Evening star., 1916-03-05

6NHERE is now on exhibition ir
! II the Corcoran Gallery of Art a
most interesting and engaging
| collection of small bronzes by
! American sculptors. This collection
comprising no less than seventy-three
works. was assembled in New York by
Adolph A. weinman for the American
| Federation Of Arts, under the auspices
of which 1t has already been shown In
several museums. among which may be
named the Worcester Museum, at Wor-
| cester, Mass, and the Carnegie Insti-
tute, at Pittsburgh.
! Thirty-three sculptors are represent
ed, and not one of the works shown
fails to show exceptional gift and real
distinction. Many are very small, and
not one for that matter is of any con-
siderable size.
| Instead of scatterin them through the
galleries. as was at first intended, the
collection has been grouped and is dis
played in it's entirety in the upper
atrium, at the head of the main stair
way The smallest pieces are in glass
cases, four of which have been pro-
vided and flled-the remainder. in
cluding the larger pieces. are grouped
| on two large table stands. The ar
| rangement is excellent. very effective
| and such that each piece may be seen
| to great advantage.
AS a whole the collection is varied
and goes to show how diverse is the
talent which these works represent
! But more than this. there is evidence OF
| keen and refined artistic feeling, of a
comprehension of the true significance
of plastic expression, and of that touch
which indicates both genius and train
ing.
| And this little collection stands for
American art. that art which has bor-
;, rowed much end is composed of many
units. but is still national in the best
| sense and young and aspiring.
| 1t is interesting to know how diverse
have been the influences which this
| group of sculptors represents. Robert
Aitken and Chester Beach are both ma
tives of California. Scion Borgium was
born n in Ogden. Ore; y, Victor Brenner Erin in
! in Italy. and so it goes. Yet all of
] these influences seem to have been
merged in the one great aim-the ex-
preston of beauty in form: and the
| language is one and the same-the Ian
guage of art.
| This is the more interesting when it
| is remembered that whereas there are
| numerous schools of painting in this
| country there is no important school of
| sculpture. for in this branch of art the
| old method of master and assistants s
| still prevails. The student of sculpture
| enters the studio of sculptor and as
| sists him in his work, thus acquiring
| practical knowledge as well as skill.
1t is question whether or not this is
not the best method of education in art.
| No catalouge has been issued of the
| collection, but none is really needed, as
little cards give titles and the names
| of the sculptors, and beyond this the
| works speak for themselves.
| Robert Aftken, who is. by the way. the
| sculptor of the Mckinley monument in
! Golden Gate Park. and also of the mon
/ ument commemorating Dewey's victory
| at Manila. likewise in San Francisco.
! is represented by a fragment which is
| interesting and charming, even when
| taken from it's setting. a pair of book
| ends. Humanity" and an excellent
! portrait bust of Bret Harte.
Carl E. Akeley shows two animal
/ groups. evincing very intimate knowl-
| edge of subject and nice feeling for