Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21
A RI N OF E s.

The event this week of prime Importance
was loan exhibition of paintings helu at
the Cosmos Club in connection with the
celebration of the clubs twenty-hfth ami
versary Originally 1t was arranged merely
as a feature of the general celebration on
Monday evening, but Its Importance anu
value were at that time so sincerely appre-
ciated that the members generously re-
solved to open it from ten to four on the
following day to their friends. Local artlsts
and collectors gave to 1t of their besL anu
of its kind no more notable exhibition has
ever been held in Washington. Considering
the size Of the collection, it was remarka-
hle for its catholicity. representing many
schools, many styles, and the work of sew
eral centuries, and great credit for its selec-
ton and arrangement is due the art com
mittee, of which Mr.. H. Hobart Nichols Is
the Chairman.
On the longest section of the Assembly
Halls south wall was hung group of mas
ter paintings, such as our best galleries
possess but few. the assembling of which.
alone, would have constitutes an important
event. In the center was placed lo'ey
tween the years 1915 and 1861 and was
known as one of Rembrandts followers; to
49, right of this was hung remarkable
portrait Of Dutch woman by Barthoio-
NEW van der HelSt, and to the lett an
equally notable portrait of an Engl1shman
by Romney. Next to the sturdy Dutch Wo-
man came an exquisite portrait Oh the
Countess of Clermont, by Sir Joshua Key
nolds and beside Romney's courtly gentle
man was placed the picture of little lad
painted by Hoppner Thanking this pha-
lanx of portraits were two landscapes, a
superb Constable and characteristic Max
Weyl In placing MIR. Weyls canvas in
this notable group the hanging committee
paid the painter the highest possible com
pliment but the fact that the painting not
only held is own, but was found in harmony
with its great companions proved the cor
rectness of the committees judgment and
the sterling worth of the work. So rarely
beautiful and instructive was each OIL the
seven canyaSes constituting this group that
it was difficult to turn from them, and
one was inclined not only to linger, but 10
return. There was, however, much other
material which, while less notable, was
more than worthy of attention and admira-
ton Directly opposite on the north wall
was hung Lendach S skech of Prince BIS
lmarck, which was recently brought TO TINS
country by MIR. G. G. Glover, and but lately
exhibited in the loan collection at the Cor
coran Gallery; nearby was characteristic
portrait OF a child by Carolus Duran; and
beyond, in the connecting ROOM were Ben
jamin Constants portrait of Mrs. Hender-
son and Mrs. BarneyS recent portrait OF
Miss Foulke The last is a large pastel
and is as brilliant piece of work as Is
often accomplished in that medium. In 1t
MISS Foulke is seen in duplicate, as 1t were,
for she is seated upon an ancient carved
settle before mirror, which reflects her
countenance with hooking realism. Old
gold is the key note of the color scheme
and the whole is low toned and harmonious.
There is certain characteristic HghtneSS
of touch evident in the technique, but gen.
orally Il is more serious and studied than
usual
In sharp contrast technically to this por-
trait was genre painting by Zurbusch OF
Munich, picturing recluse in his study.
With the spirit of the pre-Raphaelite
brothers the painter had reproduced each
detail with unerring veracity. The bricks,
the books, the furniture, and even the
raven perchng upon the back of the old
mans chair, were copied with the utmost
care and fidelity. The last word had been
spoken. and nothing was left to the OBJ
servers imagination Call this photogra-
ply, initial ton or craft II you will, but still
it must be admitted that wonderful skill
and tremendous study alone could accom-
piiSh such result
Mr. Howard Helmick Of this city was
represented by a little genre study in water
colors, which was somewhat in this line,
though more subtle, more gentle and genial
The landscapes were, strange to say, IN
| the minority. There was little canvas by
Crome, a tiny forest interior by DiaZ, and
| an excellent though small Wyant, besides
| the Constable. among the most distin-
guished. From local studios were a noun.
| tain top among the clouds by Mr.. James
Henry MoSer, an autumn wood interior by
| Mr.. II. H. Nichols, a broad view of pasture
| land by Mr.. R. L. Johnston and Mr.. Max
WeyrS contributions were of chief i'm
portance. The Sphinx. by Henry Bacon
| an English artist; a colossal Buddhist Idol
| by Joseph Iindon Smith, the instructor OF
| drawing and water colOrs in the depart
| ment of architecture of Harvard Univer-
sity; a panther by Charles Livingstone
| Bull and three large birds by Arthur War
| die might have been numbered among the
| oddities of the show, though each DOS
sessed distinct artistic merit, and would
have been found worthy had they been
| measured by the unit of the best That the
| exhibition could not have been open longer
| and enjoyed by larger number of persons
| Is to be sincerely regretted, but that it was
| got together at all is a subject for con-
| graduation and an event of some signifi-
| canoe.
| * *
| At Veerhoffs an exhibition of paintings
| by Mr. II. Hobart Nichols was opened yes
| terday. which will undoubtedly prove OF
general interest Mr.. Nichols work has for
several years found its way into the fore
most exhibitions, and in more than one in
stance carried off prize, but never before
has SO good an opportunity been given to
| study it collectively. About thirty pictures
| IN oils and water colors, constitute the ex-
hibit. A few of these have been seen before
in the local exhibitions. but the majority
are this years work. and several have been
painted within the past six weeks All are
outdoor views and quite a number were
done in the near neighborhood Of this city
1t is seldom that painter is seen to handle
| water colorS and oils with equal facility
but there is technically little to choose be-
tween Mr.. Nichols paintings in these two
mediums. In them. indeed, medium Is pleas
antly forgotten, and no technical claptrap
| bids for the public attention. They are Sim
pie, they are sincere and they are true But
] they are moro than all this-they are pic
i Lurea ilterQrat1uG the beautiful In nature