Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-24

bearded man. powerful even in extreme
age and somnolent Inconsistencies. seated
in a massive throne chair. with his sword,
still bright and rustless, resting across his
knees. His robes, quiet in color, are roy
ally rich and set forth delightful har-
is extended and one drawn in: one hand
rests listlessly on the arm Of the chair; the
other lightly on the hilt of his sword. On
the floor are rugs of magnificent weaving
and of fur. and to the right of the throne,
dimly discernible, may be noted a recun-
bent lion. The carving Of the throne Is en-
blematical. and on the shield. now lying
idle at the warriors feet may be deciphered
Christ and the Church" 1t Is brilliantly
painted with profound feeling, but at the
same time admirable reserve. 1t Is beau
tiful bit Of color harmony. a powerful
technical performances; in short. a sin
cerely great work of art Mr.. Oertel was
born eighty-two years ago near the genuis-
making town of Nuremburg. He studied
steel engraving In his youth. and early
showed an aptitude for art. On the wall
of his present studio he has a large and
elaborate composition In monotone, pictur-
ing the Spartan defense of the Pass OF
Thermopylae. which he made in his
eighteenth year. In 1S4S he came to this
country and later studied for the minis
try. In the south there is a little church
which he built largely with his own hands.
wherein is an organ which he not only
constructed, but also at one time played.
He makes his own easles and his own
frames, and the quaint chairs in his studio
are further evidence of his craft and skill.
He has led simple but a busy life, and
in his advanced years is active and as
keen In his enjoyment of the world of
man and of nature as a youth From an
afternoon spent in his studio one will carry
away both pleasant and lasting memories.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art materially
enriched its permanent collection this week
by purchasing bronze by H. A. MacNeil.
entitled THE Sun Vow" which represents
the test of an Indian lads eye-his ability
to fire unerringly an arrow directly at the
sun, by which he proves himself worthy to
accompany the braves on the hunt or into
battle. The boy, nude. 1.-THE and graceful,
stands, with his bow uplifted and his eye
following the ascent of the arrow, beside
the crouching figure of an old squaw, his
mother or grandmother, whose interest in
the trial is only second to his own. and
whose satisfaction in the result is plainly.
thought stoically, manifested. 1t tells q
pretty story; but 1t is more than this-a
great work Of sculpture. The figures are
modelled with feeling and terseness. and
they are admirably unified. each supple
mentfng the other. The light and shade
Is well massed and the lines are both
rhythmcal and significant. From every
side the group cOmposes well and cuts
clearly against the background. 1t is
without question one of the most impor-
tant of the modern American sculptures.
This is the third casting of the group One
is owned by private collector of Chicago
and another is in the possession of Mr.
William T. Evans of Montclair N. ]. The
latter is charmingly placed in the center of
a circular lawn, facing the west AS a
pedestal 1t has rough bowlder brought
from the Orange Hills and as Foreground
the tall SbrnbS a tba a6jpiniDp al orr
den In this position it seems peculiarly in
harmony with the environment - specially
significant and uncommonly virile. The
Corcoran bronze, owing to the present lack
of a pedestal, will probably not be placed
on exhibition before fall.
X
A great portrait show is being held in st.
Petersburg for the benefit Of the widows
and destitute children of officers killed in
the Russian-Japanese war. 1t consists of
about 1900 portraits of famous Russians,
got together by the Grand Duke Nicholas
and hung in the Tanride palace. The great
Russian painter Levitski is represented by
seventy-five works and Borovikovski by 100.
Weimar sent from Its gallery two portraits
of Catherine II, as a child, and Amsterdam
loaned portrait of Peter the Great painted
by Arendt dc Glider. Rigand, Largilliere,
Natter and GreuZe are all represented,
and among the modern French painters
Bonnat and Duran may both be counted.
A new feature of the Champs Elysee
salon this year-or more literally the
revival of an old one-is the introduction
of work from the Sevres and Gobelin
manufactures This innovation is due, 1t
is said, to the Intervention of Mr.. Tony r.
Fleury, the artist, and 1t marks strongly
revival of the alliance between the
arts and the crafts.
The largest purchaser at this years
salon was an American, Mr.. Charles G.
Emery of New York, who procured
through the "Societe des Artistes Fran
Gals" no less than twenty-four canvases.
These are all what are commonly known
as gallery pictures, and 1t is understood
that Mr.. Emery purposes presenting them
to some American museum, together with
about 100 other paintings in his private
collection. What institute is to be the re-
cipient has not, however, been made
known. Following this bit Of news, in
pleasant sequence, comes the announce
ment of the purchase by the Italian gov
eminent for the modern art gallery at
Rome OF Carl Melchers painting, entitled
the Man of the Mantle" This is very
substantial appreciation for one of our
American painters.
An interesting and instructive art display
is being held in Portland, Oregon, in con-
nection with the Lewis and Clark exposi-
ton. II is made UP of works loaned by
artists and private collectors, and includes,
besides American paintings, canvases by
the early English and French masters, men
of the Barbizon school and the modern i'm
pressionists. Mr.. Frank Vincent Du Mond
who is directing the exhibition, will, at its
close superintend the getting together of
permanent collection for the new Portland
Art Museum.