Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17

Toned somewhat after the manner Of hil
portrait Of Col. Wood, which was shown
recently in the Washington Water Color
| Clubs exhibition. but Is a more finished
ana thoughtful work. It is strongly put to-
gether and well constructed; the color IL
laad on almost clear, and the treatment Il
rather remarkable achievement and gives
further testimony to the almost IimitIess
possibilities Of the medium in which 1t is
painted.
+
Miss Anna Sands has just finished a small
portrait in pastels Of a lady. and is now at
work upon a larger portrait-study OF a
young girl with a mandolin. The former
shows merely the head Of dark-haired,
dark-eyed woman wearing a simple. low
necked green gown. with a Persian shawl
over her shoulders, against a plain gray
background; whereas the other Is q three
quarter length, rich in pictorial qualities.
such as tapestry background, brocade gown
and sHken draperies Miss Sands always
excels In her color schemes, putting to-
gether various colors with so much har-
mony that they are keen delight to all
those with seeing eyes, but there Is more
over subtle charm in her work which
cannot be defined In general terms, but Is
thoroughly distinctive and notable.
II
Miss Aline Soiomons is painting an inter-
esting still-life study in oils. A small cop
per vessel Of graceful form is seen on q
polished mahogany table, beside a green
majolica pitcher, containing a loose bunch
OF bride roses. A dull beaten copper BASIN
stands upright against the wall and forms
with nondescript green drapery an effec-
tive background. The objects themselves
are beautiful, and their arrangement Is do.
lightfully artistic, yet it is through the
painters skillful Interpretation that the
chief interest and beauty of the compost
tion become evident.
X
A group Of thirty-two water colors by
Mr. Henry B. Smell, president Of the New
York Water Color Club, was placed on ex-
hibition in the assembly hall of the Cosmos
Club on Thursday morning. and will con-
tinue to be on view from 10 am. to pm.
daily until the 21st inclusive.
Mr.. Smell was the assistant director Of
fine arts at the last Paris exposition, at
which time he received the decoration of
Officer de academic ct de PInstruction
Publique,' and his paintings have won
for him the gold medal of the Philadelphia
Art Club. the first prize at the Tennessee
centennial exposition, silver medal at the
Buffalo exposition and honorable mention
at the Paris exposition. His style Is dis
tinctive, and his mode OF expression origi-
nal In his management Of water colors he
gives them the quality of oil, yet preserves
the simplicity and individuality of the other
medium His drawings are not sketches
or studies, but finished pictures, though
close inspection in some cases reveals ap-
parently but a simple, broad, wash and
few well-directed lines. They are inter-
pretations, rather than reproductions, CIV
ing permanence to fleeing effect or to
the subtlety Of a passing moment. They
are not such scenes as a painter can set
up his easel before, and with well trained
eye and hand transfer to paper or canvas
but rather those for the Transmission Of
which he must depend almost solely upon
memory. His Lighthouse by Moonlight"
Peace and War" "Nightfall'' and THE
Passing Sail" numbers 1, 10, and 10, are
all illustrative Of this feature and are as
convincingly true as the study Of COM
monplace apples, which hangs on the oppo-
site wall. But Mr.. Smell is pre-eminent as
a painter Of sunlight. He knows better, It
would seem, than others, how, without i'm
pressionistic color. to reproduce the warm
glow of the setting sun. In number H.
Her Majesty's Ship Renown," each object
appears to be fairly bathed in the soft light
and to reflect back the dazzling rays in
Sunset on Long Island sound,' the sky
Is brilliant from light rather than color.
There Is nothing violent, or striking, or
even insistent in these pictures No bold
strokes or startling effects which bid for
notice upon a glance. Rather are they
gentle, modest and sincere, reserving their
best qualities for those who know them
best and longest.
X
The Pennsylvania Academy, in which
quite a number of Washington artists are
represented this year, opens with a recep-
ton this evening. and will continue until
the 18th of February.
X
X
The sales Of the Warren and Marouand
collections in New York this month are
events Of more than usual Importance. The
former collection. brought together by the
late Mrs. Warren Of Boston, was placed on
exhibition in the American Galleries, on
23d street. on the Sd and sold at public auc-
ton on the evenings of the Sth and 9th.
The total amount realized by the two