Evening star., 1916-06-04

a y interesting and important group
~ of paintings by cotemporary
q foreign artists has again been
placed on exhibition during the past
week in the National Gallery of Art,
after having been shown for some
months in the Fine Arts building in
San Francisco.
The collection comprises Edmond
Aman- Jeans Family Portrait" Emile
Jacques portrait of an elderly couple.
entitled The Anniversary Cottets
Port of Douarnenez, Brittany; Sir
Alfred East's THE Rainbow; The
Ford" by CASTOR La Touche, and "Hilda
and Maggie" by George Spencer Wat
son. besides other works.
These pictures were brought to this
country in the spring of 1913 for the
international exhibition at the Car
nesie Institute. Pittsburgh, and during
the following year were exhibited in
the leading American art museums un-
der the auspices of the American Fed
Grafton of Arts. Then came the war,
and ocean transportation became so
hazardous that it was thought best to
keep them in this country until hos
tilf,ies ceased, the National Gallery of
Art generously offering them hospital
ity. Last January they were with
drawn and again sent out on eShIpi
ton, to Colorado Springs, Omaha and
San Francisco. 1t is good, though, to
have them back again, and the only
regret is that they are not permanent
national possessions.
many ways valuable modern galleries
in Europe is the Gallery of Modern
Art, at Venice. This comprises works
by the leading artists Of all countries,
the majority of which have been Sc
,ected and purchased from the inter
national exhibitions held in Venice.
Such a collection has immediate IN
terest and increasing worth for, as y
today are the masters of tomorrow
Here in Washington. of all places
in the United States, an international
collection would seem most appro-
pirate. and interest in such a coiiec-
ton should be easily aroused.
Now that no art is being produced
in Europe nothing can be done. but
the present condition will not continue
indefinitely and all but the most pess1-
rntstic believe that better days are
coming: therefore it is not absurd to
look ahead and plan. Why not an
international salon annually or bien-
nially in Washington? Why not
permanent international collection in
national Rdl1ery
The group of pictures-war refugees
gives reason and poignancy to such
conjectures They are delightful pic
lures and most welcome guests.
~HE National Gallery of Art is prom
u ised a most valuable acquisition.
a painting by the late John W. Alex
ander, which comes as a gift from
a public-spirited lover of art. The
picture is one shown in the recent
memorial exhibition at the Corcoran
Gallery 1t is entitled June" and
shows a young girl standing before
curtained window beside a table hold
ing a glass vase in her hands in which
is a single flower Gray tones predom-
mate, but the illustration of light and
atmosphere is very true. 1t was a COM
paratively recent work, painted in later
years at Onteora, the artists summer
home in the Catskills.
The characteristics distinguishing
Mr.. Alexander's art are evident-re-
finement, elegance. reserve. There is
a spiritual quality which evades de-
scription, but is no less positive than
more obvious facts. In feeling this
painting is not unlike the picture by
Mr.. Alexander in the Corcoran Gal
lerys permanent collection. nor is 1t
thought less representative.
There is already one small canvas by
John Alexander in the Evans national
gallery collection study In browns
of a woman trimming a hat a mere
sketch which was given and sold for
charity, but which was big enough to