Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06
A RI N TES.

Attention has been drawn this week to
the subject of municipal art by the lectures
given at the Public Library and before the
National Society of the Fine Arts in Hub
bard Memorial Hall by Mr. Glenn Brown
and Mr.. Charles Moore. Mr.. Browns sub
ject was THE Development of Washington
City" and Mr.. Moore spoke upon The
Preservation of Rock Creek Valley for
Park Purposes Both used many and
elaborate illustrations. The art of city
building is more tangible than many sup
pose. and too little regarded. The advan-
tage of a good plan and the necessity Of
looking ahead cannot be overestimated. A
city Is picture Or a series of pictures. as
one may choose to regard it. and its charm
and value depend upon its composition and
arrangement. Buildings, trees, parking and
setting all play an active part in it's max
ing or marring, and are in the city build
ers' hands as tools or pigments to the art
list. Washington was extraordinarily well
begun, and it is today declared to be the
most beautiful city in America, but it is
not completed, and as long as there Is
growth there is danger Of Disagreement.
1t was to guard against this that the park
commission was appointed and that the &C
ceptance OF Its report is repeatedly urged.
This report and all others of similar
nature do not advocate great alterations,
but provide for the preservation of nat
ural beauties and the development of the
city along rational lines Thus it argues
for the preservation of Rock Creek valley,
between Washington and Georgetown,
which is now threatened both by contn-
uous dumping of refuse and by CONNER
cial inclination to tunnel and fiji: and thus
it strives to retain at least cost those fea-
lures which go toward marking the iEdi-
viduality and making the beauty of the
national capital. But Washington is not
alone in this enterprise. London and Paris
are spending millions of dollars for the
amending of old errors and the remodel
ing of their city plans; Cleveland, Buffalo,
Detroit and Cincinnati have taken warming
before it was too late and are developing
under expert Amusement. The Municipal
Art Society of New York is most active
in it's efforts for betterment. and scattered
throughout the United States are more
than hundred similar organizations
working for the same ends. This makes
the matter seem all the more worthy. Of
note. and indorses, as it were, the efforts
of those who, especially at this time, would
urge its thoughtful consideration.
The Corcoran Gallery reopened to the
public last Sunday, and the attendance this
week has amply testified to a continuance
of the interest awakened by it's recent ex-
hibition. 1t was good to see the old pic
lures back again. and many who had given
them little heed before have been examining
them appreciatvely. And even replacing
the somewhat ilustrious visitors they need
feel no shame, for while it is true mat all
are not masterpieces careful survey will
manifest the fact that they have been ju-
diciously selected and possess, If not great
ness, at least sincere appeal and enduring
merit. But the recent acquisitions are here
also, hung. to prevent further delay, tenn
porarily In the south loan room. Assembled
on single wall these canvases display most
patiently their value permanent exhibits
md n fhn S6n
Of the committee which recommended their
purchase. Each is distinctly individual and
stands, it would seem, for a different i'm
pulse in the npbuildinG of American art.
The Land and Sea- by Paul Dousherty.
which has been exhibited in Philadelphia at
the Pennsylvania Academy since the Corr
coran exhibition closed, shows to special ad-
vantage. and the Cassatt and the Shannon
likewise increase in significance upon ac-
quaintance. '"rhe May Night to which
the Clark prize and gold medal were award
lery to its painter, Willard L. Metcalf, for
the exhibition of the Ten held at the
Montross gallery, New York, wherein it has
called forth much laudation.'
Showing the estimate placed upon the Cor
coran Gallery's recent exhibition by one I'M
prejudiced and critical, it may not be amiss
to quote some statements made by Mr.
Royal Cortissoz of New York in the cur
fent number Of Script" THE exhibition of
four hundred American paintings which
was opened at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
in Washington, On February Z, may" he
wrote, 'be said to have marked an epoch In
the history OF such enterprises in this
country. In saying this the writer has in
mind not only the general excellence of the
show but other matters bearing upon the
whole question of the public display of our
school. 1t has been argued that what the
country needed was a gigantic building to
which. once or twice year, the artists of
artists of France send theirs to Paris. Nat
urally scheme of the sort must move
slowly. While the talk has been going on
the trustees of the CorcoraR Gallery have
suddenly paved the way for an American
salon-to be held In Washington. Not
In a long time has an exhibition shown so
clearly the sense of beauty and the vitality