Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-29
ART NOTES

portrait by Mr.. Spencer Nichols of his
mother, which is now on exhibition in the
vernon gallery, is attracting rather un-
usual attention. 1t is large almost
square canvas, showing lifesize repre-
sentation of the subject. Her face is turn
ed toward the observer. but her body is
seen almost in profile. She is seated in
low arm chair, and wears over a simple
black gown q kimona-like sack of gauzy
material woven in the coiors and design of
an old Persian shawl. The background is
dull, buff-colored screen WALL
which to the right Is discerned a single
rhythmical figure Of a Japanese girl. 1t is
all low-toned and unconventional; suggest
i've, perhaps of Whistlers masterpiece, but
The head is rendered in a mastery fash
lon. with both strength and subtlety, and
had the figure and accessories been ham
died equally as well the painting would
have ranked with the most notable OF the
day. As 1t is, however. 1t Is well above
the average. and richly deserves the appre-
citation which it has met.
At Morrey's there are now to be seen a
number of attractive pictures, chief among
which are three pastels by the late ]. Wells
Champney, a water color by Mr.. Hobart
Nichols and an Oil by Mr.. 8. E. Whiteman.
One of Mr.. Champney's is a copy of por-
trait by Natter, likeness of n young
Frenchwoman. daintily attired, which sets
forth his skill as an interpreter; but an
other is an original. Virgin and Child,
which with equal clearness manifests his
latent qualities of hand and heart. 1t is
not, probably, great picture-there are
obvious defects in drawing and a certain
looseness in construction to be overlooked
but 1t is full of appeal and possesses
spirituality which many stronger works
lnNfy Faoa nf hot, Mt hnv md
Child are types, not models. and they have
back of them a personality which strongly
impresses itself upon the observer.
Mr.. Nichols water color Is a picture of
the Maine woods, painted during the past
summer, showing them In all their witch
cry Of gray bark and sun-steeped foliage.
Mr.. WhIteman's oil is an autumn scene-a
sketch made, in all probability, some late
afternoon near the Maryland bay-shore. 1t
shows a line of thin trees on the edge of a
meadow, scrap of water and strip Of
marshland yellowed by the frost. The sky
is cool and clear, and against it the sun
licked foliage appears rudy flame 1t
is an impression, suggestion, full of sem
timent and significance, a work which
many would gladly claim. and 1t has an in
teresting history. Finding less favor in
was tackled, face down, some years ago, on
the box in which he sent other more nota-
BILE works to a Washington exhibition and
utilized as a label. Thus discarded, 1t
found it's way in due season to a rubbish
heap where later on it was discovered and
rescued by a discerning person. little
cleaning and care restored 1t to perfect
condition and finally. is the fate of
most great works." it found its way to
the dealers gallery This, perhaps. goes
to prove two things--that artists cannot
<t~0t, orb md hat iS- mi
thrifty to use signed paintings as labels
An exquisite miniature of Miss Clara N
Eartle is now to be seen in one of Wood
ward & Lothrops windows. 1t was painted
last summer and is supposed to be
portrait of Mrs. Lanes lovable heroine,
Nancy Stair. Reproduced in black and
white. this miniature forms the frontispiece
of the book which sets forth the history of
this Scotch maids upbringing and court
ship, but clever as is the half-tone 1T falls
far short of the charm of the original. The
color is strong and rich and clear, the
modelling has been done firmly, and the
features are most expressive Some may
complain that it has not been handled with
sufficient breadth, but for its purpose it is
thoroughly satisfactory. Technically it is
excellent. and an illustration it is all
that could be desired.
X
Miss Anna Sands has recently painted
specially interesting portrait study. 1t is
a picture of a young girl holding in her
hands and lap chalice of medieval de-
sign. The color scheme is rich and decora
tive: the background is a dark embossed
leather, the girls hair and eyes are brown
and her robe, loose cloak. is the color of
b! ONE, while the cup is combinat ton of
brass and copper The light comes from
the side and is concentrated upon the up
turned face which, while not beautiful IS
good to look upon. 1t is broadly handled
and virile, and by all odds the strongest
work which Miss Sands has yet produced.
Mr. Walter Paris spent most of his sum-
mer at little town called Trenton, on the
Canadian shore of Lake Ontario. about one
hundred and twenty-eight miles from To-
ronto. There he painted about thirty land
scapes in water color and made seventeen
or eighteen floral studies. Just before lelv-
Ing for st. Louis he held in small CALLER,
in Trenton an exhibition of his season
work. together with a number of his Eng
fish pictures, and so popular did it prove
that he was persuaded to leave those which
were not sold in the dealers hands The
decorative studies, however. he brought
back with him. and these will be found
most interesting They are of both flowers
AHrNnrrr