Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-15


works by Walter Shirlaw
which opened in the henaicyc Gle
hall Of the Corcoran Gallery of
Art Thursday. is Of great and
unusual interest. Mr.. Shirlaw stood for
something distinctive in American art,
| and his work represents something more
! than the accomplishment Of q single
painter. Until quite recently it was nee
essary for a student of art in this coun-
try to seek his education abroad. The
; first American painters went to England
for instruction, and in the latter days
France has been the mecca: but between
Munich, Dusseldorf and Antwerp each
had their day. Each Of these schools had
marked individuality and set their
seal firmly upon those who came directly
under their influence. 1t was more by
accident than intention that Walter Shir-
law studied in Munich: he had planned
to go to Paris, but his work to the last
reflected strongly the spirit OF the Munich
school.
A record of forty years work is found
in this exhibition. the pictures shown
dating from the last OF the sixties to
1899, the year of the painters death.
One of the earliest Of the pictures shown
is a study In charcoal of a mother and
child; one Of the latest is portrait OF
"Kappelmeister." To i FIX the tn w exact
however. be difficult, as MIR. Shirlaw had
a way Of never considering a picture fin
ished, and, therefore, of retouching 1t
from time to time. In this manner sew
eral of his pictures were on his easel, as
it were, from ten to fifteen years. This
ability to indefinitely retain interest in a
subject must have been gained In munich.
for it is essentially un-Amer1can. II
gives to his pictures, however. that sug-
gestion of having been lovingly wrought
which the works of the old masters pos
sess to SO great degree. And yet IT is
evident that Mr.. Shirlaw was not fond OF
plodding, that variety and experimental
ton held allurements for him. for work
is shown in all mediums and to no single
style or subject did he conf1ne himself.
There are in this exhibition landscapes.
pOrtraits. figure studies, genres, mural
decorations cartoons for stained glass,
pastels charcoal drawings, water colors.
pen-and-ink drawings and oil paintings
Some are very gravely rendered, others
are comparatively slight. but in all one
recognizes the same personality. the same
artistic perception.
The place of honor on the nat wall of
the hemicycle has very properly been
ed by himself. an excellent likeness and
an admirable piece of painting. Near this
hangs some Of his most finished work.
pictures that would well dare comparison
with works by the old masters. There
are two heads, one Of an old bearded man,
the other of q very aged German peas
ant, both of which are wonderfully rem
dered. splendid In color, strongly modelled
and extremely toneful and reticent-mas-
terly works. Here also are some small
genre paintings recalling the works Of the
Dutch masters more than that of the
painters of the old German school. These
era dark and rich low toned and reso-
nant. but finely composed, beautifully
drawn and colorful. One Is the interior of
an old inn. another Is entitled The F1d-
der and shows a young man seated and
nlayinR upon his violin. and yet third
pictures the outcome of a game of
checkers played in an old German smithy.