Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-23

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doors. Had It been an exhibition ot old
masters the interest, it Is safe to say, would
not have been so great. And this fs not said
In d,sparagement Of the public's viewpoint
IRISH, Of Howard Pyle and Jessie Wilcox
Smith is not unworthy, md It Is readily
understood Art was primarily language
It is still merely vehicle OF expression
and one only reaches an appreciation of
the subtler things through o comprehension
Of the steps which lead up to them. The
illustrative work OF tho present day-the
best such as that which was included In
this exhiEltion-has done much toward rais-.
ing standards, and an interest in 1t marks
very truly growing appreciation for art.
The visitors to the exhibition passed. from
viewing It, into the other galleries. and
spent much time In examination of the per-
manent exhibits. The collection which
proved so popular Is now being shown in
the Pennsylvania Academy and will later
make a circuit of Chicago. st. Louis. Pitts
burg and Boston.
r. =
The exhibitions of art work done In the
public schools which were held In connec-
ton with the centennial celebration on
Wednesday and Thursday were specially
we'll arranged and attractive. The work OF
the grade schools was shown at the Bust
ness High School, while that of the several
high schools was set forth In the Mckinley
Manual Training School In some pai.ticu-
lars they were similar to others held during
past seasons, but they illustrate more fully
by concrete example than ever before the
trend of the teaching. The object Ii to
train the hand and eye. to improve the taste
and to not only increase the usefulness but
widen the horizon of each pupil. And this
without DOUBT 1t acconplishes. The work
Is not that of an art, but rather of COM
mon school; the students have almost no
yernacular, but g. large. comprehension of
the general subject. And their work is ex-
ceeosngly clever Not only are commend,
able studies and designs made from flow
ers and classical models in black and white
and color on paper, but In fabric, in metal
work, wood carving and embroidery they
are are. gwen excellent Interpretation. There Is
increasing evidence among the children of
artistic feeling and greater refinement to be
noted both In the character and color of
their designs.
81
Among the new features in the general
scheme of public art education are cireu-
Eating collections of pictures instituted
some time ago by the Providence Public
Library, and very recently introduced In
our own public schools through the teach
ers library in the Franklin building These
corrections consist of excellent mezzotint
reproductions of famous paintings by the
great masters and are intended to pass at
stated intervals from school room to school
room. The one which was shown this week
at the Business High School consisted Of
about twenty-five prints and included
charming reproductions Of well-known
Leonardo da vinci Reynolds LIE Brun,
Titan Correggio and, others. Familiarity
with such examples can not but in time
create a demand for and an appreciation
OF the best.
An expert committee composed of Charles
H. Ntehaus, Daniel French, Attiho Picci-
rtli, Thomas Hastings and Waddy B. Wood
has viewed and declared in writing its I'M
qualified approval of the general design as
we'll as choice and treatment of subject of
the doors which Mr. Louis Amateis of this
city has made for the west front of the
Capitol. They are divided into eight or
more panels and with pictorial transom
represent the growth and development of
of $4,000 was made for this
work year or two ago. but 1t will proba-
bly, be another twelve months before the
doors are cast and completed.
Il 4
The loan collection of the Corcoran Gal.
lery has been enriched this week by the
addition of a bronze by Mr.. Edward
Kemeys, the distinguished animal sculptor.
1t represents a panther and cubs and liz
thought to be one of his best works. The
great cat is stretched out on her side, after
feline fashion, indolently noting and yet in
regarding the actions Of her Off
spring, 1t is strongly modelled and the in
yet each factor is well felt out. MS.
kemeys is not technician, but he has in
terpfeted as none other the wild creatures
Of our land. He endows his animals with
and makes them vital and sig
nificant to those who will give them
thought
4 K
Miss Aline Solomons has painted recently
several very pleasing still-life studies. One
shows a large brass kettle a stone crock.
a head of cabbage, some onions and a
squash, grouped together on dark wood
table. In arrangement 1t is excellent and
in color rich and harmonious. 1t is ciev-
erly handled, too, and in the spontaneity
of its rendering suggests the pleasure the
artist found in the transcription. Another
pictures most sympathetically a bowl of
pink roses-roses which have preserved their
fragility and yet lost none Of their potent
charm. They are carefully drawn and ac-
curately painted, but they interpret as truly
the spirit as the substance OF the flower.
~.
Miss Bertha E. Perrie has just finished
an admirable miniature upon which She has
been working, when opportunity offered,
for some weeks. It is portrait of a
bearded man of possibly forty years. and
is not only an excellent likeness. but g.
clever painting. 1t is rather broadly treat
ed, yet finished In effect. The modelling is
strong. the color nicely modulated. From
several view points 1t Is the most mature
and scholarly work of the kind that the
painter has yet accomplished.
-
A collection of paintings by the late Fla
vius Fisher was placed on exhibition in
Mrs Fishers studio in the Corcoran build
ing last week. 1t consists chiefly of por-
traits and covers long period of activity.
One of the earlier examples Is q likeness
of the present Cardinal Gibbons and one
of the later portrait painted for the Miller
Manual Training School at Albemarle, Va,
of its beneicent founder. The exhibition
will be continued informally to the end Of
the holidays.
The announcement made this week that
Mr.. George A. Hearn of New York had pre-
sented to the Metropolitan Museum not
only twenty fine paintings. but also 100000
with which to purchase more by American
artists, was welcome news. 1t indicates a
very substantial appreciation of the worth
of our native artists, and should stimulate
those who are now working to put forth
their best effort. This Is patronage of
hot NJ hes nxuE