Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-30

LIHU NEDDEEs = painting, he
Cup of DEATH" recently pur-
n chased by Mr.. Evans for the
Evans National Gallery collec-
ton. reached Washington this
week and is now on view in the New Ma
tional Museum. 1t is a comparatively
small canvas. but Is thoroughly represen-
tative The Angel of Death is pictured
placing the bitter cup to the lips of a fair
woman, who stands on the brink of the
dark river. 1t is solemn. but not grue-
some; dramatic, but not overweight The
same theme presented by a less mastery
painter would be distressing in the eX-
IRENE but Mr.. Fedder handles the sub
ject with great dignity and strength. His
drawing is superb and his modelling has
invariably an element OF the sculptur-
esque His style is at the same time dis
tinguished and distinctive.
Though an American by birth. Elihu
Vedder has made his home in Rome since
1861 He studied a short time in New
York and in Paris. but he is chiefly self
taught, studying Independently classical
works and the best examples of the great
Italian masters. His works have always
had subjective interest. Some OF the
themes for his first pictures he derived
from the Arabian Nights, and he has al
ways shown a prediction for that which
was mysterious and grave, but his work
has been characterized by frankness and
bold decision. While appealing to the
ina gination. it has left little unsaid.
In 1884 Mr.. Vedder published his illus
trations to the Rubaiyat of Omar Khay
yam which established his reputation
These drawings were made on gray paper
in black and white craron and were not
only extremely original in style, but very
sympathetic in character, literally illus
trating and Illuminating the poem.
In 1892 Mr.. Vedder was offered the OPP
portunity of doing some mural decora
tons for the worlds fair in Chicago. but
declined, and fed back to Rome to do a
ceiling for a private house in New York.
which could be done as we'll in Italy
as in the United States and at more
leisure. Five years later, however. he did
contribute some panels for the decoration
of the Library of Congress in this city,
and also the handsome mosaic Minerva
which is at the head of the stairs leading
to the gallery of the rotunda.
Among the more conspicuous in the
field of art today the personality of Mr..
Vedder is unique. Painting in a some
him grave and solemn. The fact is, how
ever, that there are few men who have
so blithe a spirit. SO keen a sense of
humor, or who take i'll luck with good
luck more philosophically. His autobiog-
raphy, The Digressions of w. pub
lished couple of years ago. gives init |
mate glimpses of the artists life and
makes uncommonly pleasant reading. AS
an appendix, it has list of his works
sold since 1856, with little running COM
ments concerning the state of his ex-
chequer. The year 1900 Is set down as
follows: High water year-quite an in
undation; February, exhibition and sale
at Williams Everett's Boston and the
first picture the list is The Cup of
DEATH which at that time was appar-
emily sold to Miss Susan MINIS Whether
this is the one now in the National Gal
lery or not is unknown. but, if so, it
must have come back into the painter
possession. as it was bought by Mr..
Evans from collection shown this WIN
ter in the Macbeth galleries. New York,
received directly from Rome. Unquestion-