Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-26

The painting by Jules Breton which Sena-
tor w. A Clark recently purchased for $40.-
600 In New York has been placed this week
in his loan collection in the Corcoran Gal
lery. 1t is, a usual but a pleasing subject,
a group of French peasants in a harvest
field. 1n'th foreground man and woman
are stacking bundles of brown poppy
stalks. while even nearer the observer a
second woman stoops to- bind or lift another
bundle. To the left Is another group, and
beyond are still more workers. The light
is brilliant and well concentrated. the COM
position pleasing and nicely balanced. 1t is
a picture which many will like, which
makes immediate and popular appeal. And
yet 1t is not work which will commonly
find favor with the artists, for 1t is pretty
rather than Strong, and ellysian rather
than vital. 1t Is beautiful, but 1t is not
convincing; 1t does not have the ring of
truth, or carry real conviction. Breton was
a worshiper of the beautiful, and he could
not resist the allurement of rose-colored
spectacles. He saw the world through
haze Of happiness, and. he painted it most
often as he thought that it should be. And
yet he was sincere and purposeful-not
great prophet, but a gentle poet-one of
those rare souls who walk in dreams and
help to create evanescent sunshine. No one
can read his autobiography without enter
tanning an affectionate admiration for the
painter who had truly high aspirations and
unbounded respect for his great contem-
poraries. Art should interpret the beauti-
full. but not superficial beauty alone. The
price paid for this picture has been much
remarked. but It. should be remembered
that at the Morgan sale in 1886. when Bre-
tom was still living; his s'First Communion
fetched the astounding price Of $4,000.
- -.s%.~F sA
X
Twenty-three paintings belonging to Sen
ator Clark were exhibited at the Union
League Club in New York a fortnight ago.
The majority of these were canvases tenn
porarily Withdrawn from the loan collec-
ton in the Corcoran Gallery. but three at
least swere recent acquisitions which had
just come through the New York custom
house. One is a Perugino almost identical
at the Louvre: another is Mother and
Child" by Van Dyke; while a thru is a
Bathing Scene; attributed to Titan. The
Art Bulletin of New York described the
entire group as lone OF the most important
ever shown in this country"
Mr.. Amateis is now finishing the bronze
doors for--the- Capitol upon which he Las
been working as opportunity would permit
for the past two Years. With the consent
Of the expert committee he mas somewhat
enlarged his original design and greatly i'm
proved the general proportions He has, in
fact in every respect accomplished a. most
happy result. and produced a work which
will in truth be or value to the nation.
The panels. which are modelled in high re-
lief. have historical significance. but they
also show artistic treatment. The themes
without exception have been carefully
worked out. and the construction of the
whole Is extremely laudable 1t is hoped
that the doors. cast in bronze, may be in
place by next fall. In the meantime Mr..
Amateis has modelled confederate monu-
ment, Tire Bugler, ""for7 corsicana, Texas.
s~s'1'--.,.-
Mr. William Fuller Curtis is at work at
present upon a panel depicting a peacock.
1t is wider than high. and is composed of
three subsidiary panels. On the central
one of these the splendid bird is seen stand
ing with his breast turned directly toward
the observer. With the lines engraved On
the wood fhe work Is being carried on tn
color and gorgeous indeed Is the
regal creature which once again Is admi- |
raoly utilized for the purpose OF decorative
design. Quite recently. also. Mr. Curtis |
executed In burnt wood small and per-
culiarly interesting panel, head of an
Italian maiden of the early Renaissance |
days, turbaned, dark haired and pensive. |
She stands, apparently, before window |
through which one may observe quaint |
landscape, and over her shoulder to the
Enclosed staircase. Pervaded by q subtle |
It IL without doubt one of the |
most accomplished works that Mr.. Curtis /
has produced. The handling of textures In l
It Is marvellous, and the delicacy Of express ]