Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
A R 7 N O 7 E s.

An exceedingly interesting collection OF
water colors made In Morocco by Mr. Ar
thur Schneider was placed on exhibition in
the veerhon gallery the latter part of this
week Mr. Schneider is an Ofsioan and
member of the Society OF Illustrators.
After working for a time with a firm of
photographers in New York he went abroad.
and finding his way to Morocco became
the friend and drawing teacher of the sui
tan. Six years were spent in these capaci-
ties. and returning recently to America he
brought with him many interesting pie
torial records of that much discussed land.
His work is distinctly out of the ordinary
and refreshngiy good. 1t is clever and at
the same time serious; studied and yet
free. Much of 1t he has done in clear color,
and even when using gouache he has sue
ceeded in preserving the characteristic at
tributes of his medium. His paintings
unequivocal water colors-fresh, vvacious
and direct. Some are. it is true, done some
what after the Dutch method, while others
have been put on In transparent wash, but
all display clear vision and a sure hand.
Subjectively they are of special interest at
this time, and their simple Interpretation
gives the observer a pleasant feeling of
familiarity with the Moroccan country and
neying with great pomp and many attend
ants, in camp, by the sea, and welcoming
his chiefs; there are In the collection
views of EFF, of Tangier and other cities,
besides sunny landscapes without the walls
and transcriptions of dusky scenes within
They are unusual hut, curiously not I'M
real. The strange costumes and odd archi-
lecture seem, indeed. peculiarly appro-
to the belief that the artist both knew
and understood his themes. All
not equally good 1t is true, occasionally
one is found too photogra phic and now
majority are sincere and few reach a
high plane. Such, for example as "A Ter
raced Street" which is exceptionally
pleasing In composition and delightfully."-
rendered; or The Sultan Welcoming His
Chiefs a crisp, coorful study set forth
with much drectness and evident truth; or
again the portrait of "A Saint a noble
Nsaged old Moor broadly and vigorously
handled This collection is but portion
of larger collection recently exhibited in
the Clause alleries. New York, where it
attracted t'Esiderable attention and called
forth favorable notice. In part its excellence
goes to prove that academic training Is not
indispensable. and that in the development
of an artist even the so-calIed art atmos-
phere'' is not an essential. 1t will continue
until the 25th.
A collection of CopIey prints at Ven
able's gives a fair survey of contempc-
rary American art and constitutes, at
present, extremely interesting exhibit.
1t is remarkable what sympathetic
medium of Interpretation the camera.
properly manipulated can become and
with what wise discrimination Messrs.
Curtis and Cameron of Boston have Sc
lected their themes. A great deal is heard
today about painters pictures and can
n
general public" but these reproductions
testify to the fact that work can a once
be one and the same. The pictures which
are set forth have almost without excep-
ton been the works of distinguished ar
lists, and yet there is none which does not
make, even to the uninitiated, direct APP
comprehended, but good art more often
than 1t is supposed speaks for itself Who
for example, would not appreciate, or at
least find pleasure in that charming land
scape by the late George Inness, known
as Georgian Pines" or in his equally
CHARACTERISTIC Light and Shadow" Two
OF Carleton Virgins landscapes are here
also, and quite a number of Irving Coue s.
idealized Indian pictures. Looking over
the collection, indeed one comes across
many familiar friends-Wells Champney's
Madonna" John w. Alexanders Green
Gown" which is now in the Pennsylvania
sculpturesque figures and Kenyon Cox's
decorations. Abbey's Holy Grail" series
is likewise reproduced and Blashfield's
recent mural painting for the Baltimore
custom house. Less notable works. more
over, are acknowledgements which in exhi-
billions have been noted with interest and
with which acquaintance Is gladly re-
newed-such as Irving Wiles Julia Mar
lowe" Rollo Peters portrait of his little
son, Lydia Emmet's child portraits, Lou
Use Cox's Miss Muffett" and Bensons
Game of Tag" The illustrative field too,
is represented. There are works by Jes-
sic Wilcox Smith, Elizabeth Shipper
Green, w. l.. Taylor and others. The sur
vey is not complete but IT Is fairly COM
prehensive, and in small space is set forth
an unusual amount of good material.
When reproductions of good pictures can
be had readily and at comparatively
such small cost there is almost no rea-
son why commercial paintings and poor
prints should ever be given q place in the
home.