Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-25

11HE National Gallery has been en-
II riched by several notable gifts
q quite recently. Among these is
a painting by Elizabeth Nourse entitled
1.-The Fisher Girl" given by Mrs. Pilling
in memory of her husband, the late j.
Walter Pilling of this city. This pic
lures a stalwart Breton peasant girl
lstanding on an eminence overlooking
the sea- On her back is a fish basket.
over her right shoulder are poles
furled with seines, while her left hand
firmly clasps the hand of little lad.
who hangs back. covering his eyes with
his disengaged hand. 1t is strong,
dramatic painting, simple In treatment,
very dignified\an profoundly impress
sive. In some of its more vir1le quail
lities it suggests the work of Wtnslow
Homer, who has likewise graphically
pictured the fisherfolk of our own
Maine coast.
Elizabeth Nourse Is a Cincinnatian.
but for years she has lived and painted
in France. She has made specially
of picturing the home life of the peas
ants and, while her pictures invariably
| have strength. they have also. as a
rule, a peculiarly tender quality. Upon
her France has conferred many honors,
and. while she is a loyal American at
heart, she does not forget the many
courtesies which have been accorded
her by this art-loving nation. All
through the present war she and her
sister have remained in Paris. even
when they believed it to be most IN
safe. and have lent much aid to the
tpoor and suffering.
There are few Americans. men or
| women, who have attained the dis
tinction that Miss Nourse mas won.
She is one of whom our nation may
well be proud. and it is therefore very
fitting that she should be represented
in our National Gallery of Art That
in recognition of the merit Of her work.
purchased one of her pictures for It's
great national gallery. the Luxem-
| bourg, may in this connection be re.
| called with interest. Such memorial
as this seems most fitting to the spirit
and conviction of the times. a memorial
which will perpetually give pleasure
and is in itself beautiful. Surely. II
| would certainly be preferred to all
others. memorializing What is best In
life rather than the incidental sadness
Of death.
N07ILLIAM r. EVANS has added
wv three paintings and a piece of
| sculpture to the Evans National CAL
lery collection within the past week
VI tSH odS o hc pd4h1A1i6o Ga Oil pci
traits One is of Mr.. Evans. and was
painted by Wyatt Eaton in 1889. The
following year it was SHOWN in the
! National Academy of Design. 1t is
three quarter length and shows Mr..
Evans seated. but with head erect and
| turned toward the observer. AS an
| Interpretation of personality it is init
mate and excellent. and as a painting
it is notably fine. Obviously 1t pic
Evans a much Younger
man than he is today. but the likeness
is still very striking.
The painter of this portrait, Wyatt
Eaton. is the subject of a second Of the
paintings recently presented by Mr..
Evans. His likeness is painted by his
confrere. J. Alden Weir. who. with
Bridgman. Eakins and Thayer, studied
at the same time as did Eaton under
Gerome in Paris. 1t is a really won
derful canvas. rich and toneful. full of
personality, and the expression of fine
character. an ideal portrait of an
artist.
Wyatt Eaton studied first at the Ma
tional Academy of Design. later in
Paris. where he met Millet and came
somewhat under his influence. Upon
his return to New York he took an ac-
tive part in affairs pertaining to art,
and with Saint -Gaudens. Walter Shir-
law and Helena de Kay tafterward
Mrs. Richard Watson Gilder) helped
to form the Society of American Art
lists
The third of the paintings recently
presented by Mr. Evans is a portrait Of
Mrs. Evans and their second son. now
DIR. John H. Evans. 1t is by Henry
Oliver Walker and was painted in 1898
DIR. Evans was then lad Of eight or
ten years of age and is pictured stand
ing by his mothers knee.
In what might be almost termed
classical beauty this portrait excels
The tender relationship of mother and
son Is charmingly intimated and in Il
way so virile that none can fall to ad-
mire. There is no obvious token of
mutual understanding. no suggestion
. of pose. both portraits are frank and
straightforward. but each Is something
more than a mask. And in addition to
all this, the composition Is exceedingly
well considered. This portrait has pic
torial and decorative quality. while
yielding none of its prerogatives as a
portrait. In other words. irrespective
of personalities. it is delightful and
significant picture. The curator of the
, National Gallery. William II. Homes,
has hung 1T as pendant to Sargent
Kendails charming and mastery
: painting. IAN Interlude." which pic
lures with equal sympathy little girl
and her mother and with the spirit Of
i which II is in excellent accord.
Henry Oliver Walker was already
l represented by two paintings in the
r National Gallery. Eros ct Musa" and
'Musa Regina" and in the Library of
$ Congress is his exquisite lunette. "Ly-
ric Poetry. Other OF his mural paint
D ings are to be found in the statehouse,
4 Boston: the Minnesota state capitol.
, the appellate court. New York. and the
$ Essex county courthouse. Newark.
, IT HE permanent collection Of the Cor
coran Gallery Of Art has also late
a ly been enriched by gift. Mrs. Louis
: Bennett Of New York having presented
> to 1t the painting by the late Thomas
| Auschutz untitled "a nnfcbm q n w h ic \