Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-06
ART NOTES.

An interesting exhibition Of color etch-
ings by Mr.. Louis Potter Of New York
was held recently in Miss Ferries studio In
the Art League building.
About fifty prints and four or five water
colors constituted the collection, almost all
of which were figure studies made in for
etgn lands. Color etching is in itself anovel-
ty. 1t Is, to put 1t very crudely, a cross
between g. monotype and a Autograph. with
an etched foundation. and less accidental
than the one, more artistic than the other.
The first step toward the production of a
color etching is similar to that Of an ordi-
nary etching. The subject is drawn in out
line on the plate and bitten in by acid.
after which resinous powder forming
varnish is spread over the plate, which can
be removed at will for the etching Of broad
surfaces and the rendering Of values. This
done, the plate is ready to be colored and
the etching ready for printing. Some etch-
erS depend entirely upon the color for the
rendering of values and give each print
three or four impressions-using the sew
eral colors after the manner of lithograph-
ers 1t fs the former method, however,
which Mr. Potter employs. and by it he OBJ
tains most excellent results. His outlines
are clear cut, and his colors transparent
and good. There are both the freshness Of
water color and the subtlety Of etching in
his prints In fact, so closely does he fol-
low in them the manner of the water color
list that when the two are placed side by
side 1t is not easy at distance to dfstin-
guish between them.
The majority of these etchings were made
from water colors. painted by Mr.. Potter
in Tunis and the Netherlands but COM
paratively short time ago. Four or five had
already been shown, and were highly COM
mended, in the recent exhibition of the Wash
ington Water Color Club and the rest were
inferior OF Spepia1 int
eral Impressions Of single plate demon
strating the complete change made by the
alteration of colors and the individual
value of each print. Throughout the entire
collection a certain nicely of drawing and
harmony of color were noticeable, and each
betrayed in its execution an acutely artistic
perception which is both charming and rare.
In the adjoining studio, which Mr.. Potter
is at present occupying several portrait
busts and photographs Of sculpture and dec
orations which he has executed were ex-
hibited. Among the former was one of
Prof. Gates which is strong and admirably
modelled, though still scarcely completed;
and among the latter were reproductions Of
the three pieces which represented the
sculptor in the Paris exposition of 1900 and
the monument of "St. Anne and the Vir-
GIN which is now being erected in st.
Agnes cemetery in Albany.
In the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club
trative work of some of the scientific bu-
reaus of Washington was exhibited last
week. 1t included the work done for the
geological survey, the bureau of ethnology,
the fish commission. the United States Ma
tional Museum and the Department of
Agriculture, and was of very great general
interest, though it was arranged at this
time on account of the meetings of the
American Association for the Advancement
of Science. many of which were held in the
Cosmos Club building.
There was little work done in the studios
this week. The pictures for the New York
and Philadelphia academy exhibitions are
in, and few of those for the local show
begun. 1t is an in-between time, when
there is a spirit of restessness abroad dis
organizing workaday habits, a season. as
is were, of refreshment and recreation.
Quite number of the artists who are
working or studying out of town were home
for the holidays, among whom were Miss
Clara Hill, the sculptor; Miss Una Clarke,
and Mr.. Everett Warner.
Miss Hill has been making a number of
small bronzes this season, such as ink
stands. cand!esticks, vase holders, ETC., a
collection of which was recently publicly
exhibited in New York.
X X
Miss Una Clarke is teaching this winter in
two schools in Boston, besides which she
has designed rugs and illustrated an i'm
portant botanical work.
Mr.. Warner has given an account of him
self in his paintings recently exhibited in
the Water Color Clubs annual. At present
he is making preparations to start for Eu-
rope, in few weeks, for a period Of travel
and study. With Mr.. Warmers already ex-
cellent foundation this should be an ines
Unable benefit, as there is now little dan
ger of his losing his individuality, and he
is sufficiently advanced to assmilate the
best. The actual result as seen in his later
work will be awaited with pleasurable an
ticipations.
An exhibition Of water colors by Mr..
Walter Paris began yesterday in the hemi-
cycle Of the Corcoran Gallery and will con-
tinue till January TO- Some Of the many pic
lures shown will be recognized as old friends.
but the majority are the result Of his last
summers work in Sussex and Hampshire,
England. In subject and composition there
will be great diversity, as they range from
cathedrals and old country mansions to
the humble matched cottage Of the la
borer; from the great ocean to an unro-
mantle though picturesque duck pond, and
from a furious blizzard to a calm. gentle
sunset. Indeed, almost every phase Of ma
ture and style Of landscape will be found
pictured in the exhibition. There is in
Washington. or, for that matter, perhaps
in the United States, no artist whose work
is more entirely individual,-no one who
paints In just the same manner as Mr..
Paris. He is realist of the realists,-such
as in the beginning the Pre-Raphaelite
brothers purposed to be. He retells, he does
not interpret nature. He sees on paper the
way the camera sees on the ground glass
Of it's finder. OF his work the painter him.
self has said: "It is not detailed from any
sense Of truth and knowledge Of nature.
It Is as broad as I see It in nature, which
should be impressionistic if she likes, but
not the artist If nature gives me a sub
ject in that particular mood, I render it
accordingly, but I never presume that
know more than nature, or can afford to
take any liberties with her. She is my
master, and I am her humble servant and
student"
Mr. Paris paints pictures, not studies;
each Is a complete composition Technical
ly his paintings are marvellous creations,
and historically they are most valuable.