The Washington times., 1902-12-07

III INTEREST in the exhibition or the
Washington Water Color Club has
Il been stimulated by the purchase OF
two Of the pictures by the trustees
Of the Corcoran Caller" OF Art This
recognition of the value of the present
exhibition is no small matter Of i'm
portance TO the club membership or to
the out-of-town exhibitors. as it seems
to establish a precedent that good work
will be appreciated by the Corcoran CAL
lery. where high standards have always
been rigidly maintained. when the pur-
chase Of a picture is involved. The pic
lures purchased are "A Rainy Day.
Broadway" by Everett L. Warner. and
High Up in the Blue Ridge" by W. Il.
Holmes
AS an example OF the lavish expendi-
ture Of money for ar decorations we
may note the fact that the tapestries
which are TO be used H. the dining room
OF the mansion now building for Charles
NJ schwab, on Riverside Drive. New
York. will cost approximately $50 600. The
tapestries will be wover after the fash
ion Of the period Of Louis XIV and fully
two years will be occupied in compIet-
ing them.
Paul Helleu. the Partisan portrait
painter. is contemplating visit to this
country early in January. He will ac-
company John 5. Sargent. who is return
ing to the United States to accept some
important commissions for portraits,
among which are portraits OF President
Roosevelt and J. Pierpont Morgan
PatIOnizing Auction Rooms.
The days OF the court painter seem
TO have passed away. and in their place
we find royalty through its agents fire.
Guenting auction rooms in search OF pic
lures painted by subjects Of the king
dom. This is illustrated by the presence
OF Count Cassini in a New York auction
house few days since to execute a
commission from the Car to purchase
a series OF paintings illustrative OF Ma
poleon's disastrous invasion OF Russia
in 1872. This series was purchased for
100000 and will be shipped at once to
Russia for hanging in the Imperial AIu-
scum at ST Petersburg.
The painter Of this series OF pictures.
Vsssili Verestchagin. will perhaps be
more widely known in America by his
painting Of President Roosevelt lead
Ing the charge of the Rough Riders up
San Juan Hill The artist has had
varied career. At the age OF seventeen
he entered the Russian navy Later we
find him in Paris as a student OF Ger
ONE In 1867 he passed through the
Turcoman campaign. with Kaufman. In
1874 he was travelling in India, and in
1877 he campaigned in the Russo-Tur-
kish war. From these experiences in the
scenes OF real war Verestchagin has had
wonderful opportunities for sketching
military operations Those who saw his
work twenty years ago say that his
drawing was masterful and that 10 look
through his sketches was a rich treat for
the painters and students. As whole,
the visit Of verestchagin to this country
has been an enjoyable holiday. as his
sales at the auction referred to amount
al % ,.o-. tL.. effe mn - I'LL.
amount $4,000 is represented as the
price paid for the San Juan battle. It is
gratifying to know that some artists live
10 see their work sold at fair prices
Verestchagia is but sixty, and may have
quite a period OF activity before him.
Meissonier lived to see his seventy -nrst
year and died comparatively poor. al
though his pictures we're sold for
extraordinary prices. his 1907. now in
the Metropolitan Museum. having been
originally purchased by A T. Stewart
for $50 900. Meissonier had lived as
prince for years. but his controversy
with Mrs. Mackay about the portrait
which she has never exhibited involved
the loss Of friends and the loss OF pat
Fonage.
The expression which is often made
that artists are not appreciated until
after their death is convenient ex-
preston. but not by any means remark
able for its truth. Il is not a fixed rule
and therefore cannot be established By
the customary exception. II all depends
upon the artist and somewhat upon the
age in which the artist lives. II anyone
still believes that appreciation in the
art world only comes after death. let
them read the favorable notices in the
metropolitan papers Of the pastel exhibit
tion which closed December at Knoed-
ler's galleries, composed Of the portrait
work OF Miss Juliet Thompson, formerly
OF this city. and who mas only recently
taken a studio in New York. The en-