The Washington times., 1908-12-25
ART HOLDS ITS OWN
DESPITE CHRISTMAS
Exhibition of Paintings by
Robert Reid Largely At
tended Through Holidays.

That exhibitions Of meritorious paint
ings are appreciated by the people Of
Washington even when exhibited at the
Christmas period and in such an out OF
the way place as the Forrest Hall stu
do, has. been demonstrated by the sue
cess attending the exhibition of the
thirty-fOur oil paintings by Robert Reid.
in the large studio OF Frank d. MilIet.
IN Thirty-secOnd street, Georgetown.
The exhibition closed on Wednesday,
and, although the whole city has seemed
TO be occupied for the last Two weeks
with the Christmas shopping, the at
tendance has proved that time can be
found by art lovers TO examine paint
ings Of that attractive quality found in
this exhibition.
The attendance at the private view
was nearly 400. and the attendance each
day since the pictures have been on ex-
hibitiOn has exceeded 100 While il is
always q source Of qualification 10 an
artist to have his paintings approved
ny the public, that interest which slim
uiateS a purchase is regarded as an in
dOrsement Of a more permanent quality.
Several sales have been made, and with
the prospects OF the coming exhibition
IN bis New York studio during the lat
ter part Of January and the first two
weeks in February, Mr.. Reid has every
reason 70 feel encouraged with the work
OF last summer. and the Endorsement
given TO his first exhibition in this city.
Mr.. and Mrs. Reid returned TO their
hOEe, in New York. today.
Society o. Artists Meets.
on Wednesday evening the annual
meeting Of the Society Of Washington
Artists was held. Owing 10 the close
proximity Of this meeting to the holi-
day period, il was deemed best TO defer
the election OF officers for the ensuing
year until an adjourned meeting 20 be
held Wednesday, January 9. 1909 The
discussion Of the advisabnlty Of holding
an annual exhibition OF oil paintings
resulted I'm a decision 20 hold such an
exhibition at some time during the pres
ent winter following the close OF the
exhibition now in progress at the Ger
cOran Gallery Of Art
This determination 70 continue the
annual exhibitions Of this society is a
wise decision. To abandon this annual
event because II may be ueSessary for
tins time TO select a different month.
would tenu TO create the feeIin., that
focal painters are not doing the whole
duty in the direction OF promoting local
art
Would Limit Competition.
Advice from Chicago in the direction
- public art matters comes from one
Oliver r Simpson, an art collector who
suggests concerning the pending CoIum-
bus competition that none but American
stulptors should be permitted To com
pete. His suggestion as to a suitable
ahrt commission TO select the modeF in
this competition would perhaps meet
with favor but fer the fact that the
commission has already been named.
Mr.. Simpson suggests as a suitable
cPmmisison for this purpose, J. Pier
pbnt Morgan. Andrew White, and An
Ctew Carnegie. This IS indeed worth
considering. Mr. Morgan would be sure
tp protect the morsy Of the people Mr.
White could decide the questions in
iolviuE historical accuracy, and Mr.
Carnegie could determine those qres-
tiOns determined by architects, usually
consulted upon matters vi ich are pure
ly architectural In their at relations.
/ There are some questions which are
perhaps Of more Importance than none
tary, historical, and architectural val
hes, and the leading question seems TO
be whether the commission already
chosen Will select a design which will
emphasize the present tendencies Of
American art as typined by the school
OF St Gaudens, or whether ve shall
have a European conception of Colun-
bus, in which decorative, ina aginative.
or alIegOrical. compositions viii lead
away from the real Columbus, a man
OF simple faith and heroic purpose.
MoseT Painting Portraits.
James Henry Moser has been devoting
his spare time of late TO portrait paint
ing. and Is now nearing the completion
Of an attractive portrait OF the sane
and dignified quality that leads to the
conclusion that SOM are content 10
paint portraits IN an understandable
manner The picture In question is a
small, seated portrait OF a woman. be
comingly gowned in white, posed IN a
graceful, Unstudied manner, so thor
oughly unaffected that one feels that
the fashion plate is not in competition.
The handling OF this model by Mr.
MOSer is in perfect harmony with the
suggested character Of the sitter. One
feels the qualities Of a correct color
sense. good modelling. and Vet none OF
traits in which II is easily read that the
desire Of the painter is TO impress the
public Of his greatness, rather than
give the beholder the opportunity TO de-
termine whether the work is a credita-
BILE likeness Of the sitter.
Mr.. MoSer is 20 visit his old home in
Cornwall, Conn, for a short time during
the Christmas holidays.