The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-07
President Goes Early to
Exhibit at Corcoran
Gallery.
Artists and Amateurs
Praise Selection of Rep
reSentatiYe Paintings.
Augury for Washington
Taking High Place
as Art Center.

With weather intensely sold for Wash
ingtOn, and with a multiplicity OF So
cial engagements Gue 10 the apprOach
of the Leuten season, the attendance At
the private view of The First American
Salon" at the COICOran Gallery last
night, clearly demonstrated the extent
of public Interest in this sreat art and
social event IL is doubtful II any Iunc-
TiCn. except some Of the receptions at the
White House, has ever teen greater
success in point OF attendance and in
terest. Seventeenth street was a closely
packed mass of vehicles. and the Inc
extended up Pennsy lvania avenue near
~ 10 Eighteenth street Some of the
visitors had other engagements and re-
manned but a short time. others were
prevented by earlier engagements from
making the private view and reception
the nrst or the evenings duties. and ar
rived at a later hour. Many arrived
after II o'clock.
President Came Early.
The private view opened at p. m.
and soon after that hour President
Roosevelt ana Mrs. Roosevelt arrived.
and, accompanied by F. B. Mcclure, the
director OF the CorcOran Gallery. made
a tour Of inspection 10 the different gal
leries in which the exhibition had been
arranged. The visit of the President
was made in an informal manner. and
the tour Of inspection had been complet-
ed, and the President had left the build
ing before the other visitors had arrived
in force. The gathering last night in
cluded. besides the President, many per
sons prominent in Official, judicial, and
I'M. rg.rH a rN.aaNHs
friends We're out I'm large numbers. with
a generous representation from Phila-
deIphla and New York
Success Of First Salon.
The general expression seemed TO be
one OF surprise al the success which had
attended the efforts OF the Corcoran
Gallery ia making a representative col
lection Of contemporary American paint
ings ia oils Upon all sides words OF
commentator were heard, and many
seemed encouraged in the belief that
this IS but the beginning OF brighter
record in the art interests of Washing
ton and that annual exhibitions OF this
same high standard may become as cell
ebrated as such great exhibitions have
been in Pittsburg. Philadelphia and
New York.
While Ine large number OF visitors
was weu distributed among the eight
smaller galleries. and the upper atrium,
which b. also an important part OF the
exhibition. the Sargent pictures. lve In
number in gallery b, seemed 70 De the
subject of the greatest amount OF dis
CUssiuu. This collection Is one OF uIi-
usual strength. and il Is doubtful II
such a number OF his works have been
recently shown under such favorable
circumstances. The light both by day
ard night is most favorable and the
.-aIs ism eH-H ar
his keen perception OI character, hls
grasp OF essentials, and the subordlna-
tiou OF Earring or weakening elements, Is
being better understood than ever some
who mad felt that Sargcnts work, while
brilliant was lacking purpOsefll feel
ms, admitted that their doubts had
been removed and that he STANDS as the
leader OF all portrait painters Of his
time.
Prize Pictures.
The element OF surprise always
arouses an unusual interest In pictures
which have been awarded prizes, or
have been selected for purchase. May
Night" the picture which was awarded
tho $1,000 prize and the goldd medal.
held small group OF visitors during
the entire evening. As a night effect
it Is one OF the best and while some
could not understand why this was
eAN al AAfA L44N AA4-A A--cl II SAlbAA4 AE re-
membersd that many excellent works
we're not in competition for the reason
that they were not the property OF the
artist or had been barred by awards
elsewhere.
The trustee sof the Corcoran Gallery
have made "a very judiciOus selection of
pictures, and one that will add greatly
10 the strength of the permanent coll
lection Among the pictures bought II
IS doubul II a more appropriate pur-
chase could be made than thar Of the
extremely fine example or the work OF
r. NJ Shurteh. The First Snow" a
wood scene with just enough TO cover
the ground. The trees are not sonw-
laden, IL is not a type OF the depth OF
winter, but a careful study OF nature.
and the color is so true. the compO-
sitiOn SO unaffected. that II cannot fail
10 charm
Some Notable Pictures.
Light on the Sea-" by winslow
Homer. No. 6s. is another illustration
OF careful selection. Like all OF the
work OF this artist Of his later years.
this is strongly handled. The picture
shows a low coast with a wide expanse
OF water. the fgure Of a tisherwoman.
strong and sun-browned. looms up in
the foreground. net IS thrown over
her shoulder. At some distance from
me shore the sun Is shining through
the water with great brilliance. The
gallery Is happy in adding this to its
permanent collection
The landscapes, selected from the
work of Redmeld Hassen. and Groll. are
each representative OF the different art
lists. Redheld has painted the different
phases Of the Delaware river until he
has formed a class of his own The pic
ture selected ''lhe Delaware River q"
No. l. is one that had received the
Webb prize In New York IL is a picture
Of the river Ina early winter. An island
Is covered with light snow. The farther
shore has high banks. and these con-
Vey an additional story OF the cold,
frozen condition OF nature The river Is
cold in tone and rapid IN current. All
fthe qualities are presented fOrceIully
and with a sense OF realism that brings
respect
Hassam's landscape. Northeast Head
lands; New England Coast is thor
oughly of the impressionistic school OF
which Hassam is in this country the
most sturdy partisan. The picture.