Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-23
THE CORCORANGALLERY
HIGHLY PRAISED By ROSS TUR-
NER, THE ARTIST.
He Revisits Washington After Many
Years Absence and Finds
Much Change.

Ross Turner, the Boston artist, painter OF
many widely known marine pictures and
other subjects is in this city for the first
time in eighteen years. At one time Mr..
Turner was a resident of Alexandria and
was employed as skilled craftsman In the
United States Patent Office in this city. He
left this section resident in 1876 going
to Europe to study his profession, that OF
higher art. Byron P. Turner of the civil
service commission, this city, is his brother.
Although a travelled man, Mr.. Turner has
somewhow never been to Washington since
1887 He has travelled several times to
Mexico to study architectural subjects, OF
which he is very fond. and is a frequent
visitor to Bermuda and abroad. On this oc-
casion he is travelling purely for pleasure
and is renewing old acquaintance. AS a
companion he has Mr.. o. j. Lewis. one or
his closest friends. They expect to leave
this city about Saturday and to continue
their journey southwark, stopping at olo
Point Norfolk, Richmond and other places.
Praise for Art Gallery.
IT arrived yesterday morning. said Mr..
Turner to a Star reporter today, land on
the same day went to the Corcoran Gal
lery of Art You have fine building there,
and a particularly pleasing and represen-
tative collection of pictures. l like the
lighting of the interior especially WELL and
will say with assurance that Boston mas
nothing like it.
why" he continued, Boston can learn
many things from this gallery that would
be of benefit to her in erecting the hne new
art gallery she proposes to have soon. You
know, this is the first time have seen the
Corcoran and therefore | am highly inter-
ested. There is fine exhibit of the Wash
ington club in the hemicicle room too, ne
remarked I'm all, l am more than pleased
h tha r,cfI,rn 7 IA ".
There have been many changes In the
city since Mr.. Turner was here last lie
said today that he scarcely recognized the
place, it is so improved Many OF the OLD
landmarks with which he familiar are
here no more, and in their places are new
structures. He had not seen the Library
of Congress, and was looking forward TO a
visit to it with much interest. He inquired
almost eagerly about various features of
the city which he had not yet seen, but
which he understood had changed.
Native of New York.
Mr. Turner is a native of Essex county,
N Y He went to Alexandria in 1862. He
is an elderly man, but in the full vigor of
life and in splendid spirits. He discussed
Washington and his old-time memories
with all the enthusiasm OF boyhood.
He is especially fond of subjects taken
from nature, and for this reason travels
far to find things that appeal to him in
this line 1t was this that took him several
times to Mexico and the Bermudas.
Nature as Suggestion.
In speaking of his preferences, however,
he said
81 believe in nature as suggestion
rather than as a tyrant.''
Among his most famous paintings are
the Golden Gallon" large water color,
which received silver medal at the Pan
American exposition, in Buffalo, N. Y;
Moonlight on the New England Coast
a large oil; Mexican Pato,'' one of the
fruits of his trip to our southern neigh
boris dominions, and "A Bermuda We'd
ding" Most of these, as we'll as the rest
of his more important products, are at
present in private ownership in New Eng
land. A number, however, are on exhibit
ton in New York and Philadelphia.
Have you ever thought of exhibiting
in this city?"' he was asked.
Yes, I have,' was the reply. But there
has been no incentive for me to do so, and
for that reason I have sent no pictures
here recently
The costly Illuminating of fine sets of
books is another of Mr. Turner's hobbies,
and so successful has he been with this
work that some of the volumes and sets he
has completed have sold for thousands of
dollars. He is now engaged on the $780,
600 set of Dickens works, which is to be
published by a New York firm.
Mr.. Turner is stopping at the New Will
lard.