Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
ART NOTES..

The models of the three animals which
Mrs Kemeys has been doing as exterior
decorations for the new animal house at
the National Geological Park were cast and
informally exhibited last week at the sculp-
tors home. They represent respectively a
fox a lynx and a bear. The fox is the
largest. the lynx the most conventional.
Each has been constructed with regard
t. the place it was to occupy, and while
naturalistic, they are all primarily decora-
tive. The fox and lynx are both to be
seen without background and show, there
fore. specially clear cut and significant out
lines. Both are sitting upright with their
forelegs close together and firmly fixed:
the lynx looks straight ahead and wears
sphtnxlke expression: the fox has turned
his head slightly to one side and seems full
~ conscious of his traditional. inherent
cunning. The bear, jolly little cub, Is to
be given a lower position against the slop-
ing roof, and has been represented, conse-
uuently, in a characteristic playful atti-
tude. He is not purposely comical, but he
is intensely mirth provoking. His manner
is more than half serious but his express
sion and bearing will involuntarily summon
laugh from any and all observers. Scien-
tifcally. Mrs. Kemeys has constructed
them with great care and accuracy; and
technically they exhibit broad handling and
uncommon skill. Like her distinguished
dividuality Of the animals they portray but
they possess at the same time the marks
of different personality and are unms-
takably her own creations. The work was
peither simple nor easy and its successful
completion should place Mrs. Kemeys'
name for all time on the list Of leading
American sculptors.
X X
Mr. E. c. Messer, the director of the Cor
coran School, has little time during the
scholastic year for personal work but he
has this fall and early winter found enough
spare hours to get well under way three or
Tour important canvases. TWO are now
almost, II not entirely, completed. and there
remains but little work to be done to the
last OF the trio In subject they are very
diverse. One is largely an imaginative
composition. The observer looks across a
shallow, shaded pool into a sun-spotted
wood Interior. On rock in the foreground
woodland nymph is seated, and through
the avenue of trees at a little distance a
group of sportive sprites are seen approach
ing. They are, however the incident rather
than the motive of the picture-a bit of
color reasonably introduced. 1t Is a mid
summers day fancy, of which the cool.
limpid water, the messy rocks, the dane
ing sunlight and the shifting leaves are
component parts-suggestion merely but
realistically rendered. AS a whole. It has
been broadly handled, but In passages II
has been thoughtfully felt ont II il fanc;
lul, out at the same time true-an internre-
tation or the highest order. Another is
more pfosaic, but equally pleasing, tram
scflptlon OF bit of nature. A barren hit of
country made beautiful through a nass;na
erect of atmosphere and light High mn on
rugged hillside or river bank a giant nak
c sie, by autumn's frost, is seen partly
qGt fat
Inc SKY is partially clouded but shows a
single patch or brilliant blue which In
turn, Is repeated on the surface of a slow
moving stream. The horizon line is seYa
Tor the great oak, unbroken but down nm
the waters edge are some dark tvnicaI
lttie Christmas trees Wedeed in hofnaa,
a t!stte., rocks. 1t is an old theme and
powerful picture. The baroness of Tho iaad
scape contrasts charmingIv Win ~
warmth or the landscape and gives the can
vas sas gotn Iofce and appeal. The third is a
1,no1o Eiew Oh roiiing country near Pough-
keepsle. A road lies In valley hatwoa,
sheiving hills and winds through If t5iraoti.
toWafo the observer. The sky is heaviIy
clouded, put broken, and through the onan,
missio cue 14n mas round here and there ad-
mission, IL Is this which makes the nic
tare. The contrasts of light and shade the
Giect OF Iast-noVing clouds. The Handsome
Is rather commonplace, but seen fb,,s
ME- ST. ane a painter eye it becomes both
pressing ana interesting.
MISS Anna Sands is painting a most at
tractive portrait study of young girl with
brown hair wearing brown gown. IT is a
three-quarter length and shows the subject
standing before shelf or desk tracing with
her finger the lines In a book that lies
open on it. The pages are Illuminated and
suggest religious document of the middle
; ages. The maiden's expression is wrapt
and deyout and the spirit of the painting
is purposely medieval The color scheme is
unusual and most agreeable and the work
as whole promises to be one of the strong
est Miss Sands has yet produced.
Miss Hattie L. Burdette. who shares with
Miss Sands too well appointed studios over
THE Band-box'' on 18th street, has just
! finished an excellent miniature of Mrs.
Evans. The background Is broadly handled
| and simple. the gown of back silk and
| lace is rendered with exquisite finish and