The San Francisco call., 1908-07-26
famous Flower Painter Suggests That
Congress Establish Art Gallery
Italian Scu ptor Presents to President Bas Relief
Representing Atlantic Fleet
By Lucy B. Jerome

Dy Lucy
quite in keeping with the sugges-
uon recently made by one Of the local
painters for the establishment OF an
art gallery for the edihcation of the
masses is the idea put forth by Paul
de Longpre, the famous flower
painter, for the establishment Of a ma
uonal gallery of art. IN France" as
serts A. de Longpre artistic culture
IS a most precious treasure. Items con
cefnlng the army and navy are sum-
marily cut in the matter Of expense,
Mhen at the same instant large sums
are being voted for art treasures. It
Is very different in America have
uNed IS years in this country and
90 not remember that the American
congress ever voted one dollar for art
j 90 not even remember that the word
art was ever mentioned in congress
Yet America is the richest country on
earth, with nearly one hundred mil
lions Of people, and / frankly think
mat there is more brain and more
genius in this country than in any
other in the world.
The day the American senate and
tne house OF representatives vote the
FUNDS for a national art gallery and
1or a national school Of art viii be q
----N- anu AAL-HA t1--'- -D--o AAeAe 4-A A--N
history OF the United States. II viii
mean that unuumbered poor geniuses
who have no money for art education
VIII be made known 10 fame. It viii
be the birth Of American art. The day
She American congress takes such
glorious step the whole world viii cry
bravo. Here is one OF the most
Splendid opportunities for an energetic
legislator 10 start campaign which
viii print his name IN golden letters
on the pages OF American history"
The cruise Of the Atlantic feet to
1he Pacific. now fast becoming q mat
Ter Of history, has been commemorated
by young Italian sculptor. Frank
NittOri, now in Washington. who has
presented bas relief to the president
based on this theme. The New York
Herald describes it thus:
In this bronze tablet il inches high
and 4 inches wide, the sculptor rep
Tesents the president in three-Quarter
front pose and in a relief high enough
70 suggest the round. Back Of and
nearly above his head the tablet is
crossed by an olive branch symbolic Of
the principle that the preservation of
honorable peace is dependent upon pre-
paredness for war. Above the cluster
OF leaves is the dome OF the national
capitol, recalling the source of all uI-
innate decisions of Americas policy.
Above these symbolic decorations and.
IN way. partially framed by them, is
the feet"
Although Tittori is barely 20 years
old ne is planning a work relating TO
The American revolution and another
suggested by the meeting Of the COVER
oors In Washington. American subjects
make a strong appeal TO him. and his
work may be Of great interest in years
10 come.
McComas. who is staying in Buthe-
dale has produced very little since his
return from London. However, he has
q number Of water colors sketches and
studies now on hand and with these he
proposes TO give an exhibition in the
1al or spring. Some OF his studies OF
Corfu, Greece. have been seen here.
hut they have simply Whetted the de-
sire for more. The color is handled
with admirable clarity, and the del
icate luminosity which characterizes all
these interesting works is such that
one constantly perceives new beauties
n both conception and handling. A
certain London magazine discusses %
pictures. the fruit Of the last two years
work in this manner:
The most striking feature Of this
collection Of Mr. McComas' work is its
disregard Of petty and pretty detail
----A as = e[oP u lAAt AGEkEE aspects
landscape Mr. McComas is an excep-
tionally fine craftsman. and he has
been able to present wide expanses of
country and architectural effects on the
grand scale with a dramatic force that
produces q very keen sense Of pleasure
Tor his handling is not merely bare and
stark. but rich and harmonious and full
OF large rhythms that put his compost
tiOn in the first rank The color is of
The hpcr p Fhnrrcrf,
mOnious. never descends into theatri-
calism But over and beyond the quail
1ties that one can pick out by analysis
Is the sense Of grasp that his work
produces and the impression Of beauty
that one enjoys without trying TO ex-
plain"
McC0mas once painted for three
years at Monterey. His studies Of the
oaks in that section Of the country are
remarkable. II is said that McComas
paints the soul OF a tree. In this re-
spect he has the same idea regarding
the work as has Mrs. Brigham, whose
delicate. unrivaled conceptions Of a
dryad half rising from the slender
stemmed birch tree and kindred studies
are remembered by all those who have
seen these exquisitely poetic visions. II
IS said also that McComas paints trees
IS other artists paint the nude. A tree
IS really as important and significant
10 him as human figure is to ROdin-
It is some Of these interesting portray
ais that he has promised for the exhi-
bitfon.
There IS & certain remarkable picture
IN a quiet corner OF a broad window on
California street, which. even though
sometimes half concealed by the after
noon shadows, one would not need 10
look az twice before Ognizing II as
the work Of a man whose name is a
SYNONYM for work Of strength and
Mathews. A woman.
tall. slender and long limbed, is seated
beneath a tree. Just back Of her, at
her shoulder, stands a second figure
that OF a youth, half in shadow. The
pvoman's figure, clad in rich yellow
robe. and girdIed with the same color.
IS the one note OF glowing splendor in
the composition. She holds an open
book and the youth leaning over her
appears 70 point TO certain words The
background and working in are essen
rally Mathews own. A simple nobil-
3tv. grandeur and impressive reticence
pervade the work. 1t represents His
tory"
on the opposite side Of the street IN
another window, that OF an art shop,
are two enlarged photographs Of Lin
--f.- z- from, two negatives taken by