Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-25

lector. Here is, indeed. noble work of
aria beautiful conception OF woman
hood. A type purely. American and yet
potentially of al! nations. AS Mr.. Caftin
has said, this Virgin has in her keeping
the spiritual ideal OF which she herself
is the creation-she is unconscious Of her
modesty, self contained, tender and un-
selfish, and with frank outlook upon
ties and renunciations and to tighten its
grossness. She is simp'e-hearted, natural
and free, trustful and courageous. And
all this is told through the medium of
cution upon canvas, for Abbott Thayer is
a virile brushman. but not finished
techncian; he speaks with authority, but
without suave grace. For this reason,
however. his work is no less impressive
nor profoundly moving. The composition
is we'll balanced, the figures have excel
lent poise and the color is rich and lovely,
but above and beyond all these In Inn
portance is the spirit which pervades the
painting. In a measure 1T adds to the in
terest Of this picture to know that these
are the painters own children-the Vir-
gin his elder daughter, who for many
years took mothers place-but 1T can In
no wise make 1t more beautiful than 1t
is.
In the same gallery t"C'D in which this
painting by Abbott Thayer is to be seen
is hung a family group by George de
Forest Brush who studied with Mr..
Thayer under Gerome and has won spe-
cial distinction painting what might be
called modern MISUNDERSTANDING OF u
mother and child-one of which the Cor
coran Gallery is fortunate enough to
number in its permanent collection. He is
a better technician than his colleague,
but less an idealist. His mothers COM
monty show III their face lines of pain
and wear an air of patient. mute endur-
ance which is pathetic if at the same time
appealing. To him apparently woman s
lot means something more than the Joy
of living-a sacred trust. There is less
of solemnity and more of Joy In the pic
ture now included in the Corcoran Gal
lery's exhibit ion. which has been lent
by the way, by the Art Institute Of Chi
cago than is usually found In Mr..
Brush's paintings. The mother holds on
her lap a f1axen-haired. chubby boy. turn
ing with him the pages OF a picture book,
and over her shoulder. equally engrossed.
leans the elder brother. a fine-featured
lad Of twelve or more years Here is q
peaceful kind of loving serenity that is
charming to behold. The inclination OF
the figures as we'll as the expressions on
the faces tell the story, and in such wis
that all may read and understand With
the utmost truth is every detail set forth
neither Holbein nor Van Eyke could
have been more conscientious-and yet nc
hostage Is given TO art, no loss reckoned
in effect.
Two Differing Versions.
Passing into the next gallery, 3D. two
entirely different versions of the madon-
ma theme are to be found, one by Carl
MeIchers, the other by Mary Cassatt,
both American painters who have lived
much abroad. The Melchers is an out.
door picture painted in Holland and
shows a Dutch mother seated before a
leafy screen holding her baby up for the
alteration. as ii were, OF another woman
who kneelS before her. This is brilliant
bit of color and strong work. The sun
shine dances merrily among the leaves
and falls with liquid brightness in SHIN
nlering spots here and there on the fig
ures The kneeling woman wears a scar
let coat and In the foreground a few
stalks of flame-colored peoples are to be
seen. The reserve noted In Thayer's and
Brlsh's paintings is not found here, but
rather prodigality In expression. It Is
not a reticent but an effulgent truth
which Is set forth. and nature itself bea r.
witness to it. But in the face OF the
mother there is the same pride Of pos
session seen not only under Dutch caps
but American bonnets, and IN the homage
paid the infant is the same spirit which
engenders similar domestic worship in AL
parts of the civilized world.
Miss Csssatt, too. is realist-an ex-
ponert of the French impressionists
school. but she also has discovered In
motherhood a holy kind Of beauty and
has manifested it. Her "Caresse En-.
fantine' pictures young mother hold.
ing in her lap a little nude baby boy.