Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-20
WATER COLOR EXHIBIT
Thirteenth Annual Display at
Corcoran Art Gallery.
HIGH STANDARD OF MERIT
Each Artists Work Grouped for
Comparative Purposes.
MANY SKETCHES BY HOLMES
President Moser's Paintings in Place
of Honor-Distingu
Artists Work.

Tic Washington Water Color Clubs
thirteenth annual exhibition. which
opens today with Il private view and
reception in the hemcyclc hall of the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, is moro tnan
commonly interesting.
Following close upon the heels of
| the great contemporary exhibition of
| American paintings, its Importance may
| be dwarfed. but even in comparison to
that imposing display it will he found
worthy.
Water color is supposedly Il less seri-
Gus medium than oil color. but to manip-
ulatc it successfully requires no less
| Skill Nor is the result less plea sing
| A water color when we'll rendered has
a certain sprghtly charm an intimacy
| and frankness. which is engaging
| To be sure. the work in some instances
| is slight But art can be both simple
and complex. \ little sketch may pos
| sess as sound virtue as an elabora Jely
| finished canvas.
4 great deal is said in derision of the
! Iavnan who knows what he likes. but
! does not know what is good. Yet. when
| all is considered. it must h" confessed
| that this is the first step toward apprc-
| cia tiQn.
| Pictures which make no appeal are. as
luf. idlhcI ul'diS pi'P'oitioits'- VII -" I
art, and even good art COMMONLY mani
tests itself.
One of the first things which will be
| remarked concerning this exhibition is
| the number of really "likahlc" pictures
| il cOntainS--picturcS which Will interest
both the connoisscur and I'll" layman.
| Great variety is displayed both in sub
| jcct ard in treatment.
| From the standpoint of merit high
| standard has been upheld Local and
| of n3intarS have hut ed
| AS whole the display will be found
| quite as representative as even the
| larger exhibitions held annually in New
| York and Philadelphia
Grouping of Work.
| AS far as possible. each artists work
has been grouped this year Thus an
effective arrangement has been accom-
pished as well a desirable end at
( tanned For il is always an advantage
| 10 see number of an artists works to-
gether In order to gauge his ability. In
dividuaiity Of style is thus best en-
phasized.
The largest of these groups consists
of twenty-eight sketches by William
H. Holmes curator of the National Gal
lery and former president of the Wash
neton Water Color Club. made while on
a recent journey to South America via
England
These constitute. as it were. pictorial
! journal and at the same time display
the possibilities Of the medium of water
| color when pushed to its limit. Every
one is n direct. frank statement-a study
| produced by first intent-virilc. vera
| cious and amazingly clever.
| The first shows New York harbor. and
with the second. was painted as the ship
on which Mr.. Holmes was passenger
steamed down the upper and lower bay
bound for Liverpool. Next come -four
representations of the sea as ii appeared
through the port hole of the artists
cabin. all different and all very true. the
| wave formation color and movement be
ing delightfully."- interpreted.
Then there are two English landscapes
typical and fresh; and, after these. views
of the Bay of Biscay. of Lisbon harbor
of Teneriffe Island and the harbor o: Rio
Ianeiro Between the last two is inter.
posed an extremely interesting equatorial
sunset showing a curious procession Of
cloud folk marching along the horizon
beneath an llumined sky.
Scenes of South America.
Argentine is next represented Then
come slmpses of the Andes. of Chile anC