Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
ART NOTES.


a series of pictures of Wash nston, which
has not only a peculiar local interest but
at the same time a national importance.
The Capitol and the White House are the
subjects of the first two pictures of this
series, which, when completed, is to en-
brace views of all the prominent public
buildings, of the principal vistas, of the
parks and streets. and of the beautiful nat
ural environmenf of our national city. Mr..
Key is himself Washingtonian. Over
forty years ago he began his art career, in
Company with the late James MacNeill
Whistler, craftsman in the United
States coast survey, and now, after long
absence, he has returned to his old home,
declaring that in no other country has he
found more beautiful or more impressive
public buildings or a city whose ENVIRON
ment was more essentially artistic. In 1892
Mr.. Key painted several large canvdse5,
representing bulid ngS in the Chicago
worlds fair, for the exhibition of which the
state of Illinois later erected a special
building at the Omaha exposition, and in
1900 he painted fourteen small PICTURES or
the Buffalo exposition, which are now In
the possession of the Buffalo Historical So
ciety. He was prompted to take up the
present work by observing the interest gen.
orally manifested through the west by the
people of moderate means in Washington,
and also by the appreciation with which his
exposition pictures met. His work is accu-
rate and extremely realistic, and from 1t
one must gain more than mere acqua!nt-
ance with the objects which are portrayed.
The pictures of the White House and the
Capitol are to be on canvlseS about 1--WE by
twelve feet in dimension, and are to be
painted from studies made by the artist
last summer. For the picture of the Capt.
tol he made no less than ten or twelve OF
these studies and for the W hite House at
least half that number, each of which is in
fSa1f rnira1It o
these small paintings, collectively, Mr.. Key
has made his drawings for these pictures,
which, though done only in charcoal and
chalk on manila paper, give already very
excellent idea of the finished WORKS. The
view of the Capitol is of the east front from
the south, and that of the White House is
of the north front, as seen from the
grounds facing the War Department Both
are large enough to permit the painter to
enter quite minutely into the detail of the
architecture, and to show considerable
amount of the surrounding parking. 1t
would be impossible for any photograph to
give as accurate idea of these buildings
and their environment as do these draw
ings and 1t Is seldom that Painting is
found which deals so squarely with facts.
For this reason, therefore, the historic and
educational value of such a series of pic
lures is almost inestimable. Exhibited
in other parts of this country they would
certainly interest the general public in
Washington, and be conclusive, it would
for the further identifying of the nation s
capital. Or, preserved in this city alone,
they will in later day become invaluable
historical data.
Under the auspices of the Capital Cam
era Club an exhibition of prints made by
the Photo Secessionists of America will be
held in the hemicycle of the Corcoran Gal
lery from Wednesday, January 90 to Mon
day, February /. The Photo-Secession So
ciety is composed of well-known amateur
photographers, who some years ago Sc
coded from the established Photographic
methods and standards. and led the way
into the new field which is now SO widely
known as artistic photography 1t was the
members Of this society who first success
fully stormed the fine arts stronghold and
finally gained for their craft place within
it's gates. In exhibitions in England,
France, Germany, Italy and Russia their
works during the past two years have not
only been gladly admitted, but have won
honors over all other competitors. 1t is
the best which has yet been produced by
the medium of the camera, and the collec-
ton which will be shown here next week
has been carefully selected by Mr. Alfred
Stieglitz, the founder of the society, as
specially representative. Prominent among
the members of this organization are Ed
D.
first to be admitted to the Paris Salon;
Joseph T. Kelley of Brooklyn, the inventor
of the glycerin manipulative platinum pro-
cess; Gertrude Kasebier, the author of the
now famous print called 1.-THE Manger;'
Frank Eugene of New York. Mrs Eva
Watson Schultze and w. B. Dyer of Chi
cago; F. Holland Day and Mary Devens of
Boston, Rose Clark of Buffalo, and Frances
Benjamin Johnston of this city. OF these
1t is interesting to know that Mr.. Seichen,
Mr.. Eugene, Miss Kasebier, Mrs. Schultze
and Miss Clark are all artists by profession.
Mr. Stieglitz will supervise the hanging of
the photographs and will stay in Washing
ton for the first few days of the exhibit
ton.
In the death of Jean Leon Gerome, which
occurred in Paris last Sunday, the art
world lost one of it's most conspicuous lead
ers. Born in Vesoul, May IL, 1924. the son
of goldsmith, he had the advantage of a
good general education, and was early
brought into contact with art and artists
He a pupil of Delaroche, a Royal
Academician, an officer of the Legion of
Honor, and for many years an instructor
in the Academic de Beaux Arts The first
picture which he sent to the salon, 'The