The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-20

Washington society, more particularly
resident society, with gOOdly number Of
the Official circle. paid tribute 20 the local
artists. when they crowded the Corcoran
Gallery Of Art last evening, at the
private view and reception Of the Society
Of Washington Artists.
This is the eighteenth annual exhibit in
the Hemicycle. and it is a creditable
showing Washington may well feel
proud Of its artists and their work.
The exhibition IS strictly local. with no
particular class OF pictures In predomi-
nance There are portraits, landscapes
marine views, interiors. and exteriors. al
well arranged and well executed.
4 Brilliant Opening.
Last evenings reception was a brilliant
opening Of the exhibition. There were
In the well-dressed throng many con
noisseurs. who we're both surprised and
pleased at the good work shown
The painting which attracted special at
tentlon. as well as comment. was the por-
trait OF James Bryce, the Ambassador
from Great Britain Il is the work o..
Ernest Moore. an English artist OF merit
who has had a studio IN Washington foI
two years past
The Bryce portrait was given the place
OF honor Close 10 this was another ef-
fort from Mr.. Moores brush. one Of the
artists wife. and still another hung across
the gallery. a portrait Of Dr Allerton
Cushman. The last appears or more than
ordinary strength and Intrinsic worth
Broadly treated. IL Is az the same time
carefully hnished-a human document a.
well as "A work OF art The modelling is
strong. but not aggressive. the color Vita
and good. II IS not. however. the paint
er's cleverness Of brush which the OBJ
server win remark or remember. but his
vivid transcription OF y searching. tndi-
vidual personality.
The work Of Miss Catherine q. Crltcher
IS well worth while. Her style is bright
even audaci0us. Her portrait 0f Mrs
Charles Hewett Wright would assert It's
merit IN any assemblage Of paintings. and
her portrait Of Miss Dorothy Duncan
GatewoOd could not fail 10 win commen-
datiOn. They are both daring. very direct
and strOng-nOt faultless I'm detail. but
siEnally vital and strong
Miss Ellen Dale Hale Is more than
good. She is sure TO compel attention.
Her contributions are portrait study
Of a young woman wearing a white fuT
hat vioiets, and a purple gown. and a
picture Of two little boys, whimsicauy
called Little Green Apples" a twiE al
an apple tree being faithfully transcribed
on the lower portion Of the canvas q
carry out the we'll devised figure OF
speech Rarely does one see childish
features mere synpathetically interpreted
than here.
Miss FIucden Not At Best.
Miss Mathrde Mueden shows q. portrait
OF Mr.. Rogers. well drawn and firmly
modelled. but not UP 10 the standard Of
her best Mr.. Charles Gouttmahn, q
Russian painter residing here. contributes
a portrait Of Mrs. Carl Droop. which has
more than a little TO commend II. Miss
Meta Craig sends two portraits, both Of
which show promise.
One OF the extremely interesting per
souallues whose coIors shown was Mr..
Max Well. who more than a yea. ago
celebrated his seventeen birthday. and IS
looked upon as the dean Of the local
fraternity, likewise sends three land
scapes, which not only strengthen his
reputation. bur help 70 upIift the stan
dard Of the exhibition.
One is an autumn scene. one a quiet
golden sunset-an afterglow-and the
third is a moonrise st twilight All were
painted in the vicinity OF Washington. are
simple I'm composition, strong In color
toneful and appealing-works which Nigh;
safely be shown in company with pictures
by the great BaTbizon painters.
Mr.. r c. Messer has but one canvas
but this is 10 be numbered among the
great pictures Of the exhibition broad
view OF land and sky. Il is entitled ''Twi-
light" and its feeling suggests most truly
the quiet and peace of the 'tn-betweer
time" when nature seems 20 rest.
Twilight In the Studio" By Spencer
Baird Nichols. has been allotted the place
Of honor on the semicircular walls. With
this painting, which Is in gentle browns
have been grouped two vivacious and
sparkling little pictures by Mr. William
B. Closson Of a .'Watteau Fete." and two
exquisite stin life paintings by Miss Hat
tie E. Burdette and Mrs N. r Smith. re-
spectively- Mr.. Nichols Is also represent
ed by two landscapes-both woodland
scenes-One. a Silver Day" and the
other A late afternoon, when the sun falls
with dazzling brilliancy on the dried Leaf
carpet
Mr.. E. H. Miller. who longer than any
other has been counted among the
Washington artists. Four pictures in this
exhibition stand 20 his credit. three OF
which are landscapes - The Catskill
Mountains" a sunset: The Edge OF a
Hemlock Forest" a wood interior, and
Spring" a stretch OF meadow land, Jus;
the other side Of the Aqueduct Bridge
All are to an extent broadly painted. sin
cere and very true-pictures OF which
one would not soon tire
Mr.. James Henry NIOser has s. cOntribu-
ton that does him infinite credit Il Is
o. a cornheld. wherein the pumpkins are
lying ripe and colorfui, seen just after the
sun has set.
Mr.. MOker Versatile
There is none more versatile than Mr.
Moser and few with a keener pictorial
sense. The composition in this instance is