Evening star., 1902-02-15

even the beauty OF these engravingS by
Albert Durer. the pioneer. the ''evangelist."
OF German art, will be evinced and their
grotesqueness and oddity forgotten. Before
Durer 1t will be remembered, there were
some four or five engravers OF merit, but
it was he who first made wood cuts Of ar
tistic value and importance. He is some
times accredited with having done this SER
vice for etching but Durer was not an
etcher, that is. painter -etcher. though
there are in this collection a few examples
OF his dry point plates. There are also in
the exhibition four prints made from en-
cravings on iron, practice which pre-
ceded the use OF copper.
Among the wood cuts Is series illus
trating the Apocalypse OF ST. John. which
ha made In 1923, and were about the
first he issued. There is also that famous
series picturing the dramatic scenes Of the
Gospels called the Greater and Lesser Pas
sion, besides one taken from legends and
traditions setting forth the life OF the Vir-
gin
The triumphal procession of Maximilian
and the famous portrait OF the emperor
himself are to be found In this section, be-
sides many others Of note including an
amusing picture Of rhinoceros which we
are told was taken from India to Lisbon
in 1915, creating grave wonder. An inter-
esting series OF reproductions OF many OF
these wood cuts engraved on copper by
Raimondi are placed side by side with the
originals and among the Durer engravings
may be seen a couple or copies made In
like manner by j. Wierex when but lad
of twelve or thirteen. One Of these Is of
that most famous picture of st. Jerome In
his study or 1.-The Penance of st. Jerome,
Of which good impression is said to have
fet tched $500 some few years ago. "Melan-
choly." 1.-The knight and Death" and 1.-THE
Madonna Of the Dragonfiy" are no less i'm
portant or interesting. They are all com
plicated impossible compositions, wildly
imaginative, deeply Symboi1cal and perplex-
or ri u q in
craftsmanship and execution. All of his
work is thoroughly German. His saints and
martyrs are clearly of that nationality, the
castles and landscapes with which he
adorned sacred scenes are those or the
north country. An odd exception to this
may be noted however. In Descent Into
Egypt" into which, amid grove Of native
trees, he has anonymously introduced
single palm. But this Is not strange. There
was no rapid transit then, travelling was a
grave and perilous undertaking, and there
were comparatively few who saw as much
of the world as did Durer. A little engraving
called "The Meeting, OF the Men at Arms
Ia supposed by some to picture an adven-
ture with which he met on one OF his jour
neys and to contain his portrait. BE tnat
as 1t may, there are In the collection va
riet, of authentic portraits OF this man OF
many talents. One Is an engraving by forS-
ter, after the well-knoWn portrait panied
by himself, others are by Pressler, Hollar
and Kilian and, most interesting, though
least fattering Of all. Is a wood cut repre-
senting him at the age OF f1fty-slx. which
he himself made. beneath which are cut
some explanatory verses in doggerel rhyme.
More kind was he in his treatment OF otn-
ers, for Of the entire collection none Is
more Interesting or artistic than his por-
trait Of his lifelong friend Wtllibald Plrk-
hemer or those Of Erasmus and Meianch-
thon The decorative quality seems to be
strongly evident In all his work. the
gentler sweeter sentiment lacking. Art In
his hands was powerful language, out
not q beautiful one. 49,
10 this exhibit will be annexed within
the next few weeks, one of etchings by
Rembrandt and engravings by the Illus
trious men Of the fifteenth ana sixteenth
centuries. such for instance as Schongauer'
Cranach. GlockendOn, Leyden. Aitdorler.
Hoffer and Brosamer, also taken from the
Garrett Bradley and Hubbard collections.
A number OF etchingsI by D. Y. Cameron.
Scotch painter OF the present day. "hlcn
are the property Of Mr.. A. j. Parsons, have
been supplemented to the collection OF Ha.
denis and Whistlers. which was reviewed
in this column last week. Half Of these
are Venetian, the other half Scotch. Both
are chiefly architectural, and show how
attractive such work can be made beyond
technicalities. The interior Of San Mar
CO." with it's rose window directly facing
the observer, is full OF the mysterious
beauty OF the place and his view OF the
Rialto. Of q palace doorway. OF Deppe
at the same time poetic. "Alca, scenes
on the Tay" and The Border Town are
as simple as these are complex. YET snow
the same mastery OF material and Keen
realization Of artistic effects.
u
A portrait OF the little son and daugh-
ter Of Mr.. George Roberts, the controller
Of the mint by Miss Annie Weaver Jones,
was exhibited informally last week at a
tea given by Mrs. Roberts to the artist
together with quite q collection or her
other attractive work. Miss Jones IS q
Chicago painter, and her pictures snow
careful study and sincere artistic feel1ng.
The portrait OF the children, which she
has just finished. Is large canvas, show
ing them both In a Morris chair. the girl
on the seat and the boy balancing on the
right arm In an easy, natural attitude. II
Is well handled and atmospheric. The col
oring Is good. the modelling strong ana the
likenesses are said to be admirable. MISS
Jones seems, indeed, to possess speclal
facility for the portrayal Of children, as In
this and other examples Of her work shown
she had successfully caught their spirit
Of childish mirthful vitality. Among the
collection were several water colors, one
full-length portrait OF young woman,
another genre study. called "Enbroider-
ing," which were worthy OF more than
brief mention. for one seldom sees that
medium handled more cleverly. They were
done In clear. transparent washes, ana
We're fresh and forceful. yet at the same
time dainty and picturesque.
EaGN sfi9E
~ sfrt9:3-
Mrs Robert Coleman Child is working
upon an interesting, portrait study OF
young woman. She Is q blonde, and wears
mantle Of sage-green velvet over gown
of rich hrocade, in which mellow corn
color Is the predominating tone. Her pose
is odd. but natural, for she is seated half
Sideways In commodiOus and ornamental
old carved chair, with her hands clasped
upon Its left arm. The background Is dark
ana rich, and the color scheme altogether
most attractive. !. n
k~1 q:
N1k 70
Mr.. William Fuller Curtis has lately fin
ished small decorative panel In burnt
wood. representing the little st. Agnes and
two of her maiden devotees-she who was
an abbess at fifteen, and famed for her
deeds of penance and self renunciation. In
childish frailty Of body. Mr. Curtis has por-
trayed her. but he has made her face ex-
pressive of martyr-like purpose and sanity
innocence A simple drapery falls from her