The Washington times., 1908-12-12
Private View This Afternoon
Will Be Made Social
Affair.
HIS WORK MARKED
BY INDIVIDUALITY
1hirty-four Pictures Form Exhibit
Will Be Seen Daily Until
December 23.

Ii is extremely difficult to locate the
position of Robert Reid among the
painters Of this country after a careful
examination OF the thirty-four paintings
being shown at q private view this after
neon at the Forest Hall studio in
Thirty-second street, Georgetown. It is
a social event as WEI as an art event,
for Mrs. Reid is assisting her artist hus-
band in welcoming the guests.
In his art work Mr.. Reid is not rem
insscent Of the painters or the past OF
the present. The Individuality OF his
work is pleasing in subject, in arrange
menJ, IN color. and in that rare tenn
peramentaI quality which always sep
arates the man OF dreams from the
realist and the staustician- With these
defnable qualities there remains some
thing not easily stated. This is a feel
ing that the artist is a sincere lover Of
the beautiful. and that this appeal OF
beauty is subtle and deep. that he has
chosen his own path and hcwed the way
that ia the honors which have come 10
him deservedly there is no desir5 70
have his paintings shout at one in COM
maudinE tones or attract by force Of
gesture or brilliancy OF color. He
charms through tenderness rather thar
| by domination. He has gone his owl
way, happily and contentedly, and III
| recognition Of his genius has been
abundant.
MI Reid Fortunate.
Mr.. Reid has been fortunate in secur-
4 ing the loan Of this studio from his
/ friend. F. d. Mllet, for this exhibition.
! which will be continued daily until De
/ fHr fe
also fortunate IN that he will be able
TO determine how many in this city
| are appreciaJive enough 70 90 this dis
| tance to see one OF the best exhibitions
| OF paintings by a single artist ever
| shown in this city Surely among all
/ Of the art lovers here there will be some
who viii not permit the removal Of all
! Of these exhibited works Of art from the
city.
Mr.. Reid is prominent 20 mis- marked
/ appreciation a Of the dciCgte tones Of
/ light and OF subdued sJul.2at, so faint
| that il seems 20 be an i-npressiOu rather
| than a paint4bIe fact ri The quiet
| tones OF the fading day, or ea-ly morn
ing. or OF the more uncertain effect
| Of moonlight. he paints impress .ons, but
! they are understandable he records col
| or IN wide ranges. but never glaringly.
| His work has a rare decorative quality
| without mural charact erisfiCs. He pOT-
| trays women COnseTyatlvely, and with
an appreCiatiVe quality which IS void
| OF natteTy. and Yet IN all the general
! impression is that his models are beau
| tiful-
| The place of honor in the arrange
I ment II the pictures mas been given 70
/ No. 15, The Golden Screen" a large
! seated portrait OF Mrs Reid, IN which
/ the background suggests the title IhiS
! work is sincere and direct, IN line ar
I rangemeut II pleases without being un-
/ usual Its color Is good, its qualities
/ sane and possible.
Sunset Glow.
sunset Glow" No. 6 IS one Of the
! recent works by this artist. who has
given In this exhibition a retrospective
view OF his art endeavor. The standing
figure Of a young girl with face in pro-
/ file is slightly hecked with the last rays
OF diffused sunlight The background
! is decorative, but not specific, the whole
effect is appealing in its qualities OF
| beauty. and void OF any jarring, dis
| Cordant feature
THE White Lilac" NJ. s. is notable
for the atmospheric quality through
! which ono sees a plain fence, an an
| cient gate. ard a large lilac bush in
/ full bloom. The mOdesIy, and deliCacy
Pexhibited in the treatmen OF the sub
! ieCt the absence OF an attempt at more
| than can be accomplished, the desire
/ TO avoid haCkneyed motives are seen IL
! this. as well as other works 'IWi-
/ light No. %, Is another Illustration of
| the ability TO produce from simple ma
terial such as this village street work
! Of beauty. by suggestion rather than
/ by statement.
/ The trend OF the whC-s exhibition s
| toward that Quality Of beauty that is
1 not only decorative but sbding. The
| artist IS not bound by COnveutiOuaii-
] -
/ Backgrounds. dramatic compositions
1 may be incidents, they are never pre-
| sented in an important manner. His
| works have that quality which would
I make theEl welcome and II place I'm
I the home Of the humble. They would
dignifY the mansions Of the rich.