The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-03
FRENCH ART EXHIBIT
OPENS AT H RITZ
Evening Begins With 1nSpcc-
.tiOn Of Bcsnard's Painting
SymbOlizing Peace.
n01 SMALLER CANVASES

The formal inauguration OF tbs
French art exhibition for the relief vi
the families of French soldiers brought
together in the grand ballroom OF TIC
RtS-Carlton last night more than zoe
persons. most of them socially prom
fient, VINO are devoted heart and soul to
France and her cause.
Had 1t not been for the fact that many
persons who had purchased tickets for
the exhibition and concert were out VI
town for. the week end the ballroom
would have been completely filled. AS
II was the attendance was moderate, al
though this was not reflected In the size
Of the receipts.
= Naturally the occasion provided Whit
ney Warren, James NJ. Beck and DR.
Prank Landon Humphreys with further
opportunity to cxtol the courage and
devotion and gallantry of France, "a
hbpe as intensely as men can hope that
France will emerge triumphant and 10
say with perfect frankness that 1t was
4 pity this country wasn't doing more
for the French people than merely
Standing aloof.
The evening. began with the inspection
OF Albert Besnard's huge mural painting
sSmbolizing Peace. The canvas when
IL the property OF the French Govern
ment. covered almost the entire wal OF
one n of the Ritz ballroom. As many
persons are aware, the Besnard decori-
ton represents Peace by Arbitration. y
A female figure Is shown seated. She
listens to the pleadings of two litigants
One of these argues ~vehemently. The
woman lifts "A hand 10 stop him in order
that she may hear the arguments Of the
other. Two armed warriors whose diff.
fcrenccs have been composed by Peace
TIRE seen riding away In different direc.
ttOn9 In thu f,rAyrpnpl unA ua.,,tnulN
apart from the rest OF the composition
the syinbolical figure of Peace rises like
an apparition, carrying In her arms a
child.
tOI Small Canvases.
or the small canvases. all the work OF
contemporary French artists and pre-
oented to American artists by Id Fra.
tcrnite des Artistes Of Paris In appre.
citation OF a similar gift to the artists II
Paris by American painters and sculp-
tors. there were just l0l. nan remark
ably charming. Those which attracts ~
the most favorable m from a dis
cerning company were l.eon Bonnat's
Pour les Soldats." the simply executed
hgure of a woman knitting RaphaeI
Collins "Etude.' the figure of IA young
girl; Paul Gervais's "Allegory." Pau
Chabas's Head of a Child r.. Dinet's
"In the Desert" Victor Giihert's Lave.
nue. de Bots de B%oulogne," Lucien Jonas.
victory" and r. M~ontenards THE
Shrine to name Only "a few.
1t was considerably past . o'clock
when Mr.. Warren opened tho formal
part OF the occasion with a brief ad.
dress all glowing with his love fol
rranc Some OF the more striking
things that were said by Mr.. Warren
were:
We all know that this country In
spite of official indifference has since
the beginning OF the war liked its sym
pathy. Our artists have aided In re-
vealing II. They have accomplished theiI
d.vine mission. which is TO transfurr
darkness INTO light, They wish 10 have
nothing to do With silence or with a .,-u
trality that encourages barb rism or ter.
ror!sm. but rather with a neutrality tina,
uyshOlds civilization. The idea of not
protesting before crime is To them In.
0upportahie. ! N that they are the
Interpreters of the real public sentimen,
.berause tn soul of the artist is neal
h soul of IN. people. Both are spon.
taneous and ingenious. Both have AL
intuition for that which is good. Boil
receive their impulses from ~ins'i,.c'
which is superior to all reasoning and
never is mistaken.