Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-18
LOCAL ART SHOWN
Exhibition of Work of Wash
ington Painters.
TO OPEN THIS EVENING
None of the Eighty Canvases Has
Been Seen Here Before.
PORTRAIT OF JUSTICE McKENNA
Place of Honor Given Picture by
Harold Macdonald-Lasts
Until March 81.

twentieth annual eXnfDltlOn opens tiliS
evening with a private view and recep-
ton of the hemicycle hall of the Corcoran
Gallery Of Art. A double decade is not q
long span, but many changes have taken
place since this society's first exhibition
was held. The Corcoran Gallery had not
begun the erection of its new building
then; there was no handsome hemicycle
hall in which to hold the annual dis
plays. For two seasons they were set
forth in gallery generously lent by one
of the large department stores; for a
time building on Connecticut avenue
was leased for the purpose, and more
than once the old assembly hadd Of the
Cosmos Club was pressed into service.
Good exhibitions were shown in these
improvised galleries. In fact, from the
first the Society of Washington Artists
has upheld high standard. With the
opening Of the new Corcoran Gallery and
which was planned originally, by the
way, for lectures rather than exhibitions,
the Society Of Washington Artists exhi-
billions began to take on new significance
Out-or-town painters began to send con-
tributions until before great while
these little exhibitions attracted attention
not in Washington alone, but in all parts
of the country. The Corcoran Gallery
great biennial exhibitions are the out
come They are, of course, numerically
larger, but as far as intrinsic merit goes
they are not better than were their mod
est forerunners, or they do not seem so
now.
Some Noted Exhibitors.
One can recall many notable pictures
which had their first showing in this dig
nified semi-circular hall. Indeed, 1t was
here that many of the younger generation
gained their first acquaintance with the
works of those painters who are account
ed among the foremost today-John W..
Alexander. Irving r. Wiles. Cecilia
BeauX, Ben Foster, William L. Lathrop.
Henry W. Ranger and many others.
There have been memorable exhibits by
local artists also. Juliet Thompson, Mrs.
Barney and Mrs. Jane Brigham Child
have shown notable portraits in pastels;
Richard n. Brooke, F. C. Messer, Hobart
Nichols, Spencer Nichols and Everett
Warner. landscapes Of strength and
beauty; Alice Archer Sewall James. E. F.
Andrews, E. II. Miller. Robert Hinckley
and Harold Macdonald. portraits and fig
ure studies ranking with the best. 1t
will be seen, therefore, that in it's score
of years this society has made some
worthy traditions.
The present exhibition is composed al
most exclusively of local work, for since
the COrcOrdn gallery dSSulueU Tic ldTScI
responsibility the Society Of Washington
Artists has not invited out-of-town con-
tributionA A collection has, however,
been assembled of about eighty paintings
no one of which previously has been
shown here. besides quite large group
of sculpture models in plaster for tran
scrption in bronze The majority of the
canvases are moderate sized, but the
appearance on entering the hemicycle is
pleasing and impressive.
The Place of Honor.
The place Of honor has been given to a
portrait of Justice Mckenna by Harold
Macdonald, which is a fine characterize
ton and a virile piece Of work. To the
right and left at a little distance, hang
two figure paintings by Catherine c.
Critcher, which are Of exceptional inter-
est One is entitled Presentation" and
pictures a sturdy baby sitting on the
floor solemnly examining its own image
reflected in the polished surface of a great
brass jar-a veritab little modern Mar
ciSSuS.
The other is a portrait study Of lady
and dog, the former seated on a garden
bench, with the latter beside her. Both
are in their way brilliant achievements.
though neither is carried quite as far as
it might have been with advantage. OBJ
viously, no attempt has been made to
| finish the lady with the boy, yet it is SO
clever one would like to see 1t matured.
| The dogs head is painted in a manner
| little short of mastery, and the whole is
handled in a manner both assured and
strong. The baby picture shows better
relation of tones, greater refinement In
| the treatment of surfaces and yet no loss
! of strength. There is individuality in this
| work and extraordinary promise.
Study Of Young Girl.
Ellen Day Hale contributes portrait
| study Of a young girl with a book in her
hand which she has called THE Read
| err" Against a dark background, or more
truly enveloped in shadow, is seen the
| slight girlish figure. the sweet. denure
face downturned making the only lgh,
spot in the canvas. The form Is there
but not insistent; the spirit dominates
and this is we'll. It is a straightforward
piece of painting. but subtle witfaI and
reticently handled. To any exhibition
| this painting would lend distinction
| More obvious. but no less strong is q
portrait of q boy and girl, the son and
| daughter Of Charles w. Ames Of St
Paul. painted by Mrs. Bush Brown. This
hangs in relatively the same position tc
! the right Of the center Of the semi-circu.
| lar wall as Miss Hale's portrait study or
| the left. Beyond. again to the right. Is q
charming self-portrait by Mrs. Mathilde
| Mueden Leisenring. interpreted in light
delicate tones. with simplicity and direct.