Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
ART NOTES.

washington Water Color Club was opened
on Wednesday In Morrey's gallery. It con-
sists of oils, water colors and pastels and
emphasizes the fact that to a skillful paint
er medium Is Of small consequence. About
forty exhibits are comprehended in its cat
alogue, among which will be found a dozen
or more works which have passed the juries
or the most exclusive exhibitions. Facing
the entrance, and showing to the best adj
vantage, is the large canvas, picturing a
showery day near Pittsfeld, which occu-
pied prominent place in the Society of
Washington Artists eleventh annual exhi-
bitfon and has since been shown in the Cor
coran Gallery's loan collection. 1t Is a
broadly painted, spirited work, and with nice
reserve sets forth an uncommonly impress
sive scene. Beside it, exhibiting the same
virile qualities and even more spontaneity
Is the original sketch In water color from
which 1t was painted. The right wall has
been given over almost exclusively to the
works In oils and pastels. whereas the left
has been largely devoted to those in water
color. Among the former of special note,
are two peculiarly charming sunsets-a
tiny little canvas showing clear luminous
sky. and poetic bit Of November land
scape; and a large canvas, picuring above
a stretch of darkening country, a brilliant
cloud effect Here, too, Is the picture of the
canoe carnival which Mr.. Moser saw last
summer from the Aqueduct bridge, and has
transcribed with remarkable realism
Among the water colors there are four of
unusual fmportance-"Summero on Lake Pla-
cid" "Vagrant Clouds Green Bridge
Light and Sunlight Through Rain in
these the painter makes his highest score
and at the same time exhausts the posi-
bilities of his medium. They stand for
him at his best, and attest his right
to distinction The first is gently
In handling; morning mist is seen
rising from the surface of the lake reveal
ing in the foreground delicately tinted,
grass-grown shores. 1t is in the high key
of sunrise, tempered into tone by the all
pervasive mist; picturesque and yet at the
same time more vital than pretty. The
second, "Vagrant Clouds" is decided con-
trast through Its strength of color and
holder treatment. Here the tops of the
mountains are seen, dark and purple,
against sea of dull, gray storm clouds,
while across their faces floats, with almost
clouds, torn, apparently ruthlessly, from
the great drifting mass. The third is
nocturne, scene on the canal, which finds
its charm in simplicity and truth; and the
fourth, Sunlight Through Rain" returns
for It's interest to subtle rendering of
vaporous, atmospheric conditions.
There is nothing more evident in the ex-
hibiuon taken as a whole than the paint
er's versatility. Mr. Moser has not only re-
markable facility but tremendous capacity
for assimilation, and no two of his works
show the same mood or manner He Is
sometimes. In utterance, clear-cut and
crisp, sometimes exceedingly literal and
at others subtle and evasive. His work
is always, however, characteristic, and In
certain phases 1t is distinctly Individual.
In the rendering of cloud effects and half
lights he reaches his greatest heighth and
has attained results beyond the scope
of the majority of painters Mr.. Mosers
talisman is perpetual enthusiasm, and the
secret Of his success unending study.
x
To one who sees many paints it Is
keen delight to come across a portrait as
amazingly good as that which Miss Ellen
Emmett has just finished of Mrs. Hanna.
1t is a large canvas, full length, pictur-
ing the lady seated in a awing-room arm
chair She is sitting upright with her
hands in her lap, looking intent1y toward
the observer. Her gown is of black velvet,
lightened and enriched by front and
trimmings of cream net and lace over
white satin; the background is a heavy
curtain of dull buff brocade. The pose, the
color acheme and the general arrangement
are most pleasing. and from first to last it
is painted with consummate skill. Miss
Emmett showed last month at the Cosmos
Club some admirable portraits, but none
which ranked with this, which combines
with forco and virility refinement and
finish. Comparatively simple in treatment
1t will be found mastery in effect. The like
ness is excellent, and the personality OF
the sitter is strongly felt. At no single
beneath the clever brush work there Is no
suggestion Of effort nor labor. For any
painter 1t would be notable performance,
but for one or less than a dozen years ex-
perience 1t possesses immense and signifl-
cant promise. Miss Emmett has also paint
ed during her three weeks sojourn In
Washington a small portrait OF Mr.. Henry
G. Perkins. which is equally admirable and
no less important.
Miss Ellen Day Hale. to whom was
awarded the third Corcoran prize at the
Society of Washington Artists current ex-
hibition. is another very welcome addition
to the local art colony She has had. dur
ing the latter part of the winter. a studio
In the Mendoza and has wrought, in spare
moments portraits of her distinguished
father and mother. They are both faithful
1ikenesses and charming representations,
setting forth. under the guise OF subtle
brush-work, the individuality rather than
the merely human expression of her sitters.
This liberal attitude toward art and con-
slant. reaching out for underlying truths
is manifested in all Miss Hale's work, from
her Interpretation of the Nativity, placed
as q mural decoration in the South Con-
gregational Church, Boston. to her simplest
portrait sketch. made In the home of
friend. and it Is that which gives to 1t an
enduring charm.
The loan collection of the Corcoran Gal
lery realized two valuable acquisitions this
week in the return Of Abbey's Trial of
Queen Catherine" loaned by Senator Clark
to the Pennsylvania Academy's recent ex-
hibition, and by Romney portrait. added
by the senator to his collection. The lat
ter IL a likeness of Dorothy Walpole. March
,oco.e Of Townsend and q most captivating
picture Broadly painted. 1t is still reserved
in feeling. low in tone. rich In color and
decoratiye in effect. The marchioness Is
but girl. slender and graceful, and across
the gulf Of more than q century looks into
the Observers eyes with genuine. gentle APP
PEAL From the painters standpoint 1t
would be well to note the modulated white
Of the gown, the clever management Of the
hat. and the interesting manner In which
the color scheme has been completed by
touch. ID precisely the right place OF blue.