Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-13

60HE Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts in Philadelphia is the
oldest art institution in this
country. About a week ago it opened,
with private view and reception, its
11Ith annual exhibition of paintings
and sculpture by American artists. This
exhibition is invariably of great inter-
est and held to high standard. but
this year it is of even greater interest
than usual and also of higher standard.
There are 439 paintings and 211 works
in sculpture. and among all these there
is scarcely one which does not possess
exceptional merit.
There is great diversity in style and
manner: the jury of selection was evil
IDENTIFY catholic in taste, fair in judg
ment: those of the old school as well
as those of the new are represented.
but on the whole the work set forth
is eminently sane. indeed. it is more
than this. for it is vigorous. fresh and
youthful, as BELTS the art of young
aspiring nation full of vitality and
possessing visions.
The place of honor in the main gall
lery is given to full-length portrait
of the late Charles Francis Adams.
painted by Robert Vonnoh and eX-
hibited here for a brief time when first
completed in the Corcoran Gallery OF
Art.
To ]. Alden Weir. the new president
of the National Academy of Design.
possibly the greatest compliment has
been paid, inasmuch as by special 1nVi-
tation a group of no less than ten OF
his paintings is shown in the exhibit
ton. This group is. Furthermore. one
of the memorable features of the exhi
bition.
In the center hangs a large canvas
showing an elderly woman in a dark
| colored gown. half sitting on the floor,
with BABY Cora on her knee; to the
left. hangs another painting. entitled
THE Christmas Tree while to the
right is seen study of q girl ma king
! fiiet lace. All are in low tones and soft
colors. but each rings SO true that 1t
/ not only carries conviction, but Stirs
emotion. These gravely painted pic
/ lures so refined. so reticent. put to
J sha me the. more superficial and blatant
! works which clamor for attention. but
! fair to'ar-rest more than momentary in
| terest- II is good to see such paintings
! or even TO know they are to be seen.
| The Girl Making F'ilet Lace is a pic
thre which will undoubtedly. in time,
| find place in the permanent collection
| of one of our art museums.
| Quite in different vein and yet of
| by Grace n. Turnblul of Baltimore. en-
| titled The Child This. too, is in
! somber tones but in manner of treat
/ ment suggests Carricre. the great
| French figure painter. 1t was un-
doubtedIy don. in Paris, for it repre- :
sents a little French child seated tri-
| umphantly on the shoulder of stout
! French peasant woman of the urban
| type. Her head is thrown back. her
| arms upra sed, steadying the child.
| there is the CLINT of merriment. the
| spontaneity of action. but under ii all
| is the feeling of maternity. the touch
F., of the universal. that something which
| cannot be put into words The pic
! ture seems at glance to be slightly
painted-the canvas is not altogether
| hid. but -the- story is completely told.
i and surely that is sufficient. Further
more: parts are superbly drawn. as. for
| example. the womans right arm, so
| strong and yet SO supple. The frame
] bears number which signifies to the
! initiated that il has already found ad-
mission to the Paris Salon. but it did
| not need this badge of approval To
| many it will always remain the pic
| ture of this exhibition.
| The Temple gold medal and the Ed
ward T. Stotesbury prize were both
awarded to a decorative painting by
Joseph T. Pearson. jr.. OF Philadelphia
Ian 'oGd com position in which two
| white ducks chief factors. In a
broarl. decorative way a landscape is
indicated. merely, however, as back
ground for the handsome fowls which
occupy the immediate foreground to the
left. This is one of pair of panels
patsited for a we'll known Philadelphia
club. The other has turkeys as its mo-
tive and is also shown in this exhibit
ton.
! The Jennie Sesnan gold medal for the
best landscape IN the exhibition was
awarded to sea picture by Emil Carl
sen. The Entrance to st ThomaS Har-
Dor" To the right is bold. rocky
cliff, beyond which indefinitely stretches
the calm blue sea. 1t is a splendid can
Fl
serving the honor 1t received.
| The Carol H. Beck gold medal for the
best portraits was awarded to Douglas
Volk for his portrait Of Felix~ Adler,