Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
ART NOTES

The RaffaeIli paint-sticks which few
weeks ago were placed on sale in this city
at the various dealers, have found their
way into several Of the studios. and are
the plaything Of the hour. From time to
time, since the Van Eycks invented the
present method of mixing colors with oil,
numerous mediums have been exploited,
which, according to the inventors, were des-
tined to revolutionize the art of painting,
but in reality were doomed to the fate of
all fads-sudden popularity and an early
death.
The last Of these is the paint-sticks in
vented by the eminent French painter
whose name they bear, the permanence Of
which Is still to be proved. They are a
cross between pastels and oil colors being
in the form Of the first, and of the consist
ency Of the second. Each color is applied
directly to the canvas. and no brush is re-
quired. though one moistened with turpen-
tine can be used for blending, II desired.
These colors may, in fact, be treated quite
the same as oils, and used In conjunction
with the old tube paints In result they seem
to offer no advantage over the DID, estab-
lished medium, but in convenience to the
artist, dispensing with palette and brushes
and other technical prosaic Details, they
possess a strong attraction. Abroad this
new form of medium has created consider.
tirely of paintings made with the Raffaelli
sticks being shown in Paris, Berlin, Dussel-
dorf. Vienna and other large cities. In Paris
the exhibition was visited by 10000 persons,
and fourteen lecture rooms have been orened,
in which instruction in the new method Is
given. Arrangements were made to send
this exhibition to Washington and other
prominent American cities. hut the project
was abandoned on account OF the heavy
customs duties.
OF the Washington artists Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Coleman Child are probably the first
to pass beyond mere experiment with the
oil crayons. each having finished single
canvas in this new and peculiarly interest
Ing medium Mr.. ChlHs painting is an
autumnal landscape. and possesses the at
tributes of a work in oil colors, whereas
Mrs. Childs Is a portrait study Of young
girl. and in manner OF execution closely re-
sembles pastel. The landscape pictures a
richly colored foreground. with clump Of
thick tall, bushy trees to the right, beyond
which Mt. Chocorua looms up against fair
sky 1t Is an uncommonly attractive compo-
sition. and Is rendered with q pleasant snap
mellow, and withal very harmonious. The
portrait study is in a higher key. The back
ground Is opalescent; the woman is
blonde. and wears simple gown OF Dres-
den figured brocade. In her hand she holds
a green iridescent SHE'LL and on her head Is
a wreath OF yellow dafrodils. A certain
amount of brush work Is visible In 1t, but
for the most part the color has been laid
on in clear strokes, similar to pastels It
Is strong and interesting. and demonstrates
well the possibilities OF the medium.
The first Of series of seven illustrated
lectures on Japan and Japanese Art was
given by Prof. Ernest r. Fenoliosa last
evening at the Washington Club. Prof.
Fenollosa is an American by birth. but he
has spent the greater part OF his life In
Japan. to which country he went at the
age Of eighteen. directly after graduating
from Harvard. For ten years he held the
position Of director Of all the ma arts nu-