Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-18
FOR AMERICAN ART
APPEAL MADE BY MRS. HEN
RIETTA HITCHCOCK
Before the National Society of Fine
Arts-Annual Election
of Officers.

An appeal was made for American art in
lecture given last evening By Mrs. Hem
rietta Hitchcock before the National So
ciety of the Fine Arts in Hubbard Memorial
Hail. foreigner once asked her she said
where In America were to be found the
great works of American painters and she
had to admit that they were not in the
puphc museums. nor commonly in private
collections. Art. she declared. was more
enduring than even great deeds. II was
Phdias who immortalized Pericles; Velas-
quez who gave Philip lasting kingship. Ana
yet America in her haste for aggrandize-
ment has forgotten to take into account
her artists of merit. and they have turned
Tor patronage and appreciation to strangers
Wh'stlers masterpiece his portrait OF his
mother, hangs in the Luxembourg: Carl
Meichers noble canvas, The Family" Is
IN Berlin 1t wills Benjamin Constant who
said that 1nness was the greatest landscape
painter OF his era; and the French Salon
Whlch mas bestowed upon our artists honor
An English lady not long ago asked Mrs
Hitchcock II, indeed, there were American
painters OF note. and her reply was: Yes.
TWO or the best painters in England. Sar-
gent and Shannon, are Americans" and
then, to her amazement and confusion her
questioner made haste to scornfully retort.
What! Sargent and Shannon. You Amer
leans are so grasping that | suppose YOU
Will soon be claiming Whistler
Thus, Mrs. Hitchcock said, our painters
are being not only adopted, but literally ap-
propriated. There is none today she
averred, who stands higher in the estima-
ton of the learned and critical than the
American painters. and yet it is true that
the American people have not awakened to
the fact. Without criticislng or fault find
ing, the speaker directed her hearers al
tention to the comparative merits of those
at home and abroad. Those that knew the
least, she sad, are those who are severast
in their judgments. SO the knowing gave
themselves to what. by common consent,
being constructive criticism, is termed "ap-
probation
Strength and individuality.
Pointing to the strength and individuality
of some of the great men who tower above
others in the ranks of painters she showed
them worthy of lasting fame and enduring
honor. Placing Sargent and Shannon and
Melchers first she told also of Abbey and
hamilton, of Homer and Martinez more,
indeed, than in short space could even be
enumerated. Touching upon the subject
of the Boston Library decorations she
spoke apprec .atively of the panels by Pur-
Wis de Chavanne, but remarked the fact
that other countries bestowed their public
works upon their own most worthy painters.
Turning to the possibilities of the future.
Mrs. Hitchcock said that it must be that
the times will change-that the generous
pubic-spirited men of wealth will surely
come to the rescue and, following the lead
of Mr.. Charles l.. Freer of Detroit delight
in honorlng the great artists of their own
country. There must she said, be enough
love of country and true patriotic pride
among those who have the ability to make
Washington some day not only the most
beautiful city in the world, vieing with
European capitals. but the art center of a
brave and cultured country. Those who
take part in such work, she averred, are
indeed building for themselves monuments
more permanent than of marble or bronze.
Illustrating her lecture. Mrs. Hitchcock
showed by stereopticon n number of notable
works by the leading painters of America,
arranging them In groups, saying Just a
word in reference to each and giving an
admirable survey of the field as a whole.
Business Meeting.
Preceding the lecture a business meeting
of the society was held, at which reports
were read by the treasurer and secretary
During the past year net gain of eighty
members has been made the total enroll
ment now being 341. The average attend
ance at the meetings has been 80, and
the work of the several committees has
been admirably conducted. An account of
the efforts of the committee on civic art
to preserve Rock Creek valley was given
by Mr. Joseph c. Hornblower. the chair
man, and projects for the coming year
We're outlined by the secretary
The annual election resulted follows:
President, Charles NJ. Ffoulke; first vice
president, Charles w. Needham; second vice
president, Hennen Jennings; treasurer. Ber-
nard r. Green; secretary, T "ayland
Vaughan; council, eX-Presdent Charles J.
Bell, William ii. Holmes, Joseph &. Horn
blower. A. j. Parsons and Marvin +. Scaife.
AT the conclusion of the lecture light re-
freshments were served and for nearly an
hour the members fingered in conversation.
Owing to the extremely bad weather the at
tendance was poor, but in every other re-
spect it was the best and most successful
meeting which this organization has held.