The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-23
Views of Washington Monument
From Various Points Of View

Interesting pictures Of the Washington
Monument. six in number. are among
the recent work Of James Henry MoseT,
who has occupied his time since the
close Of the COrcOran Art School IN
completing a series OF pictures OF this
cons7fcuous but little understood sub
iect. The monument. as viewed from
distance. is a far different proposition
than when seen near at hand, and In
two Of these pictures Mr. MOser has
selected distant points of view and has
given in his treatment Of the subject
a conception Of its vast height as com
pared with the height Of other tall OBJ
jects. In these two pictures, one from
the terrace Of the Capitol, the other
from the Potomac fats. there is a wide
difference IN conditions. The picture
painted from the terrace Of the Capitol
shows the Monument outlined against
a gray sky, with a foreground composed
OF masses Of foliage. which hide inter
vening objects. above which the Monu-
nent Is seen as above waves Of tree
tons The picture Of the Monument
from the Potomac flats Is composed IN
such a manner that the topography OF
that low section Of the city forms
foreground of interest. with enough
ment and the masses which surround
it take the form of an impression,
rather than a liberalization OF any par
ttCular spot
In the remaining pictures Mr.. Moser
has given four studies which cannot
fail to be OF interest. One IS a picture
of intense realism. a view of the M0nu-
ment from the location Of the old lock
house in Seventeenth street The old
house, as well as the distant Monument
are painted in with that degree OF truth
which makes the picture readily under
stood by the masses. ArChiUeCturaQy
exact and Statisticaly literal, il is
nevertheless charming In color and
crisp and brilliant in lighting. Valuable
as a. record. 1t is also pictorial in ar
rangement. Although different from the
ordinary selection Of subject Of this ar
list, il is important as an illustration
OF the sOundneSS OF his Judgment when
applied 10 a conventional treatment Of
commonplace subjects
In more congenial directions are the
three remaining studies OF the MOnu-
ment, illustrating three marked condi-
tiUns-the Monument at early morning.
at night, and by moonlight. In his pic
tUre % the Monument at early morning
the poetical quality of the work OF this
artist is shown To marked degree. Not
only is the Monument beautiful In itself
at this hour. but Mr. Moser has also
selected the early springtime and his
delicate perception of color, and the dis
unct feeling or the early morning are
well combined in a picture Of more
than ordinary charm. In his moonlight
picture the artist has shown a profound
knowledge and a proper estimate Of
light. and this is strongly felt In all
portions Of the composition. So we'll has
this subject been handled that il is pic
tortal in all its parts, and Yet IL has
not been weakened by that departure
from possible truth which should al
ways be felt in painting or this char
acter.
The painting Of the Monument at night
gives one a feeling that the sun has
just dropped below the horizon. The
floating clouds are convincing in their
color OF the sunset hour. The Monu-
ment is in silhouette against the even
ing sky. The pool OF water In the fore
ground and the surrounding shrubbery
assist in telling the story OF the rapidly
approaching darkness Lacking the DO
etical quality Of The morning hour. and
the mystery Of the moonlight picture.
IL is stil beautiful. as typifying another
phase of the shaft, and an APT demon
straiOn of its beauty from the stand
point of the painter.