Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-20

we1l conceived, but, It would seem, poorly
carried out The figures are comparatively
well constructed, but they ara nat and life
less. The Illusion of sunlight ION the path
has been well rendered. but beyond that
point it conveys no meaning, and the mass
of white used for the gowns shows poorly
related values. AS a whole the picture has
contain good points. 1t Is broadly handled,
vigorous and forceful, but these, its chief
merits, are of an academic order and
rather studied than spontaneous. It is i'm
pressive, and must attract attention on ac-
count of its size and colorIs but for this
reason its shortcomings are the more pat
ent and unforgivable.
The Pouget painting is az landscape, in
which the interest centers In a dark mass
of trees placed almost In 1.-The middle of
the canvas. Pink fiowery fields, low, roll
ing and almost rugged, occupy the FORE
ground and stretch out to an infinite dis
lance to both the right and LETT The sky
is gray, the grass is gray, and the whole
composition is expressive of solitude and
vastness. 1t has been painted with a
broad dry brush with considerable strength
and no little cleverness. 1t Is odd and in
teresting, but it Is far from inspiring, and
one is inclined to surmise that it. was
painted with little emotion.
On Monday, February ~, an exhibition
of paintings by Mr.. Lucien Powell OF this
The collection exhibited will consist of
about thirty canvases.. the majority of
which have been painted within the past
two years. Mr.. Powell is a Virginian by
birth and pupil of Thomas Moran. For
several years he occupied a studio in the
tower Of Henderson Castle, and some of
his most notable works are to be seen on
the walls OF Colonel Henderson's Washing
ton and Bar Harbor residences. He Is pri-
marily a colorist, and herein lies the spe-
cial charm of his Venetian pictures and
his paintings of the Grand Canyon. His
pictures of Venice have often been termed
"Turneresque.'' and his western paintings
declared reminiscent of his master, but in
reality they will be found to be strongly
individual and plainly stamped with the
painters own personality. 1t is over two
years since Mr. Powell has shown a col
lection of his work in this city, and much
interest is felt in the approaching exhibit
ton.
Mr. Felix Mahony and his cousin, Mr..
John OShea, have recently finished some
interesting Illuminating. The first board of
trustees of the new public library are go
ing to present to Mr.. Andrew Carnegie as
a memorial volume containing the reso-
lutions of the board and the District Com
missioners, together with the speech made
by the President on January Z, 1903, when
the gift of the library building was form
ally accepted. This book from title page to
fms was designed and executed by Mr..
Mahony and Mr.. O'Shea. The printing
was all done by hand in a clear-cut, orna-
mental English type, and each of the TWEEN
ty pages is begun with an illuminated ini-
tial letter These letters are set in rectan-
giles of a uniform size, but each is different
In design and color. Little or no gold has
been used for this Illuminating, and in
every instance low-toned colors have been
employed. The designs are dainty. but
strong and simple, and have been well
adapted for the purpose. On the title page
Mr.. Carnegie's monogram has been placed
as the central factor in q largo design, in
which are intertwined the embleIns of Scot
land and America, and at the last of the
volume the names of the fl1uminators and
engrossers are to be found neatly inscribed.
AS a work of this kind it is exceedingly
artistic and clever. II iiif
Miss Mathilde Mueden has Just finished
the portrait of Robert Morris which she
was commissioned to paint for the Treas
ury Department The original portrait,
which is by Rembrandt Peale, hangs in IN
dependence Hall, in Philadelphia, so that
to make the copy and at the same time con-
tinue the direction of her classes in the
Corcoran School, Miss Mueden was obliged
to make five flying trips to the city of
brotherly love. That she has succeeded in
her work even better than any one else who
has attempted to copy this portrait the SUI
perintendent of the hall has testified in
letter, voluntarily written to the treasury
officials, who have also found it eminently
satisfactory. Robert Morris. who in the
early days of our independence acted as
the nations banker was, according to
Peale, round-faced corpulent gentleman,
addicted to the wearing of sky-blue cloth
ing. In the painting which Miss Mueden
has copied he is seen seated in a dark red
chair by curtained window, beyond
which miniature dolis-house representa-
ton of Independence Hall is conspicuously
in view 1t Is not one of the best examples of
Peale's painting, but it is interesting and
meritorious, and in her reproduction NJ SIS
Mueden has preserved to great extent the
feeling of the original 1t is purposed to
treasury's exhibit, but at the conclusion of
Me fair it will be permanently hung in the
Treasury Department here.
y x
Anders Zorn, the well-known Scandina-
Wan painter and etcher, was in Washing
ton this week painting a portrait of the
Hon. Robert r. Hit of Illinois. Mr.. Zorn
came to this country some weeks ago, but
has spent most of his time in New York
ana
x *
NJ Chartran, another foreign celebrity,
was in Baltimore at the time of the great
fire and is said to have turned 1t to good
account. On the night of the fierce con-
Migration he mounted the roof of the Bel
vedere Hotel and for five hours painted the
lurid scene as it lay before him. The re-
suit, canvas three and half by four and
a half feet in dimensions is now being ex-
hibited in New York and is naturally at
tracing attention. AS at the time he was
working the course of the fire had by no
means been determined, the intrepidity and
artistic enthusiasm of the painter must of
necessity call forth respectful applause.
X
According to a report recently received
from abroad, while foreign celebrities have
been carrying off American honors and
American orders the English and American
painters have been gradually getting pos
session of the Paris salons, theirs being
the larger percentage of works shown. The
French are said to have suddenly awak-
ened to this national danger" and to
have formed a new society, La Soeiete de
pEcole Franchise" The municipal coun-