Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-30
VIEW OF ART WORKS
Paintings and Sculpture at the
Corcoran Gallery.
EXHIBIT TO OPEN TONIGHT
Nearly All the Contributions Come
From Washington Studios.
COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS
Extensive Display Under the Aus
pices of the Society of Wash
EXHIBIT TO OPEN TONIGHT
COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS

L mere are over one nunOIcO dGO Sixty
paintings and moro than twenty works
in sculpture included in the twenty first
annual exhibition of the Society Of Wash
ington Artists, which opens this evening
in the Hemicycle Hall Of the Corcoran
Gallery Of Art. with a reception and pri-
vate view 1t is the largest exhibition
that the society has held and some de-
clare 1t the most notable Almost all the
work shown is from local studios. though
a number of important contributions come
from out OF town.
The appearance Of the gallery upon
entrance will be found impressive The
canvases shown are colorful and they
are hung In three rows, frame to frame.
This arrangement is. OF course. contrary
to the present theories of display. which
insist that each exhibit should be given
abundant space. and that works which
are not worth showing well are not worth
showing at all. But there Is something
to be said In its favor. An exhibition
of this sort is primarily a display. SO why
endeavor to conceal its purpose.
Furthermore, why not mass pictures for
effect as well as flowers, especially when
comparatively few arrive anywhere near
perfection But setting aside argument
this overcrowded gallery takes one back
building in New York. and to some Of the
rooms in the old Corcoran Gallery In this
city. through which as child one tip
toed with awe and admiration. and SO
recalls pleaSurable memories of pictures
which were presumably to be enjoyed and
not weighed as to merit
There is no place of honor this year. no
one great picture centering either wall.
There are. furthermore, no prizes. The
artists who have contributed to this ex-
hibition have done SO without being
tempted by awards, and, 1t must be con-
fessed, with very small expectation of
making sales. Curiously enough, 1t Is
easier to find purchasers today for pic
lures valued at several thousand dollars
than those for which a few hundreds are
asked. An exhibition of this sort is
report of the years activity in the local
field of art, interesting to the public and
significant to the artists who thus secure
the opportunity Of measuring by compari-
son the value of their own work.
Views of Massachusetts, Coast.
Richard n. Brooke. the president Of
the Society Of Washington Artists. is rep
resented by five moderate size canvases
painted last summer on the Massachusetts
coast Three Of these show rocks and
sea, one pictures waning sunset beyond
the Gloucester wharves, and the fifth
gives a glimpse Of great rock on the
picturesque moors which stretch between
Gloucester harbor and the Cape Ann
shore. The first three are sunny and
sparkling with color. the last is rather
somber and gray, but fine in tone and
delightfully."- rendered.
Miss Bertha E. Perrie also sends Glou-
cester pictures, one of which. q view
of the inner harbor-a salt ship lying at
preted. an admirable piece of work. in
deed, one of the best things in the exhi-
biton.
Z. C. Messer, the principal Of the Cor
coran School. contributes three canvases,
which are specially impressive and engag-
ing. One is a memorable sunset seen
across a stretch of level country, over
which evening shadows have already
fallen The sky is darkening, but still
glorious, the effect Is so transitory that
one beholding it stands as In the pres
ence of nature with bated breath antici-
pating change. The composition is sim
pie, the treatment broad, but the result
is emotional and convincing And what
ity. For such environment it seems pecu-
liarly fitted. One cannot but conjecture
how handsome it would be In dark frame
over mantel in a richly furnished Ii
brary. Some of the prophets today insist
that the time is coming when there will
be no more easel pictures, but that each
work of art will be created for a special
place. Perhaps so. but that time is still
far off.
Three large decorative canvases stand
to the credit of Lucien w. Powell One
is a picture of the Grand Canyon In Ari-
IONA seen from the heights bathed as it
sun; another is Of marriage fete at
Venice, while the third is Athens seen
across the plain. the ruins of a noble
temple in the foreground. Mr. Powell
these themes color is Of utmost signifi-
canoe. There is something regal in the
splendor of the Venetian scene. something
imposing and splendid In the aspect OF
the great Arizona landscape. From Ari-
IONA, to Venice, TO Athens, is a far step,
and yet the studies for each one Of these
canvases was made on the spot and has
| been followed faithfully.
| James Henry Moser is better known as
| a water coloriSt than al painter in oils
but his picture in the National Gallery
| holds its own with the best and there are
no better landscapes in this exhibition
than the two he has contributed. One, a
very small canvas, was painted as long
ago as 1887 and is altogether Charming in
tone and compassionate picture which
among many would be singled out for
merit
Brought From the South.
| Pictures of the south represent William
p. Silva, the vice president of the society.
who is not only skillful painter, but an
enthusiastic worker IN the cause OF ar I.
The first picture which catches the eye
upon entering the hemicycle is landscape
painted by Mr.. Silva in Texas last winter
an interesting composition showing an old
mission building in the middle distance
and abundant sunshine bathing trees
grass and earth. Further around on the
semicircular wall one finds his interpreta-
ton of a bit of the Georgia coast, the
7 sand dunes of the south as white as
driven snow-'summer snow" in fact, Il
is called in Georgia. Yet further on Is g
third contribution by this same artist q
Cypress swamp very sympathetically
rendered. At the time the entries were
made for this exhibition Mr.. Silva wa!
: holding an exhibition Of his paintings il
Boston and Baltimore. He is a native O.
Tennessee. and one Of the few artists wht
has realized the remarkable picturesque
ness OF southern landscape.
4 local exhibition would be fount
sadly lacking without one or NOR,
! paintings by Max Weyl, who has COM
TO be looked upon as dean Of Washing
! ton painters. There are three land
scapes by him in this exhibition. an,
! all are up to the standard of his best
One of the Potomac marshes Is peculiar
!ly characteristic and satisfactory.
picture which would lend distinction
, to any exhibition wherein 1t might b
shown.
La Grand Johnston has not exhibits