Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
ART NOTES..

The opening of the Society of Washing
ton Artists annual exhibition on Monday
afternoon and the subsequent sale OF the
Parsons prize picture, Lovers Lane, Dy
Max Weyl, to the Corcoran Gallery for
its permanent collection have made this
week notable in the annals of the local art
world In spite of the unpleasant weather
the vanishing day reception was well at
tended and proved a most enjoyable affair."
and that Mr. Weyrs picture well merited
the honor it had received was. and is, the
universal opinion. 1t is quiet, low-toned
canvas, simple IN composition and gentle
n color, insisting upon attention by Its
merit and sincerity in both feeling and exc
cution which it displays 1t was painted
out of doors late last summer. and SHOWS
a very free transcription of the well-known
lane which divides the Blount and Boyce
estates in Georgetown. There Is something
very charming about that old rough road
as he has pictured it; something almost
solemn, but at the same time sympathetic
in the gray sky, bare hillsides and rambling
stone wall; and yet it is not this appealing
sentiment which makes the picture i'm
portant, but rather Its rich tonal qualities
it's splendidly sustained values, and, above
all, the deep underlying love of nature
which is demonstrated in it's execution.
This picture Is in every way an acquisition
upon which the Corcoran Gallery can be
congratulated, but owing to the fact that
WeyTs works its purchase is a peculiarly
significant compliment to the painter.
X
Notwithstanding the extremely Indictment
weather and the apathy which has existed
on the part of the general public toward
all art exhibitions this winter, the attend
ance in the hemicycle has been larger
throughout the week than usual and
most gratifying enthusiasm has been mani
tested over the excellence of the show.
That it Is the best that has ever been held
in this city is the consensus Of opinion, and
that it will stand the test of intimacy has
already been proved. 1t will be open not
only every week day until April ID from
am to 4:3O pm. and on Sunday afternoons,
but also on Monday and Wednesday even
ings from to 10.
A portrait Of Mr.. John Borroughs, the
naturalist, painted by Orlando Rowland,
and portrait of DR.. Fletcher Of the Med
icaI Museum, the work Of Wilton Lock-
wood, have been recently placed in the
loan collection of the Corcoran Gallery
The portrait of Mr.. Borroughs shows the
naturalist seated by window in his rural
cottage, and is almost a full length. 1t
is good in color and realistic in rendering,
but is rather inclined to be PANTY and
hard. Possibly 1t is a good likeness, but
it is somewhat characterless and sets forth
neither the personality Of the sitter or
the painter. The portrait of DR.. Fletcher
on the other hand. is extremely loose In
construction and definitely marked by the
artists mannerism. 1t is painted with thin
color on a coarse, absorbent canvas and
suggests rather the personality than the
person of the subject. There is certainly
no trace of the old masters methods in the
execution of this portrait, nor does it meas
ure up to the standard of the work of great
modern painters, yet there is something
very original in Its manner of handling and
a very definite allurement in its unusual
individuality.
x
In the lobby back of the House of Repre-
sentatives hangs an historical collection OF
portraits of the one-time Speakers of the
House. to which will next week be added
portrait of ex-Speaker Henderson, paint
ed by Mr.. Freeman Thorp. 1t is a small
canvas, showing only the head and should
ers, and is extremely simple and unaffected.
There are none of the usual statesmanlike
accessories which are SO often drawn into
official portraits to serve as identification
for future generations or to please the
present one; there is no forced effect Of
light or color. The artists aim has been
to put his whole strength in the head-to
set forth the character and the likeness Of
his sitter-and apparently he has succeeded
1t has been painted with considerable
directness, yet little display of technique
and derives its force from the personality
of the subject rather than that of the
painter. From the technical standpoint 1t
has definite merit, and a likeness it has
been pronounced more than usually salts
factory. Mr.. Thorp has also recently
painted a portrait of the present Speaker
for the committee of appropriations, which
has been hung in the chairman's room. At
the request of the committee this portrait
represents Mr. Cannon at the head of the
table with his spectacles in his hand and
many papers about him, as the members
of that committee were in the habit OF
seeing him. In this the clothing and ac-
cessories are less pleasantly painted than
might be desired, but the head Is strongly
modelled and excellent in color. Mr..
Thorp's forte is for getting likeness, and
in this he has again most admirably sue
ceeded. Nor is this little thing for a por-
trait. no matter how cleverly painted; it Is
as portrait of little value without It; but
what IS more, Mr.. Thorps work leads one
to believe that he strives at the same time
to present his subject in the most artistic
manner. and though a self-taught painter
Of official portraits, that he each and every
time puts forth his best effort and possess
es high ideals.
curious little exhibition of illustrative
work has been held in one of the galleries
on the fourth floor of Woodward & 10th
rop's this week. 1t consisted of collection
of original water color, wash and pastel
drawings, which had been used by the
Frederick A. Stokes Company in their pub
locations. At a glance the entire collection
appeared inartistic to horrifying degree
but upon careful inspection certain really
meritorious works were to be discovered. A
large group of flowers, by Paul de Longpre
made a conspicuous section of the exhibit
ton and suggested a reason for the In
creased photographic appearance of his
more recent work. There were some really
clever studies of kittens. by E. F. Bonsall
and an interesting child study or two by
Maud Humphrey. but the majority of the