The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-06

| lHe Nestry OF the MatnewSOn Streel
Methodist church was filled with a repre-
| sentative audience, members OF the Rhode
Island Womans club and their friends
yesterday afternoon. who gathered there
| to listen to a lecture on art by DR.. II. II
Powers. OF Boston. a celebrated art critic
and lecturer and formerly professor
in Cornell university.
The lecture was given under the aus
pices OF the Rhode Island Womans club
and since II was an "open meeting, "
many club women from other clubs OF
the city and state were present with here
and there member of the sterner sex.
The lecture was more directly under the
auspices Of the art department OF the club
of which Mrs. Samuel N Dick Is chair
man. and 1t was largely through her eff
forts that DR.. Powers was secured.
The subject of the lecture was 'Vene-
tian Painters OF the Renaissance" a pc
riod which was characterized by the lee
turer as the most important and the
most glorious In all art"
After announcements by Mrs William
w. Flint. Mrs. Dick and Mrs. Carl Barus.
heads OF the music art and civic de-
partments, respectively, the speaker was
introduced by Mrs. Charles b. Rockwell,
the second vice president OF the club,
In the absence Of Mrs George T. Baker.
the president and Mrs. Eugene Kingman,
the vice president.
DR.. Powers introduced his lecture by
reference to the largeness Of his sub
tect and by saying that he should not at
tempt TO treat 1t representatively. He
then took up his subject from those
''primitives In Venetian art" as he styled
them. Carlo Crivilli and vivarini-and.
In Inc fran fhA iafn nf
tian art from these early beginnings down
to those great names In the history OF the
art OF the Renaissance. John Bellini, Gior-
gione. Palma, Titan, Veronese, Tintoretti
and Moretto.
The lecture was illustrated step by step
by beautiful stereopticon pictures show
ing examples OF the work of the masters
Of this period
Until the venetians," the speaker said,
mo artists had attained the mastery OF
the magic OF color In art"
AS illustrating this the speaker first
dwelt at length. upon Giorgione. whom,
he said. was the forerunner OF the great
est thing In Venetian art-landscape, a
feature which the early painters ignored"
lie showed an appreciation OF nature
that has never been equaled and an ap-
probation Of the humane hgure never ex-
celled. Nowhere are Giorgione's figures
commonplace, although he sometimes
o.
there is always a touch OF subtitle mys-
ticism to redeem them. The lecturer
showed n number OF examples OF Geor-
gione's lanscape scenes. and pointed out
In each certain characteristics which
showed his strength and his weakness.
Continuing. the lecturer dwelt upon the
portraits OF this great artist and said that
their number was Very great.
A few OF the best. however. served TO
illustrate his wonderful power in this
branch Of his art.
Turning TO another great name In vene-
tian art-Bellini and characterizing him
as "one of the sweetest and gentlest OF
painters" the speaker described the por-
trait OF the "Doge," his masterpiece n
fine ilustrat ton OF the same being thrown
upon the screen. Several Of Bellinrs
Madonnas were also explained and IL
lustfated. after which another great
painter. Titan. was most interestingly
dwelt upon. several OF his Madonnas and
portraits being shown.
These included tho Madonna Of the
Cherries" portait or Barbara" Mag
dalen." Sacred and Profane Love-" The
Presentation OF the Virgin in the Temple"
and others.
Leaving Titian-whom. the speaker
said lived until ne was 30 years old and
partially blind. and yet continued 10 paint
the work Of Tintoretti. describing his IA
nous picture The Marriage of Gamma In
Galilee." study IN sidelights and also
several OF his portraits
The lecture closed with succession OF