Evening star., 1917-11-11

Tho collection Of etchings by ]. Alden
Weir, which for some months has been
on exhibition in the Corcoran Gallery of
Art, is now being shown in the art de-
partment of the Carnegie Institute.
Pittsburgh. In the Corcoran Gallery 1t
will be replaced by a collection Of etch-
ings and drypoints by Frank w. Benson
OF Boston. who is especially well known
here through his paintings of figures out
Of doors and by his charming portrait of
his daughter. which is included in the
Corcoran gallery's permanent collection.
Mr.. Benson began etching in 1882. when
he was a student in the school of draw
ing and painting, Museum OF Fine Arts
Boston. but he did little work in this
medium until 1912. when. having made g.
number of wash drawings in black and
white. he began a series Of experiments
in etching, the success of which the ex-
hibition to be held here in the Corcoran
gallery will amply testify.
For the most part Mr.. Benson has
etched outdoor themes. subjects per-
tanning to sport. that of the gunner. He
has depicted with rare skill and ac-
curacy flights Of wild birds. These give
evidence Of wonderful power of percep-
ton. swift vision and accurate memory
such as the artists of China and Japan
in the old days possessed. But Mr.. Ben
sons work is without oriental flavor: it
is essentially his own. Mr.. Paf Of the
Boston Museum. writing of these etch-
ings. very truly remarked. "It is not
the least virtue of his plates that the
birds are scientifically observed and
that. being both an ornfthologist and a
nervous yellowlegs interesting to
sportsmen. For, above all. Mr.. Ben
sons work reflects the feeling Of a
sentient man who is out of doors to
shoot and Ash. not primarily to sketch: ::
an artist whose impulses are as fresh
as the facts of beauty which gave them
rise"
Mr. Benson's use of drypoint is Pc
culiarly skillful. and his compositions
have not only interest, but balance and
decorative effect. For this reason his
etchings have continuing interest; one
does not weary Of them. but finds them
more significant as they become more
familiar.
All who are interested in etching as
en- artistic and technical mode of ex-
preston as well as all those who are
lovers Of the great outdoor world of
nature will find keen interest and de-
light in this series of pictorial etch-
fngs by Mr.. Benson. which the Corcoran
Gallery will exhibit.
The National Gallery of Art has re-
| Gently received as loan from the es-
tate of the late A. ]. Parsons two land
scape paintings, one by John Constable
the other by Peter De Wint. Both are
excellent examples Of the early British
school of landscape painting. These
painters were practically cotempora-
neous, living during the latter half OF
the eighteenth and the early part OF
the nineteenth century,
Constable was by far, however, he
greater man, and by some his influence
Is said to count more in the history OF
modern painting than any other single
force which can he named. 1t was he who
first threw aside classic traditions and
endeavored to realistically transcrfbe
nature. In fact he was. it may be said:
the founder of the present school of
landscape painting. He was intense
nature lover and he ma most
thorough study of the Suffolk dntry.
wherein he lived. 1t was his wont to
paint, however, broad views and to sub
ordinate detail to effect.
The landscape purchased by MT. Par
sons and lent to the National Gallery
by his heirs admirably typifies this
Characteristic. 1t is broad view SHOW
ing rolling country, very simply paint
ed and very spacious in effect. The
bil,owy clouds which one is apt to look
: for in Constable landscapes are absent
and the student is thereby taught that
it is unsafe to classify any painter by
single Characteristic
The De Wint is also an interestins
composition and a typical work OF the
period Possibly it shows more of the
Dutch influence. a flavor OF the Hob
| bema style. which is, however, per-
fectly reasonable.
X
| It is interesting to be able to turn
from these landscapes by Constable
and De Wint to one by Richard Wilson.
j loaned by a local private collector.
which hangs in an adjacent gallery.
,, This is an italian subject and is purely
| in the classic style. 1t is in golden
| brown tints. wonderfully rich in tone.
wonderfully fine in composition. beau
| tiful as a mere decoration, lovely not
as nature. but as "reminiscences of one
| of natures moods.
Wilson was born in 1913 in England.
but he spent much time in Italy He
began as a portrait painter, but short