Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-06

The collection of paintings by Ossip
Perelma, now on view in the National
Museum. makes an impressive showing.
1t occupies three communicating rooms
on the first floor of the National Mu-
scum. new building. and despite the
fact that the light is from the side
rather than from the top. and that the
walls of two of these rooms are I'M
tinted. the paintings are seen to really
excellent advantage.
The first room is occupied by ex-
tremely large canvasses. presenting for
the most part pictorial themes. Center
ing one long wall is painting depict
ing a barbarian Tartar king reclining
on the ground and gloating over his
victims. whose heads are set up on
yet one full of awful significance. the
painters intention having been to point
out the evil which arises through mon
archial power. that power which gives
one man complete control over the lives
of others.
To the right of this picture hangs
portrait OF Vladimir Stasson. director
Of the imperial library at Petrograd.
and a picture OF a bearded anchoret in
a garden. Both are beautiful presenta-
tions. The venerable librarian is seen
seated in a chair on glass-inclosed
veranda in Russian garb, red leather
boots and smock, a book resting upon
his knee; the priest is pictured at full
length in the habit of his order bending
forward and grasping the cross sus-
pended from his neck by a chain Be
yond him, with backs turned, are seen
others of the same order.
In both these instances one has ex-
amples of portraiture in outdoor light.
they are vigorous representations. bold
~ rendered. strongly individual. but
Thoughtful and refined. 1t is not mere
in irl, ha
painter has presented. but the mental
ity of his sitters. suggesting at the
same time the compleXity of life. These
two works alone are sufficient to give
the painter high rank in the world of
art.
In this same room are other works
less dramatic but equally vigorous
There are three pictures painted at the
time of the inundation of Paris in 1912
which are viril direct and engaging
One shows a horse and cart approach
the observer, the horse ankle deep in
water, not a pictorial theme. and yet sc
rendered that it gives delight. Here
too, is picture of group of work
it's execution. NJ. Parelma has pic
tured interestingly the defense of the
Maison du Passeur on the Iser, and he
shows. moreover, in gent1er vein a
group of yelled communicates leaving a
church in Paris. as well as a bit of life
These are all striking scenes and well
depicted
The second room is occupied by por-
traits painted since the artist came to
America. One is of Mr.. Ide, former
Governor of the Philippines. Another is
readily recognized as of George Arliss,
the actor. A third is of Mrs. Reginald
dc koven. Others are of Woodbury.
Blair. Mrs. Thomas Blagdon, Frank B.
Moves, Mr.. and Mrs. r. NJ Kauffmann
RudOlnh fr,,a
Mrs. and Miss Rochon. At one end OF
this room is a portrait of Marshall
Joffre, done from a sketch made in
France NJ. Uerelma has the gift
of grasping the salient characteristics
of his sitters and SO is able to present
spirited, likenesses.
The third room has as 1t chief feature
portrait of Mechnilsov. as seen in
his laboratory at the Pasteur Institute
in Paris. This is a replica of the por-
trait painted by NJ Perelma in
1907, which hangs in the Pasteur In
stitute. Ii shows the great man of
science busy in his laboratory at night,
and represents the painter at his best.
Noteworthy also is an unfinished por-
trait of Capt. Roger Wells in white
this hangs picture of Marshal Joffre
speaking to a soldier on the field of
action.
Here, too are several portrait studies
of various types of soldiers, one of a
Sene CALAIS. two of French Africans.
one of British-Indian. These are all
excellent. real people. typical and fine.
OF special interest will be found a pic
ture of a horse market in Russia which
hangs in this same room.
1t is very satisfactory to be able to
see so large a representation of the
work of single foreign painter, and
it is interesting to observe how, de-
a N nd a
cosmopolitan acquaintance. the note
of Russian nationality distinctly pre-
walls. To have such an exhibition of
the works of a foreign painter exhibit
ed in the National Museum in this city
is peculiarly appropriate, especially at
tional relationships and of heightened
interest in international affairs.
X X
An exceedingly interesting exhibition
OF old and modern handicrafts is now
in progress in the Peabody Institute in
Baltimore. under the auspices of the
Handicraft Club of that city. Two
large galleries are given over to the
display, which has not only been well
selected, but is most attract3vely ar
ranged.
Included in this exhibition are ex-
ampies of tapestry woven by the Her
ter looms. New York. which vie in
both artistic interest and texture with
those woven in Flanders centuries
ago.
There are beautiful potteries from
American kilns. examples of Rock
wood. Byrdcliffe, Newcomb and other
wares. fine in color as well as in form.
genuine works of art by American
workmen.
There is an extraordinary exhibit of
ecclesiastical embroidery, much of
which is fashioned after rare work
wrought in earlier times. There are
fine bookbindings by Baltimore bind