Evening star., 1905-11-11
A R T N O T E S.

The first of this seasons series of monthly
art talks was given by Mr.. RICHARD N
Brooke on Monday afternoon In the lower
hemicycle of the Corcoran Gallery. The
subject was Truth" and the substance OF
| the lecture thoughtful discussion of its ap-
plication to art. We often hear 1t said that
a painting is meritorious because it is true,
and yet SO divergent is vision that truth
is many sided and it's real significance Is
often lost. In France today, Mr. Brooke
said. there Is a school of painters who
seeing all things alike believe that they
have discovered truth. But they are wrong,
he declared No one man has ever or will
ever find more than fragment of 1t. Could
Corot, Millet, Fortuny and Muncasky have
been given the same theme to paint each
would have Transcribed it differently, and
yet correctly To one it would have ap-
third brilliant, to fourth most colorful,
but to his own vision each might have
been true. The worth of the ''old mas
ters'' is undoubtedly their SURPRISING We
racity. beside which the works of modern
painters pale, and yet, examining more
closely the later productions, An element
of truth will be found in them-such for
example as the rendering of light and air
which the earlier ones did not possess. If
an artist could realize all the truth in
nature and set 1t forth with all the truth
in man he would accomplish perfection,
and toward this end all should aim. The
first step, Mr.. Brooke averred, was truth
to ones self. To remain faithful to ones
own vision, to strive to discover the truth
In the thing painted Not to be arbitrary,
but to be sincere. Motives, he said, wrote
themselves fnviolably in an artists work.
If man painted for money. his work was
apt to be fiagrantly commercial; for glory
vain, or for pride in the performance, mere
ly clever; whereas. the man or woman who
rarfr, orilx CT for rr1fh q d
judged at least as genuine. Corot was linn
ited he pointed out. by his lack of color
sense, Miilet by his crudity Of expression,
and yet each, because of his sincerity.
achieved NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to the
world. Mr.. Brooke told how he himself
had seen Mr.. Neuhuys, the accomplished
Dutch painter, work for days over the
transcription of the wall OF an interior
after every one else had declared 1t to be
correct 'It is not as l see it," he repeat
edly insisted, and finally, when he accom-
plished his aim, others. too, realized its
previous imperfection. That all might take
this same conscientious care in the matter
of veracious Interpretation Mr.. Brooke
strongly urged, and that they would then
meet with success to the measure OF their
ability he was willing to promise. not only
his own pupils, but all the students of the
school.
The exhibition of summer work by the
students of the Corcoran School, which was
held informally, the early part of this
week in the hemicycle hall. proved interest
ing and noteworthy. 1t was got together
for the benefit of the contributors. that they
might profit by comparison and mutual
criticism, and that the instructors might
better appreciate their needs and capabili-
ties Geniuses are rare and the personnel
Of the art schools is largely made UP of.
not the clever few, but of the one-talented
many. 1t is question whether or not good
would accrue from more stringent stand
ard of admission, but it is a fact that in all
art schools in the country SsTere is a tre-
mendous amount of what might well be
termed dead wood" With these condi-
tions in mind, the recent exhibition took on
a promising aspect. The work displayed,
while naturally immature, showed thought
and individuality, and in more than one
instance rose above the common level. Here
and there was CLINT OF special ability,
a. promise of larger development There
were some ambitious compositions which
had more than a dash of cleverness. por-
trait of a negro woman, which was admir-
ably set forth; several landscapes which
were not far from nature and a half dozen
outdoor water colors which were rendered
with much spontaneity. The diversity of
the work and the individuality of the work.
ers were the salient features of the exhibi-
ton, and in themselves spoke well for the
students and the school
In the Veerhoff gallery next week there
will be placed on exhibition portrait re-
Gently painted by Miss Suzanne Gutherz of
Mrs. s. d. Warmer OF Wilkesbarre, Pa,
and her three children. 1t is oval cam
vas and shows an attractive family group.
The mother is turned half away from the
observer and holds In her lap her second
son, child of four years, presumably. Be-
hind her stands the oldest, a little lad in
sailor blouse. and beside her. pressing her
arm and clutching lovingly at her gown, is
the baby girl, Just old enough to have ac-
quired independence. They are all interest
ing faces--ehildish, natural and winsome--
and they have been well portrayed The
color scheme Is pecunaTly pleasing ana re-
in blue and gold. The mothers gown is
gray blue, the lads blouse navy, the
ribbon pn the baby's hair q lighter shade:
the background Is an old-gold brocade and
in touches here and there this finds consist
ant repetition. 1t is an ambitious piece of