Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30
ART NOTES.

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The art exhibition at st. Louis is the event
of all-absorbing interest this summer. To 1t
large percentage of the leading artists of
all nations have contributed and in the
work Of collection and arrangement men
of the foremost rank have been associated.
Like all the rest of the Louisiana purchase
exposition it is supposed to be the biggest
thing of the kind that has ever been got
together in this country, if not in any coun-
try, and for many months speculation con-
corning it's probable character has been rife.
While certain sections of this exhibition
have been open to the public since the
middle of May the main portion of 1t, ow-
ing to a succession of untoward happen
ings, could not be viewed until quite re-
Gently, and the first definite information to
reach the east has come in the guise of
the official catalogue, published for the
press and publicity committee, which has
been just received. For those who are at
present asking themselves the question, us
1t worth the expense and fatigue of see
ing?" as well as for those who are merely
generally interested this little book con-
tains some valuable data. From it one
learns that there are exhibition in the
so-called Art Palace" more than seven
thousand pictures-paintings in oil. water
color and pastel, etchings, Autographs en-
cravings and drawfngs-at least twenty-five
hundred original objects of art workman
ship and nearly half that number of sculp-
lures. These have been contributed by
twenty-five countries, viz: Great Britain
France, Germany, Holland, Belgium. Hun
gary, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Por-
tugal, Switzerland, Russia, Japan, Mexico
Cuba, Argentine, Brazil, Canada, Iceland
Denmark, Bulgaria, Ceylon, Canada and the
ia ~
that made by the United States, next nu-
merically comes France, and then Great
Britain. Cuba, exhibiting for the first time
a nation, is represented by eighty paint
ingS and six works of sculpture; Brazil and
Argentine come forward with more than a
hundred exhibits, which by their merit are
said to place these countries among the
nations which cultivate art with dignity
and profit. Japans section is largely given
over to the exhibition of cloiSonne, porce-
lains, lacquers and enamels, though a COM
prehensive collection of landscape paintings
by masters of both the old and the new
school is shown and some of the foremost
bronze casters of that country are repre-
sented. Canada sends only paintings and
drawings, but from the British Isles comes
the largest collection of original art-ob-
jects Except that from the United States)
which is included in the exhibition. Survey
ing the exhibition as a whole it is found to
be mot only modern, but recent Many
of the sections show only work which has
been produced in the last ten years and
few set forth exhibits created earlier than
the year 1880. In the American section
(about the only exception to this rule there
are, besides the contemporary paintings,
a retrospective collection demonstrating the
growth of American art and loan collec-
ton composed of foreign masterpieces from
public and private American collections.
The distinctive and significant feature of
the exhibition is to be found in the initial
association of the fine and applied arts and
in the size and character of the latter dis
play. Passing to more definite consldera-
ton of the individual exhibits one notes,
turning the pages OF the catalogue, many
section the eye is caught by one and an
other Of distinction, and running over the
list of those whose regulations nave gone
beyond the border of their own country
few will be found missing
X
1t is a gratifica ton to find in every section
of the American exhibit the name of one
or more Washington artists and at the
same time a regret that the number is not
greater 1t will be remembered that while
an appropriation was made by almost every
state to defray the expense of shipping
works to the exposition none was made
from the District of Columbia and Wash
ington artists were obliged to pay the cost
out of their private means. In the section
devoted to paintings in oils Mr.. Carl Guth-
err of this city is represented by three can
vases-his pictorial portrait of General
Lee, entitled Sunset after Appomattox."
his well-known painting Of the Boring Sea
Arbitration Commission and a more recent
work. called Faithful Unto DEATH" shows
a negro man carrying his wounded master
off the field of battle. Mrs. Alice Archer
Sewal James, nonresident member Of
the Society Of Washington Artists, is &C
credited with two contributions portrait
and genre composition, catalogued as
1.-The Temptation Of Cupid" and Ernest L.
Major and Everett L. Warner, two erst-
while Washington boys, send each one land
scape. Mr.. Warner, moreover, Is represent
ed in the section devoted to the graphic
arts by group of etchings and among the
miniatures the name of Jean w. Lucas, a
frequent contributor to the local shows, ap-
pears. Mr.. James Henry Moser by his
Green Bridge Light" alone represents the
local fraternity in the water color section
and among the original objects of art work
manship, 1.-THE Golden Dish" panel in
burnt and carved wood by William Fuller
Curtis is the sole contribution from Wash
Howard Helmicks' former pupils. sends an
etched portrait Of Walt Whitman, and con-
spicuous on the list Of sculptures is q group
Of sixteen small bronzes by Mr.. Edward
Kemeys, which have been loaned by the
Chicago Art Institute. Turning to the Sec
ton given over to architecture 1t will be
found, possibly with surprise, that nine of
the seventy-seven architects or firms ex-