Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-05

finely and SO skillfully that its interest
and value will endure. 1t is not often
one sees so true and convincing a por-
trait as this.
The new president of the. National
Academy of Design, j. Alden Weir,
sends two portraits, one of which Is OF
Col. C. E. S. Wood. These are both in
his characteristic manner. which, II
rather dry and prosaic, Is at the same
time genuinely artistic and subtle. Mr..
Weir seldom appears to great advan-
tage in a single canvas or in a mixed
exhibition. but he is one OF the rev
present-day painters whose works gain
would go to show that he does not
exhaust his message nor repeat him
self 1t was to a portrait by MI. Weir
that the W. A. Clark prize and Cor
coran gold medal were awarded last
winter, it will be remembered.
The majority of the painters repre-
sented in this exhibition are from New
York. There are, however, some ex-
ceptions Among these Is Louis Belts
of Chicago, who is represented. and ad-
mirably so, by his portrait OF Hamlin
Garland. the author, who Is a fellow.
member of the famous Cliff Dwe1lers'
Club. Mr.. Belts Is one of the cotem-
porary portrait painters who, as a rule,
succeeds in satisfying both MS sitters
and the connoisseurs Of art. His por-
traits are excellent licensees, full OF
the personality of the sitter. and yet
toneful and successful as works OF art.
Two Vivid DEMONSTRATIONS.
Oliver bennett Grover is another Chi
cago painter represented in this exhi-
bition He is not, however, member
Of the association, and his portrait Of
Scion Spencer Beman, loaned by the
Illinois Chapter of the American IN
stitute of Architects. was specially in
vited.
Perhaps the two most vivid charac-
terizations among all the portraits in
this collection are those contributed by
Robert Henri and Henry Salem Hub
bell-the former a portrait Of Emma
Goldman, the latter a portrait of Whit
ford Kane as Mrs. Farrell in Press
Cuttings" Both are extraordinarily
vital-broadly painted. aggressively
impressive. On the, instant one IS
tempted to exclaim that here Is ex.
empiifcation. If not vindication. Of
modern ideals and methods. But 1t is
modern-this breadth of stroke and
'vigor of impression-did not Franz
Halls employ it, and with even greater
skill?
In striking contrast is Mr.. HubbelFs
second contribution portrait Of
young mother bending over her baby,
which is painted with equal skill.
John Sloan's portrait entitled Doris
and Sally" is exhibited by special in
vitation, and some will ask why? Here
is an expression of modernism-the
yellow journalism of art. which ex-
ponds it's strength, as it were. on
startling headlines and is nothing II
not impressive. OF course. such art is
not all bad, but certainly 1t would not
be pleasant to live with constantly. :,
George Bellows portrait of mabel,
Anne and Jean" is somewhat in the
same style. but not SO extreme, nor is
it quite so naive. The children lack
the charm of real childishness. and the
curious purple brown complexion of
the nurse may add a pleasing color
note" as some have said, but is pain
fully unreal Mr. Bellows has done
many better things than this.
Few Portraits Of Children.
There are not many significant child
portraits in this exhibition-especial
none of little children. Eugene Speich-
er's portrait of little Miss Paula MUIR
ray il good, and SO are George Luks'
Lore" Earl Stetson Crawford's Miss
Dorothy Leggett' and Mrs. Crawford's
| Captains Daughter" Mr.. Crawford
| is the secretary of the association and
| especially well known as an illustrator.
His paintings have real refinement and
| much charm. While not ciamoring for
| attention they hold the observers in
| terest.
Mrs John Johanson ON. Jean Mac
| Lance and her husband are both well
! represented. Mrs. Johanson most no.
| tably perhaps by her portrait of Mrs.
Libbey, wife of the president of the
| Toledo Art Museum, and Mr.. Johanson
| by portrait of Mrs. G. A. MacL. Mss.
| Johanson's second contribution Is enti-
tied Virginia and Stanton" and was
loaned by the Chicago Art Institute
from it's permanent collection.
| In addition to those already men,
toned there are represented in this ex-
| hibition Frank w. Benson Of Boston,
Adolphe Borie, formerly OF Philadel-
phia, but now of New York: William
Cotton, Victor D. Hecht, De Witt NJ.
| Lockwood, Ellen Emmett Rand. S.
| Montgomery Roosevelt, William T.
| Smedley, Helen NJ. Turner and Robert
vonnoh, all of New York; Leopold
| SeyfYert OF Philadelphia and Antonio de
| la Gandara of Paris-the last an hon.
| orary member. Each lends a new note
| and interest.
| The gallery in which this exhibition
| Is displayed Is reached through the
| gallery proper and not as heretofore
| by way Of the New York avenue en-
| trance. 1t will be open to the public
| without charge on Tuesdays, Thurs
/ days and Saturdays and on Sunday
afternoons. when the entire gallery is
open free to visitors.
Il