Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29

The seventh annual exhibition of the
Washington Water Color Club opens to-
night, with reception and private view, in
the hemicycle of the COrcoran Gallery OF
Art, and for two weeks it will be free to
the public from 10 am. to pm. on week
days and from 1 to pm on Sundays.
In many respects this will be found to be
a notable exhibition. comparing favorably
with those held in the larger cities. and by
the club during past seasons. Indeed, it is
doubtful If in the larger and better known
ANIMALS there will be found so many good
works. and so few bad ones. The standard
IS high and well sustained; the paintings
are serious. thoughtful and interesting. 1t
IS not a sketch clubs show-attractive s
such can be-but rather that of the work
Of men and women of ability and expert
euce who have. as the French say, ar
rived" though some still style themselves
students and are classed among amateurs.
Taken collectively the exhibition is not
striking or impressive, but upon examna-
ton 1t will be found to be composed Of
those kinds of pictures which are most
worth while. which constantly improve
upon acquaintance. Not mere technical
achievcm,n ts. freakish spurts of originality
or even faithful studies. but rather intelli-
gible Interpretations so skilfuly rendered
that the workmanship Is entirely sUbordi-
mated by the result. 1t is not a little local
show. asking the interest and patronage
OF those possessed of civic pride, but one,
needing no apology or excuse, which, in
stand firmly on its merit and attract wide
attention among those who recognized and
appreciated good paintings without refer
ence TO signatures.
The Prize Winners.
There were three prizes awarded this
year for in addition to the two given an
nUally by the Corcoran Gallery to the best
two pictures shown. Mr.. A J. Parsons Of
fered a prize of $50 to the best landscape
painted in water colors by a Washington
artist. The jury of awards was composed
Of Mr.. E. c. Messer. Mr.. r. N. Brooke, Mr..
Howard Helmick, Mr.. Harold Macdonald
and Mr.. V. c. Fischer none of whom are
members of the club and than whom there
are no more capable judges. This jury met
at noon Wednesday and after deliberate
and careful inspection announced the
awards as follows: The first Corcoran
prize OF 800 to Broadway-Rainy Even
ing" by Everett Warner; second Corcoran
prize of so to Cupid in Repose." by Alice
Archer Sewan James; Parson's prize of $50
to Mountains OF the Nevada Desert" by
William H. Holmes.
Mr.. Warner now halls from New York
but up TO the last few years was counted
among the local painters. He studied at
the Art League here and in New York and
Is sttll no great distance from his student
days. That he possesses unusual ability
none who have watched the progress and
development OF his work can doubt and
that he has a brilliant future before him
is an easy matter to prophesy. He is one
OF the few who see beyond the surface
who have something to say and know how
TO say 1t The prize picture is but one of
notable group. any one of which merited
the honor, and its right to the distinction is
so patent that layman and artist alike will
appreciate the reasonableness of the award.
IL Inn -
prize. Is also a nonresident Washingtonian
AS Miss Sewan she was prominent In all
the local artistic activities, and her place
has never been quite filled. She shows two
Semi-decoratiye panels OF chubby appeal
Ing little cupids, done sketchily In pasteIs
on gray paper; the one, with wide-awake
merry conntenance. sitting upon the
ground; the other, standing In an attitude
OF repose, with his left arm behind him
and his right, upon which he rests his
mead, thrown lightly over a branch OF q
Tree; The latter is the prize winner, and
II Will be found to be beautifully rhythmicaI
In line and richly harmonious In color Not
o reality. but an artists dream.
MI William II. Holmes is the president
OF the club, and. though then hors concur,
was declared the winner of the first Cor
coran prize two years ago. He has re-
Gently been appointed director of the bureau
or American ethnology, and is more widely
known as a scientist than as a painter.
keeping the latter work as recreation for
his leisure hours. Mr.. Holmes has, how
ever given his art careful study and had
splendid training in the making of scientific
drawings. He is brilliant technician, and
shows in all his paintings complete mastery
or material The prize picture, compare
lively speaking. is simple composition and
derives It's interest from it's fascinating play
OF opalescent colors and it's Importance
from its maryelously skillful handling
Upon entering the heTnicycle there is this
year no picture which directly claims at
tention but halfway round the semi circu-
lar wall, in what, through custom has be-
come regarded as the position Of honor will
be found a water color by Mr. Henry B.
Smell OF New York, which for its many and
unusual merits is pre-eminent. Mr. Smell
is the president of the New York Water
Color Club, and did distinguished work in
connection with Mr.. Coffin In getting to-
sether and arranging the Pan-American art
exhibit This picture Shows homely red
lighthouse set on a rugged. treacherous
coast, and derives its chief interest from
the glowing afternoon sunlight which has
turned the southern sky into gold and bril-
hanuy iilumines the upper portion OF the
single structure. Light and air are the
TWO most difficult problems which confront