Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
NEW PICTURES AT THE
CORCORAN GALLERY

1t is seldom that one has the privilege of
seeing at one time. or In so small a space,
as many notable paintings as are comprised
IN the private collection recently loaned to
the Corcoran Gallery of Art Passing
through any great public gallery the DIS
eliminating visitor finds only here and there.
q painting remarkable for its merit or con-
spicuous as the example of some distin
guished painters work: but here. in a single
room. are hung twenty-six canvases deserv-
ing of the most careful scrutiny and
thoughtful attention. IL. in viewing hun
dred paintings the critic discovers one to
which the word great" can correctly be
applied, he feels himself abundantly re-
warded, yet here in fourth that number
are to be found four times as many works
worthy Of the appeliation.
There Is, for example. portrait by REM
brandt which splendidly sets forth that
masters gigantic skill and power-a like
ness of an old Jewish rabbi. brown-bearded
and dark of visage. wrapped In his cloak
and wearing his PREDETERMINED hat 1t Is
all In half shadow. and shows no marked
contrast OF light and shade The color runs
the gamut from amber to dark brown. but
does not step beyond the range of this sim
gle tint, and yet so true are the values and
so perfectly sustained that never for an In
slant Is one impressed by the fact that the
painting has been rendered almost in mono
tint 1t IS broadly. and at the same time
thoughtfully. painted. bearing the closest
examination and appearing equally foreefui
at distance. There Is no apparent trickery
of technique no conscious cieverness OF
brush work-the painter is forgotten in his
work. his craft hidden in his art The rabbi
Is transcribed with the utmost realism. his
personality as well as his resemblance has
been registered for all time, and through
the genius of the interpreter made of en-
during interest. 1t is a painting which once
vxyfD rolvx hn Ton "
better than many others Illustrates the
true significance of q genuine work OF
art"
Near this. to the right. hang three pic
and colored chalk and small painting in
oils. The drawings are peculiarly charm
ing and very Observation-Disclosures. vigor-
Gus and full of homefy sentiment but the
tiny painting is exceptionally brilliant
work. It pictures. In peasants cottage.
two women sitting before a window sew
Ing. They are at work. apparently. upon
the same garment. and as they bend to
their stitching a unity of interests is sug-
gested. The mournful message of painful
labor. SO frequently found in Millet's paint
ings, Is entirely absent. and instead one
reads the happier ttdings Of congenial toll.
In only one other canvas by the great Bar
bizen painter. exhibited recently In the
United States. is this same spirit to be
owned by Mrs. Henry Goldman Potter of
New York. Then, too, this work instead
of being rudely laid in, is exqufsitely finish
ed. complete in every detail. skillful in ev-
cry touch, and yet at the same time none
the less mastery or convincing. Had Mil
let always painted in this manner he would
have been more readily understood, but
on the other hand he might not have exert
ed SO strong an influence.
There Is, also, In this collection an extra
ordinarily interesting Hobbema which, if it
be genuine as there is every reason to sup
pose. discredits utterly many of the artribu-
tons to this master which appear from
time to time. 1t Is quaint, formal land
scape. complicated in composition. decora-
tive IN effect. Hobbema with his master
Ruysdael. who is also represented, were
among the earliest of the Dutch painters
to devote themselves to the rendition of
landscape-they painted nature as it ap-
peared to them. and they made tradition
Up to- that time (the seventeenth century,
landscape had been used chiefly for back,
grounds, and but few of the even great
men had. apparently. definitely felt the stir
ring appeal of the outdoor world With
this in mind the Hobbema canvas becomes
of deepest interest. The curious Journalism
of the brush work Is explained and the GER
tafnty of the handling made more remark
able. The sky Is exquisiteIy clear and at
mospterfc, the trees finely constructed and
leafy in effect, and the whole beautifully
harmonious and toneful Technically, it
has the sharpness and decision of an en-
craving on steel, the minutia of piece of
needle work. the colors are clear and well
defined. and yet seem in a measure to be