Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-21
ART NOTES

Through competition held recently in
Chicago, Mr.. Rudolph Evans of this city
has been awarded the commission for the
memorial to the late J. Sterling Morton,
which is to be erected in Nebraska City, in
commemoration Of the founder of Arbor
day.
Mr. Evans design is a pleasant deviation
from the commonplace portrait statues
which are to be found on every side as me-
MORALS of public men. He has taken the
section Of available ground and laid it out
in low, terraced platforms Of brick and
stone on which he has placed a statue of
Mr.. Morton as the central object and, at
well proportional distances, carved stone
seats and conventional ported shrubs In
front of the pedestal upon which the bronze
figure Of the late Secretary stands Is a
graceful wood sprite upholding a young
sapling ready for planting, while on the
rear of the pedestal is inscribed the his
tory Of Arbor day. For the convenience of
those who would read, semi-circular seat
Is placed at a convenient distance, and. as a
part in the whole device. the back of this
bench Is made to bear two pictorial, bronze
bas-reliefs and appropriate inscriptions re-
ferring to Arbor day fand its founder The
sculptor has not forgotten to honor the
man. but he has done SO by presenting his
work rather than his personality. The en-
tire scheme Is unit, each part being re-
lated to the whole and all leading up to the
central figure. -
The appropriation for the work is small
only Sl5,000-and here again Mr.. Evans de-
sign found strong argument in its favor,
for while apparently elaborate and ex-
tremely ornamental and effective, the COM
bination OF brick and stone put it easily
within the limit. ~
If successfully carried out this monu-
ment should be not only an acquisition to
Nebraska City and an honor to the man in
whose memory it is erected but should at
the same time reflect great credit upon the
young sculptor and his native city Mr.
Evans Is at present at work upon a model
for the Mckinley memorial which Is to be
erected In Philadelphia and for which a
competition is shortly to be held. In this
last work ne Is associated with Mr.. George
VA os1IitiisT'st g sSIb.fT, sd1 Ga sess
T. hne ocas* ~ ese5.Ez - s1,T;
The painting of a mother and child by
Israels. the last to arrixe Of the five lately
acquired by the trustees sof the Corcoran
Gallery for the permanent Collection, was
placed on exhibition in the gallery this
week. It@has been hung next. to Corot's
"WoodfGatherers." and will take its place
henceforth among the best of the collec-
tton.. There is homely simplicity about 1t
Which@fs Characteristic of the Dutch school,
but the catholicity of it's sentiment and
freedom from mannerism lifts it above the
II Is both charming picture and mas
teriy painting. and may be considered q
most valuable acquisition. ~
little band of Corcoran School students
went over to Philadelphia yesterday with
Mr.. Moser to see the Pennsylvania Acad-
emy's seventy-second annual exhibition.
Taking O'Clock train in the morning and
returning late in the afternoon, they were
enapled 10 spend long, delightful day
studying the many excellent works which
the catalogue of this exhibition includes.
. X
This IS dull time In the, studios. The
Society of Washington Artists exhibition
marks the high tide of the year, though by
no means the close of the season. All the
artists who contributed either to this or the
large out-of-town exhibitions have as yet
not gotten new canvases under way. and
the usual whirl attending the closing
weeks of the social season has caught
others in its tolls. On two mornings of each
week, however, number OF the artists will
be found husily at work in Mr.. Morse's
studio, where they are banded together into
an informal class for the benefit Of mutual
criticism. The models they use are gener-
ally simply gowned and posed. the purpose
being rather study than picture making,
but they are always SO arranged that they
present both an Interesting and thoroughly
engaging problem
X x
Mr.. E. L. Morse himself is Interpreting
such one at present. 1t Is the portrait
study Of a young woman with comedy fea-
lures. whose face is seen in heavy shadow
against dark atmospheric. background
A soft nondescript drapery covers her Shout
ders. and few golden jonquils are brought
into intimate relation with the single high
light which falls on her white neck. 1t Is
scarcely more than laid fn-Yery sketchy
and merely suggestive. but charming In
tone and intensely artistic In, feeling. pos
sc ssing the mystery of a. half-toId tale and
the suotlets of a D9e,ss| fancy.
Mr.. Edward, Kenssys shas recently COM
pleted another smailbronse for the Chicago
syndicate group. IsshoWs mountain lion
in the act of seizing one OF two deer that
are lying on. a rough bit OF ground. The
great beast has sprung Npon his prey from
above, and passing overath one deer has.
while his body is stiif high In air. planted
his forepaws on the Others shoulders and
MS teeth In its throat Hhere Is an express
sion of mute agonyi Ia Ahe attitude of the
one deer and OF aIaazezlient and fright in
that OF the other forest tragedy not in
frequently enacted. 1T Isl well balanced and
excellent in outline The construction Of
the animals portrays psrfect knowledge Of
geration. The ACTON As admirably e1-
pressed. yet the dramatic element Is by no
means overstrained
AzH
Mr.. Kemeys has made another small mod
Ell Of late which Is In "a measure suggestive
of the same spirit A peacock training his
gorgeous plumage is seen peering inquisi-
lively at caracal Ca species of wild cap,
which is languidly feigning. sleep while in
reality awaiting the right moment to spring
upon Its unsuspicious prey. This entire
group is not more than eight or ten inches
in length. yet 1t Isl perfect in detail and
beautiful in line. There is something very
attractive In the passivity of the cat and
In the sweeping grace of the foolish fowl.
while the two as group are remarkable for
the unity Of their composition. All Of these