Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-13

have called attention this week
to the works of Josef Israels,
the famous modern Dutch painter. The
exhibition at the Public Library consists
Of series of prints reproducing paintings
by Israels and chiefly those owned in
America The lecture was by Prof. Isaacs
of the New York University, and was
given under the auspices Of the Wash
ington Society of the Fine Arts. This
lecture was the second in a popular course
on modern masters and was exceedingly
we'll attended.
Prof Isaacs spoke entertainingly, but
dealt with his subject from the pictorial
standpoint. emphasizing the story inter-
est rather than from that of art. He did.
however. lay stress upon the fact that
Israels was a great interpreter of hui
mainly and that his works had strength,
sincerity and truth. He told, too. of an
incident illustrative of the esteem in
" hich the painter was held in his own
country which may well be repeated and
should not be forgotten. II took place in
a great Dutch opera house. The audi
ence. composed OF the aristocracy of Hoi-
and as well as the royal family. awaited
the entrance of the prima donna wnen
little Old man in evening dress, bent,
feeble, White nalTeu, CdfHc III ou6H
doorway toward the front and advanced
toward his seat 1t was Israels. the
painter and with one accord the audience
rose as a body and stood until the artist
they venerated was seated. Such tribute
to genius, while we'll deserved, Is rare.
Moth NJ perhaps could have better at
tested the esteem in which he was held
by his own people.
Josef Israels was born at Groningen.
in Holland. in 1924. and died in 1911.
i ~ a
whose intention was that he should be-
come a rabbi To this end his education
was directed, but when his artistic pro-
clivities developed no obstacles were
put in his way. and he was given the
best facilities his country could oner
for study After studying at Amster-
dam he went to Paris. from whence he
returned somewhat broken in health.
1t was while sojourning on the sea-
coast recovering his strength that his
own style developed, and from then on
he was successful both artistically and
materially, winning honors among
painters and critics. and reputation
among the people of all nations./
The great secret was that lsraels had
q 'stinct individuality-a way of his
own-and what was quiet as important,
wide sympathies which enabled him TO
irterpret those things in the lives OF
the people which are universally signlh-
the elemental things of life. His pic
lures do, it is true, tell stories, but they
are stories often of profound import.
and they are told with the utmost skill
and in the language of art.
Up to the time that Isra els began to
paint the painters Of Holland had
worked almost in single manner, pay
ing great attention to detail finishing
their canvases with care and precision.
Josef Is-aels swept aside detail and
set forth simply the great significant
facts. He turned back to Rembrandt for
Inspiration. and built his art upon the
4 u,,o his m n
of light and shade. Yet there is never
feeling in Israels' pictures that any
thing Is lost or wanting. they are COM
>Iete. The light is rightly placed and
wells. but does not obiiterate, is never
TOO heavy nor too light His pictures.
furthermore, are beautifully composed.
though the impression given is that
they Just happened so. In other words
| Israels was great artist-one who
knew how" both intuitively and
through protracted study
He painted in water co'ors as we'll as
| in oils and he SO strongly stamped his
] personality upon his art that those who
| have followed after him have found it
difficult not TO see perpetually as he saw,
blindly following his lead and accepting
| his vision.
1t is interesting to know that Israeis'
works have been sincerely appreciated by
| American collectors and that some of his
hest pictures are now In the United
States. Richard N. Brooke of this city
was one OF the first to recognize the value
of the paintings Of the modern Dutch
school and his wisdom was amply vim
dicated at the sale Of the Wacgaman
objection. the paintings OF which he In
large part assembled. At that sale in
January. 1903. a painting by Israels en-
titled .'Grandfather's Consolation''-a pic
.ure OF an o d man and a little child-sold
for $500, then a record price for a work
by this modern master
There is a fine painting by Israels In the