Evening star., 1902-02-22
ART NOTES.

Ine cosmos Club has again Hospitality
housed notable exhibition of paintings.
Its assembly hall, in which for several sea-
sons the Society Of Washington Artists
held Its ANNALS, was given over the last
three days Of this week to the retrospective
exhibition Of the Art Students League Of
this city. All Of the work shown was by
artists who were at one time reckoned
members or students Of the league, and
was contributed testimonials of the value
Of the school as an educational institution.
1t was a practical demonstration of cause
and effect the purpose being to exalt the
school through the painters. To say, as it
were, this Is what the league has done
and can do for individuals, for Washing
ton. shall it then be obliged to close merely
from lack Of financial backing?" Its cat
alOgue contained concise statement OF
facts and an appeal for aid, signed by
members Of It's executive committee, but
the exhibition itself was the most forceful
and convincing argument in it's favor. In
it some twenty Of our prominent local ar
lists were represented, as well as ten or a
dozen out-of-town painters who have won
for themselves distinction in the various
branches of art. The portraits WERE per-
haps, the strongest section Of the display.
Spencer Nichols portrait Of Mrs. N"
which won the third Corcoran prize at the
last exhibition of the Society of Washing
ton Artists, was given the central position
on the south wall. next which was hung
Miss Juliet Thompsons forceful portrait Of
her brother. Miss Thompson also contrib
uted her portrait of Miss Poor which she
but lately finished, and which was prob
ably the newest picture in the entire col
lection. Between the execution Of these
two about q year has elapsed, a part Of
yrb time the artist has bpen Stn0ytnP
in the French and English schools 1t is
not odd, therefore, that slight difference
in style is noticeable. AS study of head
little or no fault can be found with the lat
ter, for it is clever in handling, full Of dash
and individuality, but a picture, a por-
trait, it is unsatisfactory, and less pleasing
than the earlier one.
Hobart Nichols splendid portrait of him
self offsets this to the right, and made with
1t strong and interesting contrast. Mrs
Nichols showed an attractive study Of
child and Miss Mueden sent picturesque
portrait, and her pastel Of "Juanita," which
attracted by its rich harmony of tone and
sincere artistic qualities much favorable
comment when exhibited at the Washing
ton Water Color Clubs last annual. Miss
Anna Sands and Mrs. Marie Mattingly-
Payne were also both we'll represented.
From out Of town came two portraits by
Mr.. Waltman, one large canvas poorly
patterned after the old English school. the
other tiny one, representing an elderly
gentleman, which was notably fine. Some
thing In the same finished manner was
small head Of little girl by Mrs. Mary
Sigsbee Karr, and quite at variance with
1t was the large and striking canvas by
Mrs. Antoinette Drew. This pictured a
young mother seated upon a piazza, with
one child in her lap and another leaning
playfully against her. In color 1t was a
trif1e impressionistic. or suggestive OF the
French school; in drawing 1t was little
uncertain, but 1t was full Of sunshine. and
possessed to a great degree that subtle
quality known as charm.
For it's marked individuality and abun-
dant promise no work was more note
worthy than that Of the organizer and first
president of the league, the late John Bur-
nett. Five or six OF his paintings were
contributed by his friends and colleagues
and all demonstrated his immense facility
oils, in which Jar filed with pink bios
SONS was the chief point of interest; an
other was a portrait Of Moor: two or
three were landscape sketches in water
Of all was perhaps the little pastel loaned
by Mr. Messer, which pictured one Of the
old bridges over the Georgetown canal.
Mr.. Lorenzo ]. Hatch the second presi-
dent who, It will be remembered, re-
signed his position of portrait engraver at
the bureau Of engraving several years ago,
was no less we'll represented by a group
Of excellent landscape studies in water
color and semi-decorative panel, entitled
1.-THE Herald Of the Morning"
A view of F street between 18th and 14th
streets on a rainy day was sent by Everett
Warner, and quite generally pronounced
one of the most notable Of the exhibits.
while here and there among the other
paintings several other examples Of his
work might easily have been distinguished
by their peculiarly attractive artistic quail
ties. Mr.. Weller sent two Of his best water
colors, and Miss Perrie contributed goodly
number Of her most successful pictures. !
among which was q portrait of Mr.. Nc
Pherson, one Of the leagues first and
stanchest friends
Miss Lesley Jackson's genre studies of
Alaskan Indians were welcomed again with
pleasure. and her strong picturesque land
scapes which had not been previously ex-
hibited, evoked unusual praise.
Mrs. Delaney Gill and Mrs. Hasbrough
both contributed clever illustrative work in
wash and pen-andInk. and George Gibbs
illustrations. made for and loaned by the
Saturday Evening Post. were a notable
feature Of the exhibition. Mills Thompson,
the art editor Of the same publication, was
represented by number OF colorful
studies for stained glass and mural deco
rations. Miss Una A. Clarke sent fine
tree study. ana an elaborate design In pea
cock colOrs for a punch bowl.
As the design class Of the league is COM