Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-13
A R T N ES.

coran School Monday afternoon. In study
Ing pictures, he said, we are apt to
measure merit by preconceived standard,
to judge each new work by those which
have gone before 1t. And to some extent
this Is right, but to a degree 1t prevents
the early appreciation of great fnnovators,
Of those who having great message would
clothe 1t in new form. 1T would be
natural to suppose" he continued. mat
artists would be the best judges of art, but
they are, in fact generally poor critics
And why? Because each has his own view
point, has thrown all his effort into the
solving Of single problem and naturally
has his interest focused upon that. If
all looked out upon the world with the
same eyes art would be monotonous indeed,
we should not have the charming impress
sionism of one and the enticing realism of
another. And yet 1t Is true that In those
things which are fundamental all art Is
similar and the works of the great ar
lists are not widely different" In his
own elementary classes, Mr.. Messer said,
he often found the works of the famous
Japanese artists peculiarly valuable as IL
artists Of the orient and those Of the occi-
dent there was manifest affinity Rem
brandt, Titan and Velasquez were each dis
tinctly individual, he averred, and yet there
is little to choose in merit between their
works. Some men. he insisted, worked two
or three brain cells. while others kept many
In active service; the former remained In
the valleys, the latter attained the heights
But becoming more specific, Mr.. Messer
spoke with deep conviction OF the mastery
quality of the Moonlight" by Blakelock
the National Gallery, of Leonado da Vinci's
marvellous rhythm of line, of Titan's per-
ception of color. He pointed out the diff
ference between the landscapes of Wyant
and those of Inness' and he showed how
Corot painted what he felt rather than
what he saw-how great master could
afford to allow himself ample latitude in
transcription. And to his listeners 1t
was made plain that it was after all the
artists view point which they must seek
out and fundamental principles alone which
talk was informal and pleasantly desultory,
but it furnished much food for thought
and was felt to be distinctly helpful.
The enlarged model for the pediment
which is to be placed over the entrance of
the new municipal building has recently
been completed by the sculptor, Mr.. Adolfo |
di Nesti. 1t is seventeen feet long and con- |
sists Of two female figures typifying Law |
and Justice" reclining against the shield |
of the District of Columbia, which is set in |
an oval scrolled frame and surmounted by a
spread eagle. The composition builds up |
admirably and the flow Of lines Is easy and |
good. All the figures on this building are |
to be classical In order to conform with its |
design. and these of the pediment are no
exceptions. The idea which Is typifed is
not new, to be sure, but 1t Is worthy of
perpetuation and the simple treatment of
the design Is most commendabe. There is
vigor and strength in the modelling and
much decorative feeling displayed in the ar
rangement Of mass and line. The eagle, |
too, deserves special note. for 1t is more
architectural than commonly and dgnified
In conception and mien. Mr.. di Nesti has
recently made an interesting design for a
memorial fountain and his work along these
lines especially shows great promise.
Mr.. Harold Macdonald has just finished a
portrait of Secretary Corteyou. which is to
be included in the government exhibit at
jamestown. 1t is more than three-quarter
length and shows Mr.. Cortelyou in a black
Prince Albert coat standing with his hands
behind him and his face turned toward the
observer. 1t is vital and vigorous, the color
is good and the expression significant. More
finished perhaps than Mr.. Macdonalds
work always is, and less incisive, it is still
firmly modelled and distinctly personal AS
an official portrait 1t is well out of the Or
binary. and as painting manifestly ac-
complished. Mr. Macdonald is also paint
ing portrait of Miss Ida M. Meyers which
Is interesting and noteworthy.
Mr.. James Henry Moser. the president of
the Washington Water Color Club who,
! by the way is to be congratulated upon the
sale last week Of his snow picture in the
Pennsylvania Academy's current exhibition
has lately completed a picture of morning
in the northern hill country which will be
| ranked with the best of his productions It
is larger picture than commonly and is
painted in gouache after the manner of a
work in oils, but retains the subtle charm
Of it's own medium. The sky is partly
clouded and mists are seen trailing over the
distant sunlt hills. In the foreground
there is a rivulet making it's way across
rich meadowland and dividing the dis
lance In strip of close grown woods. 1t
is charming composition and 1t has been
admirably handled. The values are we'll
sustained, the play Of light Is delightful
and the atmospheric effects could not be
better. 1t is a finished picture, but shows
the result of much study. Whether 1t rep
resents some special place or not 1t Is dis
tnctly true, but its great value lies in the
fact that 1t gives permanency to a beautiful
and passing phase Of nature. Such are,
| indeed, works of art.
Miss Muedens studio has been a center
of art activity this winter Not only has
the Sketch Club met there one evening
| week. but number Of the younger artists
have been studying with Miss Mueden on
certain mornings. They have had portrait
IIloOeiS III costume, ana many SOUND and
excellent studies have been made. Miss
Mueden herself has recently painted In
water color a lfe-slze study Of a woman In
Danish market attire a little, dark-colored
shawl folded over her shoulders and a
| quantity shaped shade bonnet upon her
head At the present time she is at work
upon a smaller picture in oils Of young
girl wearing, over a dark gown. a yellow
| embroidered shawl somewhat in Spanish
! fashion. Both are spirited productions,
broadly painted and interesting. Miss Niue
denis head of Dutch peasant woman is
| included in the National Academy of De-
| signs current exhibition.
| The Corcoran Gallery Of Art has received
| since it reopened several noteworthy can
vases loan from Mrs. Clarence Moore.
One Is an extremely attractive landscape
| by Daubigny. and another Is portrait of
| Henrietta Maria by William Dobson. The
| portrait by Sargent of the late Secretary
| Hay. which is one of the best that he has
ever painted. has also, through the gener-
osity of Mrs. Hay. been placed temporarily
| in the loan collection. During the past week
many of the pictures have been rehung in
| IN nlaCa arc IONS tn lo