Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31


views which are delightful in themselves,
sparkling with color and strongly decora-
tive In feeling. Suggesting at glance the
work of Maxfield Parrish they are upon
consideration found to possess marked IN
dividualfty. Decorative and illustrative
hibition.
A number OF Henry VOLTS exquisite wood
ergravfngs are shown, well as some of
Pennelfs etchings. together with Elizabeth
Shovel Shinn's and Elizabeth Shipper
Green's child pictures, and Violet Oakley's
cartoons for the Pennsylvania state house
decorations. Standing between the two
illustrative and decorative work-rnore gem
timely artistic than either Is comprehen-
Gladys ThAyer-Abbott Thayer's sixteen
year-old daughter. There are peoples
and iris narcissus and fruit blos-
SONS usually a single flower on a
simple background studies done with
the subtle simplicity of the arch-impres-
sioIists, yet perfectly unaffected and sim
cere. An additional and imports Mt feature
of this exhibition is a collection OF etchfngs
and prints by group of the most eminent
OF the English artists-a collection which
was sent over at the invitation and request
of the Pennsylvania Academy and the Wa
ter Color Club The exhibition continues
until April Fl.
Mr., Moser is the only Washington artist
represented In the Philadelphia Art Clubs
which is now. likewise. in progress. He has
sent a snow scene and wood interior, both
| of which are characteristic and interesting.
Mr.. George Gibbs who is a member of the
exhibition committee, as we'll as non-resi-
dent member of the Society of Washington
Artists, contributes pleasing surf picture
and an interesting genre; and Augustus
koopman, who is specially well represented
in the current local exhibition, sends sew
kS N-hn hnu
ever, this exhibition is far from delightful.
The pictures are hung In a tumble from,
rail-to ceiling and are intrinsically poor. The
standard is extremely low. Much of the
work is plainly commercial, and many of
even the good painters are seen at their
worst. This seems a little surprising for
there is no lack of distinguished names in
the catalogue and there is never any reason
for an overcrowded inferior show.
The conditions in New York at the Society
of American Artists exhibition are not 1t
is to be regretted, very much better. There,
again, to be found a profusion of ex-
hibits and few notable paintings. Portraits
constitute the most significant section of the
exhibit and collectively manifest the most
latent strength. The Shaw prize was given
to Miss Lydia f, EEmet's Boy In White"
which is altogether charming: and special
prominence has been accorded to Miss Ellen
q. Emmet'S portraits of Mrs. Mark Hanna
of "A Child" Charles Steele, Mrs G.
and others. William T. Snedley shows an
excellent likeness of Mr.. Irving Wiles who
in turn exhibits a mastery portrait of DR..
John w. Burgess. The position of honor
in the Vanderbilt Gallery has been given
to painting of an angel by Abbott Thayer,
which has been loaned by Mr. Freer of
Detroit and in the same great room is to
be found an exquisite little Lutte Player
by t. w. Dewing. This. with it's subtlety
refinement and finish, seems out of place in
its present environment.
OF quite a different character was tie ex-
hibtion of the Ten American Painters
held in the Montross Gallery. But thirty
two canvases were shown and each pos
sessed distinct Individuality and true art
feeling Some were extreme. to be sure and
not all were equally commendable but
they were at least vital and significant
Joseph DeCamp contributed a splendid por-
trait of himself and I. w. Dewing a poetic
picture of lady Willard L. Metca1f and
j. Alden Weir sent peculiarly attractive
landscapes, while Robert Reid exhibited
Chiefly decorative studies and paintings
William NJ Chase. the new member, elected
in the place of the late John ii. Twacht-
man, was not specially well represented.
and Mr.. ChlIde HaSSam, save Ill one eX-
ample, was not seen at his best Frank W.
Bensons Three Sisters" sparkle1 with
sunshine and vivacity, and Edmund c. Tar
bells Girl Mepding.'' as type OF the
much-neglected American genre was, how
ever, specially worthy of notice.
x =
1t is pleasant to find the local painters
winning appreciation out of town with the
best, but it is not at all necessary to %
either to New York or to Philadelphia to
see good pictures. Washington IS not as
yet renowned as an art center. but 1t may
be safely said that some of the choicest
pictures. both American and foreign, are
shown from time to time here. At the
Fischer galleries there now two remark
able canvases-oue by Velasquez and the
other by Raeburn. The Velasquez is an
oblong panel shape, and shows Spanish
peasant gathering grapes He stands fac
ing the observer with one hand holding his
knife and the other reaching up toward the
fruit. There is a dark sky with a streak
of light along the horizon IA background
and Il rugged landscape as an adjunct of
the composition. The general color scheme
Is brown, but rich. and in tone varied. The
paint is broadly laid on, but at the same
time carefully; 1t is tremendously fo-cafIl
and yet mature in finish. As performance
IN technique 1t is mastery and as a decora-
tlon rarely delightful. The Raeburn is a
portrait of little girl-a child probably not
more than eight or ten years old, wearing
simple White frOck and seated on Il red
bench or stool against a buff colored wall.
The face is sweet and wistful not lack
ing in character, but battling In expression.
Her arms are bare and her hands are
folded in her lap. That it is well painted
goes without saying, but that it is brill
liant Interpretation may be added without
shame. The color is charming, the manner
of rendering marvelously simple. AS por-
trait 1t carries with 1t conviction and as
painting 1t has almost unrivaled charm.
!: X
Two valuable and interesting pictures
have recently been discovered in the garnet
of the Corcoran house. They were fair
sized canvases, and had been stored away
for many years, so that when they were
first brought out they excited interest, but
were almost unrecogniZable. For the pur
pose of Identification they were placed in
the hands of Mr.. V. C. Fischer and when,'
under his direction, they were restored it
was found that they We're paintings by
Boueher-pastorals-d after the fashion
of that time, most carefully, cartoons,
probably for tapestries. The supposition
is that Mr.. Corcoran originally advanced
money on them, probably at the time that
the British embassy occupied his residence.
and that they were he'd in trust, which