Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-03


proving unsatisfactory to the judges, is at
present being revised. John Paul Jones and
John Barry are still merely on paper, APP
preparation having been made for them
Comparatively recently. These are both to
be erected under the direction Of COM
mission to be composed of the secretaries
Of war and of the navy, the cha1rmen OF
the committees on the library Q. senate are
portunities for good and original work. and
If placed in the right hands may prove en-
belishments to the city. AS rule, COM
petitions are unsattsfactory-the best men
do not enter them and the choice rarely
falls to the most capable. A small model Is
not really a safe test, and no jury Is aoso-
lutely infallible. The better way; by 1ar; Is
through past accomplishment, has proved
himself worthy OF the trust.
Mr.. Percy T. Morgan Of California has
loaned to the Corcoran Gallery of Art four
Interesting canvases which he recently &C
quired from the Swami collection. They
are a portrait of Lord Delaware by Sir
Joshua Reynolds, a painting by Antoine
Pesne, a portrait Of Charles II by Sir Peter
Lely, and picture OF Lady hamilton
which has been attributed to Romney,
though probably enormously. The portrait
of Lord Delaware is certainly the most Inn
portant of the group, though 1t Is undoubt-
eddy the least imposing 1t is a small can
vas showing only the head and shoulders,
and Is in none too good a condition, but II
handling and rich, well-modulated color.
The PeSne canvas, which hangs to the lett,
Is the direct antithesis Of this. 1t sets
forth. with what might be described as
pictorial splendor. young woman richly
robed standing against a balustrade on
which is a vase literally overfowing with
flowers. In motif it Is distinctly decorat-
i've; technically 1t is cleverly wrought, but
lot; llu ic
Pesne was court painter to Frederick the
Great, and director Of the Berlin Academy,
but he was a Frenchman and his work
reflects both the grace and superhclallty
Of his school. 1t is, however, interesting
and in a measure instructive. The Lely
portrait Is also notable, and the Lady
Hamilton whatsoever her Interpreter may
have been, is both vivacious and winning.
None is a really great picture-all. in fact,
have obvious defects, but they are pleasing
to the eye as are few modern portraits:
they are toneful and not panty, and while
rewarding attention they do not clamor
for it.
Miss Grace E. Atwater, the secretary OF
the Washington Water Color Club, re-
turned to the city this week after an alb
sence of four or five months. With Miss
Lesley Jackson, Miss Atwater had a charm
ing studio at East Gloucester for the entire
summer, and there she fingered late in
September after the majority of the So
journers had gone, finding fresh inspira-
ton and new themes in the landscape
touched by autumn From Gloucester,
about the LIST of October, she went to Que
bac, where again she found an abundance
of paintable material. From both places
she has brought back with her many in
teresting sketches-pictures well studied
and yet full of spontaneity. From Glouces-
ter there not only fishing boats and
wharves, but blossoming gardens, bits of
the moorland and studies of the rocks and
the One of group of trees on the
waters edge is peculiarly painter-like and
attractive, and another of the town towers
seen from by-path over tanSle of
changing foliage is specially pleasing and
characteristic. Quebec naturally yielded
very different themes. Clusters of quaint
old houses, interesting court yards. foreign
looking sheep sheds, and. lastly, pictur-
eSque streets. 1t is doubtless true that
there are pictures everywhere, but it takes
the artist to find and interpret them.
~
Mr.. Lucien Powell has reopened his studio
in the Lehman building, and is now busy
developing the sketches which he made
this summer In \irginia They are in water
color and set forth not the rolling hills
and farm land that artists commonly find
SO alluring in this state. but rather the
grander aspects hidden in the great noun
instance, with it's raging torrent and tow
er.ng walls Mr.. Powell visited several times
and pictured faithfully; the Natural Bridge
he also set forth from various viewpoints
and other bits of the wild mountain seem
cry he took opportunity to transcribe.
Since he returned he has been sketching,
when the weather would permit, at Great
Falls, working on the Virginia shore and
selecting certain sections of the great wa
ter way for pictorial presentation.
X
Mr.. William Fuller Curtis is at work now
upon decorative panel which while of
wood is to be in color. 1t represents young
woman, richly robed and bejeweled, typify-
ing Pride" She carries the symbol of the
peacock. but the tilt of her chin and the
manner III ner bearing are sufficient to be-
tray her name. The costume is quaint
and the treatment of the theme is dis
rInctly original. The outlines are cut into
the wood. the surfaces covered with fiat
tints or color the background is of yellow
gold and adding to the richness of the
color scnerne are other bits of metal luster
During the summer Mr.. Curtis did a num-
Der of portraits in pencl-true lkenesses
set forth in decorative guise with poster
like simplicity and almost medieval feel
ing. Distinctly they are individual, q Gu
riously interesting innovation and vet they
are in no sense forced or irrational They
do not surprise the observer or merely
amuse but display a keen analysis of
character and real personality.
i
There will be busy times at the Corcoran
School next week. On Monday the water
color class will be reorganzed under the
direction of Mr. James Henry Moser, and
in the afternoon at Alb the first of this
seasons art talks will be given in the
lower Hemicycle by Mr.. E. c. Messer the
principal of the school Then there will
also be the students exhibition of sum-
mer work, opening on Monday or Tuesday
and continuing for several days for the
benefit of the students and their friends.
=
1t is learned with much interest that Mr.,
George Senseney, formerly a student of the
Corcoran School and one of Mr. Helmick' s
pupils, will this year have a class in color
etching at the Art Students League in New
York. Mr.. Senseney has done some admira-
BILE work in this medium and Is peculiarly
well equipped for this position. or late he
has been doing quite little illustrating for
no load limo zin nd HI