Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12
ART. NOTES.

ART. NOTES.
Much interest has been manifested during
the past week In the portrait painted by
Anders Zorn of the Hon. Robert r. Hit,
which has been on view at Fischers. This
portrait was painted, In Mr.. Hits home
about two weeks ago, when the celebrated
Scandinavian artist paid Washington
flying visit 1t pictures the representative
seated in an upright chair in his library
squarely facing the observer. Behind him
are shelves of books; to his right is table
piled with books, and in his hand he holds
a small volume. which he has apparently
just been reading The binding of this last
book is bright red morocco, and both on
the shelves and table are to be seen other
volumes in equally gorgeous attire This,
and a glimmer of light from an unseen fire,
gives colorful, decorative touch to the
picture which would otherwise of necessity
be somber and conventional, but had these
reds been less broadly distributed they
would have been more effective. But these
are minor matters; the real interest Is CEN
tered in the figure and the manner Oh rem
dering The paint has been laid on with
bold, broad strokes, yet it is the sitter's
personality and not the painters which
pervades the canvas. In the artist eVl.
dent mastery of material in his manner OF
handling and in the force of the finished
work there is a suggestion or Sargent
paintings, but here the similarity ends Mr..
Zorn's individuality is as definite as IS MI.
Sargent's, though it is perhaps less insist
ent. In this portrait of Mr.. Hit he has
done more than make a likeness; he has
rendered character as well, and TINS with
apparent simplicity and ease. To the
painter and the student there is something
iyht fIll in a.
brush work, and, though the public may
urge greater finish, 1t cannot complain OF
lack of care in construction or of visible
haste.
In connection with this very modern por-
trait 1t Is interesting to note two old por-
traits which Mr. Fischer received ana
placed in his gallery this week. One is an
elderly man by George Morland, the other
a little boys head by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
MorIand, it will be remembered, lived dur
ing the latter part of the eighteenth cen
fury, and was best known as painter OF
English country life and as skillful tech
nfcian, yet more attractive or broadly
painted portrait is seldom seen than this
one which has lately come into Mr..
Fischers possession It Is excellent IN
color and tone, somewhat abrupt in han
ding and fnSlStent WIFI SuDlle
The Sir Joshua, too. is an unusual example.
1t pictures little lad of not more than
seven years Of age dressed In elaborate
court fashion. and is an ensemble more ro-
bust than are most of Reynolds canvases.
1t also is characteristic and possesses pecu-
liar charm, and, with the other, goes TO
show that 1t is neither style nor subject
which makes a portrait valuable or alto
gether interesting, but the underlying art
which is manifested through its medium.
i
In the Veerhoff gallery there Is now on ex-
hibition collection of paintings by foreign
artists of note which has been got together
by Messrs Fishel, Adler and Schwartz
firm of we'll known New York art dealers
AS rule these travelling collections are ex-
tremely commercial in character and their
advent IS 20 be deprecated, but this seems
to be the proverbial exception. There Is,
for instance, here a most charming paint
ing by Lerolle and an excellent winter pic
ture by Fritz Thaulow. a characteristic Gie-
rome a Ziem, a Rico, a Schreyer and
Domingo. There are, of course, number
of genre pictures, which, with their dainty
coloring and minute finish, catch the eye OF
the average buyer, but they are more than
out-countenanced by the sterling merit of
the other paintings. Following so closely
upon the heels of Mr.. Powell's exhibition,
the Ziem and the Rico are of special inter-
est illustrating the variety OF ways 1t ls
possible for even artists eyes to see venice.
Tine Schreyer is presumably RUSSIAN pic,
ture, and hence has an added interest, ana
owing to the recent death OF the painter the
Gerome, too, must attract special attention.
The Domingo, while a small paining' is Gu
rousy forceful and suggestive or rlch
tapestry design. and in a landscape ny
Harpignies this decorative element Is aiso
markedly evident The Thaulow is an odd
picture. showing frozen stream ON the
edge of town, the viewpoint OF the painter
having been elevated considerably above ms
subject. as from a bridge or hlgh Dulldlns.
1t is severe in tone and strongly realistic.
and thus in great contrast TO Lerohe
softly colored. interpretative canvas ana
LHermtte's sketchy but poetic little land
scape. Altogether it is an interesting col
lection. Aside from the painters names
the pictures are meritorious and attractive,
and while they are of a kind which can he
readily understood, they are at the same
time worthy of more than passing consid-
GRAFTON.
x y
On Wednesday, March 16, special ex-
hibtion of water colors by Miss Bertha r..
Perrie will be opened in this gallery. rms
exhibition will consist of a collection OF
about forty sketches and finished pictures
painted during the past three summers.
Some of them have been shown before IN
the annual exhibitions. but the majority
have not been exhibited heretofore in TINS
city. Miss Ferries work is too well known
and appreciated in Washington to need any
Introduction to local public, and there is
little doubt that the approaching exhibition
will prove an event of much interest. There
is something very substantial about all her
work; something which is as satisfactory as
1t Is unusual. Even her smallest sketch is
pervaded with an air of earnestness and
sincerity. They are simple and have. with
out exception, been done out of doors, YET
they have more meaning and more depth
than many larger and more pretentioHs
pictures. Ipswich Massachusetts, has been
Miss Ferries chief hunting ground. and the
majority of her themes have been found IN
that ne ghborhood, but they are exceedingly
varied in character. There are gifmpses OF
the sand-dunes broad views of the salt
meadows, vistas through the apple orchards
and subscriptions of the little town itself.
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