Evening star., 1917-12-09

An exceedingly interesting collection
Of etchings by Boston artists has been
arranged by the print division Of the
Library Of Congress and is now on
exhibition at the library. The collec-
tion comprises etchings by Charles w
Woodbury., William H. w. Bicknel
Sears Gallagher, Philip Little, Henry
Winslow, Lester Horhby and Frank w
Benson. The Benson. etchings are. in
the southwest hall. on the second floor
and the others are displayed in cases to
the right of the grand staircase on the
main floor of the library
Charles Woodbury., is better known at
"a painter than.as an etcher. Many will
remember with pleasure his great can
vas representing bit or. Tmid-ocean
with. the waves tossing rainbowS to the
sky, which was Included IN one of the
coreoran Gallery of Art cotemporary
American exhibitions, as well as less
significant canvases shown IN this CRY
from time to time. In the Philadelphfa
Water Color Clubs annual exhibition
which has just closed, group of Mr
Woodbury's water colors was given the
place of honor, but there are some VINO
believe that Mr.. Woodbury. 'is even
greater as an etcher than as painter
A year or more ago a group OF ms
etchings, ones of the first groups to be
shown, was exhibited at the Library OF
Congress, attracting much attention
and calling forth sincere admiration
The subjects presented at that time
were chiefly sea and mountain views.
The etchings in the present exhibition
are of more recent date and cover a
greater variety of themes. For exam
pie, two are studies of elephants. two
are of dories rocking on the sea, sew
1G md n
are exceptional Better than almost
any one else. Mr.. Woodbury. knows how
to give in his etchings the sense OF size
and weight and motion. His eiephant
pictures show. the animals ,bu!kiness
and suggest their characteristic sway
ing motion: his little dorieA not only
rest on the sea. but are upheld and
.bobbed about by its bouyancy; his win
ter woods pictures have tremendous
suggestion Of paocity and silence. HOW
he does it would be hard to say: real
art. great art, cannot be explained. ;
Mr. Benson's etchinEs are no, less in
diyidual and significant. They are per-
haps more familiar, but for this reason
none the less interestin g. or to the lover
Of art less amazing and attractive. His
pictures of birds in fight are remark
able-as remarkable as the drawings by
the great japanese artists, out com :
pletely individual. His. pictures OF
sportsmen are supsrbIy wrougnt' .,s 5
saiIboat making its way to sea is mas
terlv. az well as enchanting.
Philip, Little, like both Woodbury. and
Benson is better, known for his pafnt-
ings than for his etchings, but IN inns
latter field she has. made, 1t would seem.
exceptional contribution. His technique
is odd, but interesting, his presentations
distinctly graphic. The majority OF his
subjects he has. found apparently on the
water front of Salem, where he has his
int nd
is his etching of Derby Wharf" Unique
in tremtaent and thoroughly engaging
are his etchings of fishermen in little
boats exaggerate ted In size because of be-
ing placed in the immediate foreground
and against much larger boats dimin-
ished in proportion through distance.
Sears Gallagher Is represented by a
number of etchings of Boston architec-
tural themes charmingly rendered. no
one Of which has perhaps greater appeal
than that which contrasts some old
buildings with the recently erected sky
scraper tower representing the old and
new Boston His line is sensitive. his
craftsmanship excellent. .
William H. W. Ricknell is hest repre-.
sented by his etching Of THE Dunes
and by one or two Of snow-covered coun-
try. With remarkable. skill he has made
few lines tell all that is to be told and
suggested not only contour. but atmos-
phere. light and shadows.
nent place among American etchers. Hts
work is not only Individual. but stands
the test Of time. The etchines by which
he is represented in this exhibition are
chiefly OF scenes abroad. and thew are
all rendered with reticence and yet real
distinction.
In the entire group Henry Wilslow' is
least Interestingly represented. yet Mr..
Winslow stands high in the estimation
of critics He was a publ of Whistler.
1t. Ait Ax~I &l,<
nerrfanent, collections of the British
Museum. the Ribliotheque Rationale, the
Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, and the
New York Public Library.
1t sometimes seems as though art to-
day was on the wane. but. this collection
now on view at the Library of Congress
gives evidence to the contrary. and
should do much to induce confidence in
the future OF. American art
kk
On the basement floor of the Library
Of Congress the print division is ar
ranging a wartime exhibition. which
is not only to include a collection of
Raemakers cartoons already on view.
but u comprehensive collection of war
posters of the allied powers and set
Of Mr.. Pennelfs war-work Autographs.
/, Inc ueath OF MISS NJ. Janette MeSser
Monday of last week makes another
gap In the ranks of Washington artists
an leaves vacant place which il win
be difficult to fill. Miss Messer was the
sister of E. c. Messer. principal of the
Corcoran School of Art. and for the past
fourteen or fifteen years she served in
the capacity of secretary and registrar
of the school. She thus came in con-
stant3 contact with the students, and
one and all regarded her as a friend.
She was even more than this--a fellow
student-for she worked from time to
time. in the water.color' class, and her
p9 intings of still life have real charm
Of art, one who found joy and inspira-
tton in everything that was beautiful
In art and In life. 1t was this love
which dominated her own life and
which made Il beautiful There was