Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-07

| the theme. His canvases are usually au-
| thoritative statements, but they are also
pictorial and more or less decorative
X
There Is now on exhibition at Veerhon 8
portrait of the late President Mckinley
painted by Mr.. Charles Ayre Whipple or
New York. 1t is an immense canvas ana
pictures the martyreo statesman standlng
in his office at the White House beside
his desk. The calendar indicates that 1t
is June g. and his left hand rests lightly
upon a freshly written document APP
parently he has just risen from his chair
and turned toward the observer. The Idea
is not bad nor is the brush-work haltlnf,
but beyond this there is little to be said An
its favor. The clothes lack utterly all sem
bance of cloth and might for all the world
be a coat of mail7-the form is inadequately
expressed and the head itself is weakly
painted. There is a shadow of resemblance
Int no approach toward portraiture-no in
terpretation of character or personality
Neither is the figure surrounded by atnos.
phere-it is merely the evident creation OF
paint The desk, the chair and the minor
details are cleverly rendered, and the whole
a veneer which appeals to the uninltlateo
but 1t Is unquestionabiy bad art, and IT
would certainly never pass muster before
an artist jury.
Mr. Lucien Powell has received sub
stantial compliment recently in the pur-
chase of two of his water colors by dis
tinguished English traveller, who, hearing of
his work, stopped in Washington on his
way home, hunted him up and procured
examples of his western paintings to take
back with him to Great Britain. Mr. Powell
has now in his studio the canvas trans
scribing a sunset in the Grand Canyon,
which was shown last winter In the Penn
sylvania Academy's annual exhibition, and
xuhjo atf fra considerable atten-
ton. 1t is somewhat similar to the water
color purchased last fall by the Corcoran
Gallery, but is little warmer In tone and
richer in quality. Many believe It TO De
among the most notable of Mr.. Powell s
productions.
The Society of Washington Artists annu-
al exhibition in the hemicycle of the Cor
| coran Gallery closes today. It has been
fairly well attended. but not single sale
has been made This is perhaps more I'M
happy than extraordinary. Cheap pictures
and very expensive ones sell comparatively
WELL but there is almost no market for the
moderate priced ones. Then, too, exhibition
pictures are not always the most suitable
for home. 1t Is very possible TO Ike or
even admire picture without coveting Its
possession. But on the other hand there
were q number of pictures In this exhlol-
ton which would have made good compan-
as lasting pleasure was concerned IL is
mistake to believe that current production
Is inferior or to walt until an artist Is dead
to buy his works The wise are those who
recognize merit wherever 1t may be found.
and the generous are those who stimulate
contemporary work by discriminating pat
ronage.
x
When the seventh international congress
of architects meets in London next July
there will be held in the Grafton Galleries
a chronological exhibition of English archi-
lecture from the Norman conquest to the
death of Sir Charles Barry in 1850, together
with an individual exhibition of paintings
by weli-known British artists. treating OF
architectural subjects.
In order to put American art In painting
on Its proper plane abroad, as compared
with the art Of Europe. the Society Of Art