Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-20

H1HE Society of Washington Artists
twenty-ffth annual exhibition,
q which opened last evening with a
private view and reception in the Cor
coran Gallery of Art. is as attractive
as it can be and should be visited by
all those who are interested in pic
lures and love art The exhibition Will
continue for four weeks.
Not only does this exhibition COM
pare favorably with others OF a SIM
liar character held in other and larger
cities. but it affords unusual variety
both in subject and treatment. There
are no great Names to be sure. to al
lure and bewitch - the pictures stand
frankly on their own merits ana are
for this reason all the more Interesting
and enjoyable. for. after all, with real
connoisseurs and art lovers 1t Is the
work itself which signifies and not the
person who does 1t.
1t must be admitted. moreover. that
the standard this exhibition upholds
is uncommonly high. Even in the great
academy exhibition in New York there
are a fair proportion of paintings each
year which no one can understand no"
they passed the jury But here there
are not u dozen WORKS out oi Inc w
shown which seem to fall below the
degree of required merit.
There are, it is true, no star pic
tures-pictures which through extra
ordinary merit stand out from the great
mass of those which are simply good
but pictures of this type are not paint
ed every day, and sometimes those that
have so appeared upon first presenta-
ton have been known to lose their dis
tinction as the years have passed.
But this exhibition is actually full of
charming pictures. which instantly give
the beholder delight and which are en-
viable possessions. The majority are
fresh in color, well painted and pleas
ing in theme. The note of beauty is
dominant. and it is sounded with all the
vigor and freshness of youth.
To those who follow closely the de-
velopment. of American art this is. in
deed. an encouraging and refreshing
display. testifying to widespread APP
probation of that which is finest. SO far
as aims go. and a very general i'm
provement in the mere craft Of paint
ing. Exhibitions of this kind are emf
nentIy worth while, both from the
viewpoint of the artists and the public.
TN the Moore galleries. on 18th street,
there is to be seen very interest
ing exhibition of paintings by Wallace
a painter of portraits and figures, but
he also paints landscapes. and it is well.
for not the least interesting of the can
vases now on view are those of the
country<fn the heart of New England,
which has a character and a charm
all its own.
These landscapes. Mr.. Bryant claims,
are his play. and. as SO often happens,
they are for this reason most signifi-
cant, combining a certain poetic senti-
ment with a very sober kind of straight
forward actually.
OF somewhat the same type as his
landscape is a little city picture. a
painting of Boston street as seen in
winter. with it's snow covering and its
church tower dominating the vista. 1t
is an intimate kind Of picture. which
once seen is remembered.
The portraits are all larger and more
imposing canvases. One OF little lad
a real boy. in brown velveteen suit
seated in a big armchair. has the
place of honor-and deserves 1t. The
pose is easy. the face very expressive.
the whole decorative and fine.
Three portraits Of men command at