Evening star., 1908-01-25
A R T N T IS.

"HE opening of the Washington
Water Color Clubs twelfth an
nual exhibition on Wednesday in
the hemicyce hall of the Corcoran Gal
1ery of Art constituted an event of much
note. Not only the private view during
the daylight hours. but the reception in
the evening was especially well attended,
the hall at the latter time being almost
uncomfortably crowded This manifes-
tation of interest-for those who went
were apparently genuinely interested
was encouraging. and the hope is that
1t will find expression in numerous sales.
For after all while these pictures are not
set forth with commercial intent the
magical little ticket bearing the word
"sold' is the best token of substantial
appreciation. When one admires thing
very much it is natural TO covet its pos
session. and it is safe to believe that
what no one wants is commonly not
worth having. Because some great pic
lures command great prices is not to
say that none obtainable for a small
cost is commendable. Every one cannot
possess paintings by the old masters, but
q simple water color is within the reach
OF many and may prove a pleasurable
companion. And the pictures in this
exhibition are of the kind which are good
to own as well as see. They are not
merely technical achievements, but
charming paintings-subjectively inter
esting and artistically sound. The con-
Eensus of opinion seems to be that this is
the best exhibition that the Washington
Water Color Club has ever held, and GER
family none has been better. The ar
rsngement of the exhibits and scheme
ftrv, cf,0 ,1S YcfI-
the pictures being especially well group
ed and the laurel garlands and palms
being used to excellent purpose This
year for the first time the prizes were
awarded for figure paintings and both
to out-of-town exhibitors. The portrait
by Mr.. Hugh II. Breckenridge of Phila-
delphia. to which the first prize was
given. had, account of its admirable
technical qualities, been placed by the
hanging committee in the position of
honor on the fiat wall of the hemicycle,
and the Mother and Child by Miss
Alice Schille of Columbus. Ohio, to which
of ten pictures by the same painter
which had been gladly given inclusion.
The decision of the jury, therefore, was
not surprise. and has been favorably
received by both the exhibitors and their
friends. The jury of awards was COM
posed this year of Mr.. F. ID. Millet of
New York Mr.. Thomas Anshutz of Phil
adelphia and Mr.. Richard N. Brooke of
this city. One hundred and forty-one
pictures are included in the catalogue of
this exhibition and of these about one
third are contributed by out-of-town
painters. The exhibition will be open
until the 18th of February on week days
from $50 am. to pm; on Sunday after
moons from / to pm, and on Tuesday
and Friday evenings from to 10. 1t is
approached by way of the New York
avenue entrance and is free to all.
The Sheridan statue commission has ap-
eproved the model recently presented by Mr..
Gutzon Borgium of New York TO whom
last July the commission was given. This
model is now in the public bGldings and
grounds office. and by those interested in
public monuments has been found pecu-
liarly interesting. In many respects it is
very different from the traditional eques-
tTian statue. Gen. Sheridan, who, by the
way, hadTa particular horror of bronze eff
f1gies and but small admiration for those
erected in this city to his fellow officers.
is not represented as on parade. but rather
as among MS men and as they remember
him. Mounted on a spirited horse, he has
supposedly ridden TO the front, and, REIN
ing In his steed, saluted those under his
command. Probably he has been greeted
with cheers. for his hat has been removed
with broad sweeping motion and is held
at arms length. The horse. brought to
sudden stand, has stiffened his forelegS
and been Thrown back on his launches;
his neck Is straight and his tail whisked
close against his body In short action is
expressed and tremendous energy, but
without NERVOUSNESS or afectation. 1t is
not snapshot taken in passing for all
motion has been arrested for the instant,
and at the time represented there is ac
tuai repose-a pause. The statue, fur
thermore, is not set, as commonly, on
pedestal SO high that it can only be seen
from distance, but on broad platform
l,nl 1y, i~hf % 1NrUy
steps, is elevated only a few feet The
platform itself is attractive, affording
seats. fountain inches and spaces for pic
torial bas reliefs. and yet preserving in its
design grave simplicity. Mr.. Borglum did
not follow the usual course in studying his
problem, for instead of working out the
small model and enlarging from it. he has
carried on both models simultaneously,
trying the value Of each form on the scale
OF the finished statue. In this way little
changes have been made from time to
time and opportunity given to prove the
result. Doubtless small alterations will
still be made-there Is a certain rigidity
in the lines of the horse, a trifiing awk-
wardnesS from several viewpoints. and
tormenting repetition of triangular forms.
which will in all probability be corrected
before the work reaches completion. And
this will be within few months. for. un-
like many of the sculpture commissions.
there will he no prolonged delay. and, If
nothing unforeseen occurs, the statue in
bronze will be ready for erection early
next autumn. If in the end the result is
satisfactory-aS satisfactory as Ii now
promises to be-the advantage of giving
commissions outright to those who have
demonstrated their ability instead Of
through competitions which the foremost
sculptors have neither time nor desire to
enter should be patiently demonstrated.
x*
The two new paintings recently pur-
chased by Mr. William T. Evans and
presented to the National Gallery Of Art
have arrived in this city and been placed
with the Evans collection in the atrium
of the Corcoran Gallery of At. These
pictures are Birch Clad Hills by Ben
Foster. and THE Pasture Lot" by Carle-
ton Virgins. The former shows a stretch
of rolling high lands. scatteringly over
grown by birch trees. beneath a gray,
overcast sky. Extremely simple in COM
position, II shows sincerity in rendering,
and while lacking in pictorial quality.
makes through its reticence and serious
ness definite appeal. The latter is pri-
lnarily a cattle painting-three cows are
represented in the immediate foreground
browsing in typical pasture. The sky
Is partly clouded, and the sun spills
through in places in such a way to
form strips of light and shadow across
the face of the landscape. The drawing
and color are good. but the composition
IS not especially attractive. and while the
picture is pleasing. it is not of extra
ordinary interest. 1t is good, but not i'm
portant-that is, when considered with