Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-10
generation and Is, as it were, just &C
quiring the habit
Mr.. Melcher's Penelope"


The pictures in this exhibition are for
The most part of medium size, no such
sreat .canvases Being entered, for in
stance. as Sargent's portrait OF the doc
tors, which was the. work. of chief note.
in the qCorcoran Gailery's first large ex-
hibition In the same place where that
seen Carl Melchers' Penelope" the pic
ture to which the second prize was
awarded. This is a fairsized canvas, al
most square, showing morning room in
one seated embroider1ng, the other stand
ng performing service. The walls OF
he room are covered with gayly lowered
-.aper; there is window to the right
and a round mahogany table to the LEFT,
IN which has been placed a flideous green
porcelain lamp. There is nothing poetic
r sentimental about the scene. but it Is
attractive, homely and genuine. The COL
r is fresh, the treatment direct and. as
result, the effect is charming. In time
ne even forgets the ugly lamp or dis
overs real affection for it, SO great
is the painters power of persuasion.
This Is in the center gallery on the east
wall, facing the staircase, and to the
right and left hang painting of MD
ocean by Emil Carlson and picture of
The Arizona desert by Albert NJ Grell
t is peculiarly interesting to have these
pictures placed as pendants, for they are
so dissimilar in style and yet so alike
n spirit. The same sense of Spaciousness
>ervades both, together with suggestion
If the incrutability of creation. The
ocean and the desert share the same at
eributes OF majesty and loneliness.
"Girl Playing Solitaire"
Again, as ones eyes wander on, one
sees Frank w. Benson's beautiful figure
painting of "Girl Playing Solitaire"
which was purchased last year by the
Art Museum of Worcester. and. in the
other direction, in relatively the same po-
sition Joseph De Camps "Blue Tea
Cup" which has been much admired and
commented upon-a portrait study of a
young girl holding a fragile cup up to the
light.
In this same gallery. moreover, IS Alden
Weir's Hunters Moon," nocturne.
strangely interesting. nine-tenths of the
canvas being occupied by cloudless,
star-lit sky.
A landscape by Childe Hassam-not the
prize picture-hangs not far from the
Weir, and lends not only interest, but q
Hubelrs excellent portrait Of a little lad,
Winthrop" which more than dares COM
parison with the portraits of the great
English painters of more than century
ago.
There are three paintings by Willard
Metcalf in this gallery. one Of which is
.Icebouud." to which was recently
awarded the Norman Wait Harris medal
in the Chicago Art Institutes exhibition.
figure painting of unusual type by
Mary Cassatt, of young woman and
child. out of doors. in shade, but full
light, and with accessories of blue, pink
and green, is here also. as is likewise a
characteristic fulI-length painting in sim
80 hr,T YnI
ter Gwen. Between these two there lie
the utmost contrast. and yet each is OBJ
viously an admirable expression of art.
Two Prize Pictures.
Mr. Tarbelrs prize picture hangs in the
first of the east galleries. as does also
Mr. CARRIERS prize landscape. Both have
inherent loneliness of color. atmospheric
quality and unity of effect. The interior
shows the living room in a seaside cot
tage-a living room in which people actu-
ally live. A window, curtained, but wide
open, framing a picture OF sky, sea and
tureSque group. lad and two young girls.
occupied with embroidery and reading. 1t il
an extremely difficult theme to render
and Mr.. Tarbell has transcribed 1t with
consummate skill. adjusting every value
perfectly and leaving not one discordani
note. One may feel that the picture lacks
somewhat in unity of composition, but
this is. after all. small quibole.
There are three paintings by Sargent
included in the catalogue-one scene In
the Luxembourg gardens at early even
ing. one portrait of young girl In
white. and the other portrait Of Mr.. A.
Augustus Healy, president. Of the Brook
Ign Institute of Arts and Scfences. The
first was painted in 1879 and patiently
demonstrates the artists amazing talent.
It might have been by some one else so
academic is 1t. but only by one brilliant
~ gifted. For the initiated this picture
must always hold something in reserve.
The portrait Of the girl is far from sue
.cessful. though strong and impressive, but
the portrait of Mr.. Healy measures up
to the best Sargent has produced It is
remarkable Observation-Disclosures re-
markabie in fact as the portrait of the
late John Hay.
Shannon shows two portraits. or rather
Is. represented by, two as it is far from
probable that he made personal eontribu-
ton. These are q portrait Of George
Hitchcock. the painter. at wotk out Of
doors, which is owned by the. Telfair