Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-05
A R T N O T E s.

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added within the past fortnight to the loan
collection In the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Both are portraits-one q likeness of the
Countess OF Sunderland and the other Of
Nell Gwynn. The former Is three-quarter
length and represents the distinguished lady
resting her right elbow on high pedestal
and her head upon her hand The pose is
graceful and easy--the coioring varied and
rich The latter is smaller canvas and
portrays only the head and shoulders, but
In come respects is even more pleasing and
notable. The little orange girl who became
the kings favorite Is pictured as fair
young woman with soft, curling hair, big.
solemn eyes and an arch expression. The
background-possihly a piece of tapestry
Is an evening landscape her gown the sim
plest of white muslins Offset by an oid-gold
and gray silk scarf or shawl. Technically
both paintings are admirably rendered, and
artfstcally each will be found attractive.
They are more decorations than character
studies. for neither is humanity vital, but
they are particularly pleasing in line and
harmonious in color. and can, furthermore.
boast agreeable tone. Sir Peter Lely, the
painter, was born in 1917. of Dutch parent
age, and, after studying art in Holland was
induced to remove to England by the pat
ronage of Charles 1. He succeeded Van
dyke in court favor and was knighted in
recognition of his skill. Pepys character
lied him as "a mighty proud man and full
of state, but he succeeded almost inya-
riably in pleasing his patrons. He got to-
gether a collection of contemporary paint
ings. prints etc, which sold at auction
after his death. in 1850, for over $4,000.
and among his own most famous works
were portraits of Cromwell, Charles II and
a number of the ladies of the court known
still by the title of the Windsor Beauties"
He was neither as famous nor strong
int or q G n mr. W h,,t he md rot nc
art better than the majority (as these two
very characteristic examples now in the
Corcoran Gallery ably testify and he is
rightly given rank with the great English
portrait painters.
Il
Several changes have been made in the
arrangement of the pictures in the foreign
room at the Corcoran Gallery which greatly
enhance the general effect. The large can
vas representing Shakespeare and His
Contemporaries by John Faed, which hung
over the Corot landscape, together with
Moretti's st. Peters and the Forum"
formerly thanking it, have been removed to
the atrium and replaced by Emile Bretons
Sunset and Japys Spring Landscap Pc
and Twilight" which In color more
harmonious and in spirit better related. Nor
does the change initiate against those can
vases which have been removed. The atrium
makes an excellent exhibition hall, and the
few canvases which have recently been ar
ranged in groups on its panels repay the
honor given them by helping to furnish the
gallery. The late Daniel Huntingdon
"Mercys Dream Mengs Alteration OF
the Shepherds" Portaels' Drought in
Egypt" which. by the way, took prize
when exhibited at the Crystal Palace, Sy-
denham. and AIRY Scheffer's THE Weeper'
have all been given places in this imposing
but commonly unused gallery.
Miss Janet scudder, the well-known
sculptor, who came to this city four months
ago to execute a single commission has
been detained by subsequent orders until
now During this time she has modelled
in low relief number Of panel portraits
which will be cast in bronze and later re-
duced abroad to silver miniatures. One
of these is a likeness of Mr. Everett Mays
little son, Junior, and another Is por-
trait of Mr.. Henry L. Enos baby daughter,
Alice. The former Is a medallion set with
a base, something after the fashion of a
japanese writing screen, and shows merely
the head in profile; while the latter is an
upright panel and represents the little maid
standing at an angle to the observer. Both
are nicely handled, strong and expressive.
They convincing as portraits, but.
furthermore they are pictures of children
Miss Scudder has been successful in catch
ing not only resemblance, but the spirit OF
childhood, and has got into her work both
It's freshness and simplicity. An earlier
but a notable example of Miss Scudder's
work is a portrait of the venerable Bishop
Hare; and a delightful manifestation of her
versatility may be found in a quaint little
clock which she both modelled and designed
She is specially interested in outdoor sculp-
ture-in sculpture for gardens, for foun-
tains and the like, and has made along
these lines some interesting and valuable
contributions.
Mrs Robert Coleman Child has just fin
ished in pastel an excellent portrait of Mrs.
Musgrave of this city. 1t is nfe-size, but
on comparatively small canvas. and sets
forth. therefore, little more than the head
and shoulders. The background in a light
gray-blue; the gown white silk muslin
trimmed with rich lace in the form of a
fichu. OF necessity it is high in key, but
it is at the same time toneful and harmoni-
Gus. 1t has in its rendering the brilliancy
of technique which characteriZes all of Mrs. !
Childs work, but 1t has In addition to this
poise and distinction. While ii is clever,
1t is also studied and significant. Mrs.
Child has also made in the same medium a
sketch Of her little son. which, as a like
ness, is admira Die and as a baby picture
altogether charming.
MI William Fuller Curtis, who has been
in Boston for several months. returned to
his home In this city the last of April.
Conflicting duties have prevented him from
undertaking any large commissions during
the past winter, but he has brought back
with him a NUMBER of attractive pencil
drawings. which will probably later find
translation In a more stable medium. Mr..
Curtis work in burnt wood is unique, both
In kind and quality; he understands better
than the majority the requirements of dec
Grafton and the significance of line, and
these individual traits are discernable in
the smallest drawing as in the most finished
panel.
In addition to some interesting illustrative
work Miss Suzanne Gutherz has on hand
now a portrait of Senator Henderson, which
bids fair to be a success. 1t Is a three
quarter length, and pictures the general
seated In an armchair turned slightly to
the left. He has apparently just looked
up from paper which is folded in his
hand, and his countenance wears an eX-
preston of alert interest. The figure is