Evening star., 1915-12-19

1THE death last week of Mr.. Nc
II Guire, director of the Corcoran
Gallery of Art, has removed
conspicuous figure from the field OF
art ana one who for many years has
been associated with art activities In
Washington. Mr.. McGuire's associa-
ton with the Corcoran Gallery of Art
dates back even beyond his election In
1882 as a member of the board of trus-
tees. His father was member of this
| board, but Frederick B. Mcclure was
elected while his father was still Hv-
| ing and taking an active part in di-
recting the gallery's affairs. . He was a
close friend of w. W. Corcoran and
| undoubtedly conferred with him again
and again on the subject of the gal
lery and its development. Indeed. 1t
| is quite certain that he had Mr.. Cor
coran's confidence and shared his en-
so much at heart.
member of the board Of, trustees of
the Corcoran Gallery he served on the
art committee. by which purchases are
recommended and made. Thus he was
instrumental in securing many paint
| ings for the Corcoran Gallery Of Art
| of rare merit and value. His taste was
lexcellent tnd discriminating.
| And none could have been more de-
voted to the interests Of the Corcoran
Gallery of Art than he. To him 1t was
an absorbing interest-the one great
| interest of his life-and he gave to 1t
without measure and without thought
| of reward, as one gives to a cause or
to a work which has become part of
| ones self.
He had definite opinions and strong
likes and dislikes, but he WAS always
kind and considerate OF others BY
| those who saw him day after day and
year by year he was not only highly
esteemed, but deeply beloved. and his
pa ssing brings real sorrow and mourn
| ing to the institution he served 50 long
and faithfully, as well as to his friends
outside. He will be much missed. but
his influence will continue ami the work
| that he has done SO unostentattously
will witness in the future through ITS
development and growth to the nrm
| foundation laid under his supervision
| Conspicuous deeds are not always the
\ greatest achievements, though SO Tar
as this goes Mr.. McGuire's life has
been conspicuous for singleness OF pur-
pose and high aim.
~HE illustrated lecture on "Ver-
| sailles," given by Carroll Beck
|
the Washington Society of Fine Arts.
was peculiarly delightful. Not only did
Mr.. Beckwith have much to say which
was of interest and timeliness. but the
illustrations he showed were of sur
passing beauty. These were Lumiere
slides, photographs made In color.
(which had the accuracy OF the pho-
ltograph and the charm Of painting.
lThose picturing the interior OF the
tpalace and the views in the gardens
were beautiful beyond almost belief.
las we'll as description, for they seemed
not merely to reproduce that whicn
the eye of the camera had seen. olt TO
interpret it's inherent charm. ihey
showed how great a factor color is IN
composition and also what a large 1ac.
tor light may he in the rendering OF
effects. .-
tly interpreted or represented. but 1t
was to all appearances actually pres.
ient Another thing was demonstrated
and that was that the painters IN their
interpretations have been right all
along and that art which teaches GER
itafn rules of practice is nearer the truth
than the knowledge which is based
upon fact For example, In these pic
lures made by photography from ma
lture the light and shadow was held in
Ibig masses, detail was given but not
with equal distinctness In all planes
land color while strong was always
!tonefil and harmonious
But 1t must be remembered that
these photographs were undoubtedly
taken by an artist-one who had the
lartist's instinct. vision and probably
knowledge.
There were nearly one hundred OF
these wonderful pictures. Mr.. Beck.
with divided these into three groups
the first showing the palace and iti
many tooms and halls. the second
paintings to be found therein and the
third the gardens. The burden Of his
| message was the great educational
| value of such a great monument Of ar,
as this-value to the individual and the
| nation. He pointed out In the archi
lecture and the furnishings OF the pal.
J ace as well as in its decoration tina,
| which was finest: he told OF the in.
Vulnerable paintings that were to b<
found on its wa1ls-paintings not only
of the nobility. but of those high ir
the ranks Of literature and art who are
lhonored by France. and of the privilege
of study; he pointed out reasons 70,