Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-09


sometimes sent on approval by one who
wishes to sell and sometimes lent tenn
porarily by private collectors. OFTEN
they possess great interest. The Corcoran
Gallery is no exception TO the rule, and
charming little painting by the late Fred
erie Porter Vinton which was to be seen
in it's library this week gives excellent IL
lustraton of a case in point.
This was a small canvas, owned by
private collector who may be persuaded to
lend it for length of time to the gal
Iery 1t represents the head of man,
possibly a model, obviously painted as a
study Vinton may have painted IL
abroad; certainly it was done while under
foreign influence, savorng of the spirit OF
the old masters. But 1t shows grasp OF
medium, his scholarly craftsmanship, his
ability to follow closely the great men.
The drawing is good, the modelling firm
and the color mellow. The shadow tones
are transparent and the light loses itself
in dark without abrupt transition. 1t is
a mastery little study and one which
should make all students doff their caps
Peculiar interest attaches to this picture
at this time. as a memorial exhibition Of
MIR. Vinton's work is being held in the
Museum Of Fine Arts, Boston, at present
and is attracting much attention. Arlo
Bates in an introduction to the catalogue
of this exhibition tells how attractive a
place for young artists Boston was In the
| sixties when Vinton was starting out
William Morris Hunt was there surround
| ed by group of young enthusiasts lately
| returned from abroad, and so also were
| John La Fargo, Elihu Vedder, Winslow
| Homer. Bicknell and others. Further
| more, patrons were not wanting.
| 1t was on the advice of Hunt that Vim
| ton first determined to become an artist
The acquaintance began curiously-
| through skylght-Vinton having been
| sent to the roof of the building in which
| Mr.. Hunt had his studio. for a rope-and
| for years ii was only his playtime that
| got permission, Mr.. Bates says. to draw
| from casts in the old Atheneum gallery,
| and in an unpublished paper of reminis-
| cences wrote thus:
| THE room rarely heated in win
| ter. ! have sat there in Overcoat and
| gloves, drawing away for dear life until
q, could no longer see-nor feel, was so
/ benumbed by the cold. AS | ramble
| through the museum galleries now
| find my old friends in their new home,
| and rejoice with them in their prosperity.
/ ] wonder sometimes if their stony hearts
| did not pity the friendless lonely boy
| who came day after day TO that great
cold room to draw, TO wonder, and TO
/ work.
i The courageous spirit and hard work
| won their reward After a few years in
! Paris Frederic Vinton returned TO Bos-
ton and took his place almost directly
1 among the foremost portrait Painters OF
America. He was conscientious truth
i seeker, not given to hsttery. frankly
sincere and yet finished techncan.
| Among his sitters were some of the most
I distinguished men of New England.
/ About fifty portraits and quite many
i landscapes and genres are included in the
4 MI NlntDn died
i only last May. He served. it viii be re-
! membered, on the jury of awards of the
Corcoran gallery's biennial exhibition
| just year ago.
TT is pleasan to be able to note the
! fact that another specially fine ex-
found a permanent home in Washington
This is a painting entitled Moonlight.
Tarpon Springs. Florida which has
been purchased by Mr.. ID. c. Philips of
this city. 1t pictures IA stretch Of open
country bordering a section of pine
woods.
To the right the vista is unbroken, and
the level land extends almost without
incident until 1T meets the sky To
the left are the trees. two of which
have struggled off from their fellows
into the heart of the picture The
trunks of these, strong and well de-
fined. give force and structural Virility
to the composition. Near these trees,
i'm what might he designated the
middle plane of the picture, figure
OF woman carrying basket is seen.
and among the sheitering pines the glow
of bonfire and the outlines of II white
house ilIumined by the moonlight may
be diseerned The whole landscape il
bathed in the light Of the moon, which