Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
ART NOTES.

pOSSu OI lOCdi dTCIJttCtS aQu dttlstS has
been conducted upon entirely new lines and
has been consummated with great success.
It marks a new era in ,fesnyar decora ton
and demonstrates the value of art principles
practically applied. Asa painter might
conceive picture in form and color and
render it with brush and pigIne4ts, SO these
decorators have evolved aad-executed their
pictorial scheme. Given the building as their
canvas, they had three materials to work
withdrawing. flowers and lights. These
they used to emphasize. rather than obliter-
ate, as is customary, the architectural fea-
lures of the hall. They were made to beau
tify without becoming predominant; to be
a part of a unified whole Instead Of a scat
tered arrangement of gay bunting and
bright blossoms, which heretofore has pre-
vailed, the drapery and plants have been
massed SO to become u part of a large,
dignified scheme 1t is scene painting of
the most skillfu sort on a big scale. Dull
blue drapery of atmospheric hue has been
used for the distant background, turkey red
for the middle distances and light gray for
the foreground. Against these appear the
general scheme of green and ivory. High
up, browning the gallery, are evergreens ar
ranged with architectural features to create
villa garden effect, and relating these
with the main floor are tall banks of sweep
ing Porto Rican palms. Even the red uni
forms of the Marine Band have been taken
to account in the color scheme and made to
furnish complimentary note in precisely
the right place. But perhaps the most re-
markabe part of all is the way in which the
lights have been handled. With them the
picture has literally been painted. Two
kinds have been employed-those which il
lumine and those which are chiefly lumi-
nous. The first have been made purposely
strongest on the main floor, decreasing in
brilliancy as they ascend toward the roof.
The second have been used as a part of the
col C6hn t1n 1ion fc-n
ed shades, and those which appear as
prominent feature of the gallery decorat ton
are composed of many little lights in pink,
blue and yellow globes. which. while pro-
ducing single spot of brifliancy, become in
this way irdescent. The spectacular has in
every case been avoided. Lights, colors and
forms have been brought into intimate and
harmonious relation, and the whole has been
composed as a setting for the living picture
to be presented tonight This is an Unusual
form of art, but it is full worthy of the
name.
An important movement which will tend
not only to bring into closer relation the
art workers of Washington, but to further
the cause of the fine arts, has recently been
set on foot A number of prominent artists,
architects and laymen have got together
and issued call for a meeting, to be held
next Friday, at the Cosmos Club, to con-
slider the organization of a fine arts society,
the objects of which will be the diffusion
of art knowledge and the increase of art
interest. The plan proposed though still in
embryo, is somewhat in this fashion: The
membership is to be composed of artists
and those interested in the fine arts Meet
ings are to be held monthly from October
to May, at a fixed place, or at the homes of
members, at each of which some special
lecturer VIII be provided and a certain
amount OF time spent in general CONVERSE
ton Besides this. popular lectures on art
may be provided for the public special ex-
hibitions arranged, and at least one large
exhibition undertaken annually. The So
clety viii In every way promote the fine
arts. but its premise will be improvement
through added knowledge rather than re-
form through legislation. The time seems
ripe for just such an organization. AS man
prominent in New York art circles remarked
recently. washington is bound to become
an art center. Her environment and her
leisure class will engender it." Already she
possesses colony of able artists and a
coterIe of men and women of wealth and
culture. Some of the best pictures which
come to this country are shown in WASH
ington, and some of the ,handsomest homes
in America have. been erected, here within
recent years. The artists are earnest and
the laity interested. and mutual benefits
will accrue when they.rare brought into
more intimate relationship. The scheme pro-
posed seems feasible, pleasant and natural,
and should. and doubtless will, meet with
5CLSi IA dppiosa al dIld SuppoAt
x 4
It is interesting in this connection to
know that an organiza ton with similar
aims and scope has just come into existence
in st. Louis. Mo-, result of the impetus
given to art by the Louisiana purchase ex-
position. 1t is called the "St. Louis Ar
lists Guild" and Mr.. George Julian Zoi-
nay, the sculptor, is its president: Its
avowed objects are to stimulate and pro-
mote the practical expression of all art
workers in st. Louis, the state of Missouri,
the adjoining states, the south and south
west; to facilitate bringing before the peo-
pie the tangible results of all the art. and
arts and crafts, workers by means of ex-
hbitions and to maintain accommodations
sufficient for all social purposes, in connec-
ton with art by which the acquaintance
of art workers and art lovers shall be pro-
NOTED for mutual benefit and. pleasure"
**
A collection of nineteen oil paintings and
five water colors by Gedney Bunce, which
is now on exhibition at V. G. Fischers, is
attracting much attention. Almost without
exception they are Venetian pictures. and
Impressions in the struesti sense of the
word. Some are brilliantly colorful-others
low toned and harmonious. 1t has been
said that they were painted indoors, or, in
other words, are Studio pictures but il
SO they are not lacking in truth or spon-
taneity. They are not reproductions of
Venice, but rather transcriptions of her
moods, and in their execution they mani
fest both self-poise and restraint. The larg-
est canvaseS are the least pleasing. ESpe
ciaIy is this true of the one which hangs
opposite the entrance to the gallery which
shows under the title Of San Georgia.,
two bright but unpleasantly balanced
groups of sailing vessels. To the right and
left of this, however, hang four canvases
conspicuous for their merits. All are red
glowing sunsets, seen across the water, j
and in tone and color are extremely SINH
lar. Each is. however, a different compo-
sltion and exhibits to the careful observer
very diverse handling. Thee first to the
right lie Crepuscule.' is peculiarly charm
ing. and presents very remarkably vivid
glow through twilight dusk. Steam
Smoke and Sails and "Gray Morning"
are symphonies in gray, literally rendered,
and EVening-Grand Canal is a nocturne
not soon to be forgotten. 1t is at the same
time broadly and minuteIy executed-sug-
gestive and complete-flled with the very
essence of the night and setting forth its
restful influence. The exhibition will con-
tinue until the 18th and IS, to be fol-
lowed by collection OF the late Wells
Champney's pastels.
81" Gl9-E g.
b..