Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
A R 7 NOTES.

Some notable art work has been done at
the Capitol during the past recess of Con-
gress. The rotunda in the first place, has
been stripped of its covering of paint and
restored to its normal dignity. The carved
panels, which for many years were supposed
to be plaster casts. have been revealed stone
carvings; the wall surface. which hereto
fore has been unsightly. has, by negative
correctives, been made agreeable in both
texture and color and even the paintings,
which for all time must be regarded as
historical documents, have through the re-
gliding of their frames been given more eff
fective setting At present IL is true that
the gold of these frames is almost too new,
too insistently bright, and that some deadly
white statues bear ungTacious testimony to
recent scrubbing but the work as a whole
has been well superintendent, and the gem
eral result successful in no small degree.
r
Besides this work in the rotunda. which
has been chiefly restorative in character, a
series of remarkably interesting mural dec
orations has been placed in the room of
the House committee on insular affairs.
This is the work of Mr.. Henry Lyman
Sayen of Philadelphia, and takes the form
of four lunettes; one allegoricaliy setting
ment" a third typifying the primitive do
mestic life of the men In our island pos
sessions and a fourth, after like manner,
the industry of the women. The scheme
is excellent and its application most appro-
pirate. One of these panels was shown last
year in the Pennsylvania Academy's centen-
NAL exhibition, and with the next two COM
pleted. was put in place last August. the
fourth, however, has just been finished,
and now for the first time. the set as a
unit Is to be seen. At glance the general
effect is extremely good. The colors are
strong, but not fragrant; the lines fythml-
cal and pleasantly definite. There Is a sug-
gestion of the poster in the treatment and
vet evidence of studied effect. Primarily
they are decorations, and this Is We'll; but
they are thoughtful and significant They
not only add to the esthetic interest or the
ROOM but inherently stand for sound ethics.
Their moral, like their color. does not in
trude itself, but 1t is nevertheless easy to
read. The forth panel is perhaps the least
interesting of the series. but 1t has the least
fortunate position. 1t sets forth the feml-
nine side of life in the tropics and shows
the women happily occupied in homely, out
door industries. The figures are well drawn
and agreeably placed the landscape back
ground simple in line and typlcally sug-
gestive; the color positive but restrained.
Mr.. Sayen is not a painter Of wide expert
ence, his student days are not yet long
past, but his work shows much force and,
besides present merit, latent ability. That
in this instance he was equal to his COM
mission he has more than demonstrated.
The Corcoran Gallery has purchased, this
week, for its permanent collection the wa
ter color by Mr.. Powell of the Grand Can
yon, Arizona" which is shown in the
Washington Water Color Clubs tenth an
nuaI exhibition. This is a valuable acqui-
sition and one which should always rebound
to the gallerys credit 1t is a picture of
late afternoon. The last, lurid rays of the