Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
LOANED THE GALLERY
A Part of Senator Clark's
Private Collection.
OLD AND NEW WORKS
SOME ARE RECENT PURCHASES
IN NEW YORK.
Others Are Treasures Long Familiar
to Visitors and Col
lectorS.

The Corcoran Gallery Of Art has been tenn
porarily enriched this week by the loan Of
twenty-five notable paintings from Senator
w. A. Clark's private collection. All are
the work of famous artists and several
which have come direct from the custom
house, are exhibited for the first time in
this country. They have been disposed on
the north and west walls of the upper loan
room in which, 1t will be remembered, Alb
bey's striking canvas representing the trial
of Queen Catherine, likewise the property
of Senator Clark, was for many months
displayed.
Centering the west wall and claiming at
once the visitors attention Is a notably fine
painting by Corot-a landscape in which
are introduced group Of half fanciful fig
ures To the right is mass Of gray-green
woods and to the left are stately trees
with, between, a gently rolling sward and
a long vista over broad, undulat1ng fields.
In the foreground. as incident to the land
scape, five maidens and little cupid are
dancing In a circle, with clasped hands, and
on a slope, beneath the trees, sixth maid
witnesses the merriment. Probably no bet
ter exposition could be made of Corot's
genius than is to be found In this picture
It is characteristic to the furthest degree
and II was painted at the zenith Of his
sionist, and a poet-painter par excellence
He sought his inspiration directly from ma
ture. but he rarely painted just what he
saw. His disposition was sweet and sunny
and the rough things Of life did not fall
in his way For this reason. perhaps, as
much as any other, his paintings We're more
often charming than Notwithstanding
rather than dramatic The canvas winch
Senator Clark has loaned has all these at
trihutes 1t is pastoral coached in beau
tiful language 1t Is simple and natural:
the gray woods are enshrouded In realist
atmosphere and the dancing nymphs seem
to interpret the spirit of the scene. 1t is
unavoidable, and yet it carries with 1t con-
yiction; 1t is suggestive, and yet 1t Is resttul
in effect. - o,o.
In the collection which are interesting to
observe in connection with this one. A
small, carefully painted classical landscape
done undoubtedly while the artist was under
the influence of the italian school. which
goes to show accuracy of knowledge be-
meath his loose technique. and q small full
length portrait Of little Italian girl,
seated in a chair, out of doors, with her
mandolin in sher lap. The last Is an I'M
usual example, and in breadth of treat
ment might be called almost Whistlerian
This. with three other canvases in this col
lection. Senator Cfark purchased at the J.
w. Kaufman sale which took place in New
York on the Sd offFebruary One Of these
three is a Little Roman Girl by Leon
Bonnat which is almost identical with the
COrOt In Size dAu1=VcIy " ~ III
spirit. The ITO nicely complement each
other, and may be contrasted to mutual
advantage. The Bonnat is an extremely
realistic rendition. Every detail has been
carefully observed and set down; nothing
is left to the observers imagination. 1t is
perhaps, trife hard but 1t is strong and
definite rich In color and picturesque In eff
feet Technically between 1t and the Corot
there is a wide difference. but in the funda-
mental art qualities they are one.
Two Daubignya
There are two examples of Daubigny-
one a pure landscape and the other Hol-
land scene with windmill and houses. The
first is extremely characteristic, the latter
is uncommonly vigorous and impressive
They have been hung together. one above
the other, and thus can be most readily
compared. The lower one represents a
cove or bend of river, bounded in part by
grassy banks. There are woods to the
right and low bushes to the left; the sky Is
clouded, and almost on the horizon the set
ting sun has left a trail of glowing color.
1t is picture charmingly composed and
cleverly rendered. but superficial in COM
parison to the other work by the same mag