The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-05
J. II. MoSer Tells of Prog
reSS of Washington in
Recent Years.
FINDS TWO CAUSES
. FOR THE CHANGE
CorcOran Gallery and Congress
sional Library Led Way to
the Advance.

t.-- E+@ lit- an t- ItuIb itf painted EN
James Henry Moser. then of Atlanta.
Ga says the New York Herald. The
first published portrait OF Uncle Re
mus. painted for Joel Chandler Harris
was Mr.. AIoser's work
This artist, who is Canadian 10y
birth, moved TO Washington in 1857. and
became a specialist in water cotor. His
water color landscapes are well known
Ia New York. as he is regular con-
1ribuJOr TO the exhibitions of both the
American Water Color Society and the
New York Water Color Climb. and he
also enjoys the distinction of having
been elected to membership iu those
organizations while residing at a dist
auco from New York
Mr. Moser.s most important recent
work. however, has been done in OIL
and Mount Mcintyre first shown iu
the Corcoran Gallery exhibition two
ears ago. has been purchased by VII
lsm T. Evans for the National Gallery
collection AS president of the Wash
lHgton- Water Color club and water
color Instructor tn the COrcOrau Art
School, Mr.. Mosor has been most ac-
Tive I'm promoting art interests in the7
National Capital lie was questioned
fhe other day regarding the causes that
had led mp TO the development of
Washington as one of America leading
art exhibition CenteTs
Now an Art Center
washington" said Mr. Moser. "is
nov recognized as one of Americas art
exhibiting centers. When came to the
National Capital twenty-five years ago
outside of the Corc0rau Gallery and
some few valuable private collections
there was little doing in an art way
not even art stores, where good current
American oT foreign pictures could be
seen. Washington has grown since then
from "a political city, where provincial
portrait painters made their appearance
annually Wi,a their Congressional
friends and relatives. To an art town.
where only artistic ability OF the highest
order gets hearing
''DuC of America. greatest biennial
shows now IS held here, while men like
Sargent. MeIeheTs. and DE Camp paint
portraits for AIS. Mr.. EaTbell last year
and Robert Reid this season have shown
collections of their pictures iu Washing
ION To enthusiastic ana aFpreclatlTe
viewers Furthermore. In one Washing
ton art store a. least may be found
some of the rarcSt and most valuable
art. ancient ana modern brought TO
America during tho year.
CAS- to the causes for This rapid All
vance. There are many. But three events
1u Washington S. ant record stand ont
SIS markers 0u the road from what was
almost zero TO the present admitted
prominence ST Washington IN art mat
tors. First of these was She opening to
The public OF Tlo tDrCoran Gallery %
Art by IT'S phuantlFOUic founder, ~. w
SoTcoran, iu 1859 Since then this art
museum has been until recently she one
oasis where the foreign visitor might
refresh h1s cstbetlc sense, and where
the native American. unfamiliar witch
the larger ci les. could get his first idea
of art iu 1T swider and n0bler aspects.
Library of Congress.
''The second event was the completion
OF the new Library of Congress. This
magnificent building. with its splendid
sculpture and 0ecOra lions and its won
derfuI collection or prints, convinced tie
dullCst Representative or Senator that
n washington was 20 have ART up 10
date and of enduring value Congress
must depend upon expert professional
advice and assistance.
Other influences chat have not been
without effect are the local orsanlZa-
zion OF earnest. brOaomiuded resident
painters DID, HurH olI and water color, the
Society 81 Washington Artists, and the
Washington Water Color Club. There
SIS also one academic art school in the
atg the well equipped and f0uTishiug
taEcgTaU arr school. with four COM
potent teachers ina it's several depart
-.Hoo. ls under the control uf the trus-
tees Of the gallery and conducted lH
Guomy- attractive class rooms that were
provided when the new gallery was
National Society.
"Tle more recently organized va
rIauaI Society OF Fine Arts. very Ioru-
lar lay organization is growing rapidly
81 numbers and influence and L- doiuE
WOEr effective work .a both local and
national directions.
"A large factor DID our art progress is
also due 90 the American Institute OF
Architects. which some years ago puT-
chased for permanent headquarters the