schemes. Miss Hendershott's and Miss
Hadley's should be specially mentioned in
| !,
be constantly surrounded by those things
which are beautiful, and in which the har-
monious combination ofslline and color
reaches toward the ideal even in the So
called commonplace" isgthe real meaning
of the blending of the arts and crafts, and
the work of these classes; one more far
reaching if not moreAi Aimportant among the
masses than the more highly esteemed pic
torial art. Ic
The evening class in design was begun at
the league on February /. 1t Is still quite
small, but very enthusiastic. and will meet
for work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri
Gays, pursuing the same course as the day
class. .l III
ksx e
The collection of works by Elihu Vedder
which is now On exhibition at the Fischer
galleries is of very unusual order. Mr..
Vedder is chiefly metaphorical and dec
orative painter, personfying in his pictures
many Of the subtle abstract things of life
and painting them with the force and
directness of the sculptor. There is some of
the uncanny mystery of India about them,
as we'll as a bit of the old storytelling
methods OF Egypt. He has been prominent
as an artist for many years, and some Of
the canvases in this exhibition date back
nearly a quarter of a century. The mosaic
Of Minerva in the Congressional Library
and his striking heads of Samson and
Lazarus are perhaps the most widely known
examples Of his work. In the present col
lection may be seen a powerful painting of
a Cumaen Sibyl, which is as strong and
forceful as though done with chisel and
mallet. The Enemy Sowing Tares' is a
remarkable canvas, and one of the most
interesting. 1t is full of action and very
expressive of the powers of darkness"
The Keeper of the Threshold' is purely
mystical composition, typifying many of
the deep things of life, and quite unintel-
lgible without the explanatory catalogue
note. 'The Soul Between Doubt and Faith
is of this order. In Love Ever Present"
his power as a draughtsman is shown, and
more poetical feeling. Young Marsyac"
sesses more charm and less solemnity. THE
Old Well, Bordighera,' THE Sphinx" and
still life study are all in a varied style
and very admirable. The colored reproduce
tions are exceedingly interesting. The
Heart Of the Rose" and the Morning
Glory" show Mr.. Vedder's fondness for per-
sonifying nature, and the one called 'Iden-
tity," taken from Aldrichs poem, again gives
evidence OF his interest in the things un-
seen. A beautiful drawing in brown and
gold Is exhibited, which was made original
ly as study for decorative panel in Bow
doin College. Some colored bas-reliefs
among the somewhat unique work, doubt
less well done, though far less pleasing than
their unlimited fac SMILES. One little bronze
of "Sebilla Cunae" is shown and is so
small as to be readily overlooked though
well deserving attention. In all, it is a most
comprehensive exhibition. demonstrating
plainly the artists versatility.
Il
Mr Fischer has lately received from Lon
don and hung this week in his gallery the
painting of the "Martyrdom of St. Sebas-
tian," by Ribera, which re purchased some
time ago. 1t is large canvas, about ten
by seven feet, and must be more than go
years old. In 1887, when pictures brought
small prices according to the present-day
standard, this painting was sold for $4,000.
The subject itself is rather repulsive. the
corpse being fearfulfy naturalistic; the min
istering women. however. somewhat relieve
this solemnity Of death - and remove the
first impression ofss gruesomeness This
picture must be essentially considered as a
painting done with iamarvelous skill and
knowledge. rather than The Interpretation
OF noble or poetical conception. The won
derful anatomical correctness in the model
ing OF the figure of the man, the directness
with which the maiden's~face is painted,
the old woman whose figure loses Its out
line in the background, as well as the
sradation of shadoVaon the two cherubs.
are wonderful demoas sffations of the master
painter. Ribera hiHself it will be remem-
bered. was Spania4A living from 1888 to
where he was called aaspagnoletto." He
was member OF tha NczRolitan school OF
naturalists led by -CaraSAggio, who for
the continuous useJGf bfHck shadows" got
the name Of the esDarklings." Salvatore
tosa and Giordano were his fellow-students.
and VelasQuez Is said to have learned much
from him. The younger woman in this pic
ture 10 supposed to have been painted from
his daughter. who served as his model so
many times until she eloped with Don Juan
OF Austria. The majority of his principal
works are in Madrid though some are in
the Louvre. the Dresden Museum and at
Naples. It Is rare occasion when paint
ing of such unusual value Is allowed to