Evening star., 1917-01-14
NOTES OF ART AND ARTISTS

The Corcoran Gallery of Art has
purchased for it's permanent collection
a painting by John S. Sargent entitled
The Oyster Gatherers of Concale," as
brilliant work in some respects as
this great painter has ever produced,
and as charming picture as one may
find in any of the great galleries OF
the world.
For six years, from 1903 to 1903, this
picture was loaned to the Corcoran
Gallery of Art, and many will remem-
ber having seen it during that time,
but for eight years 1t has hung in the
Museum Of the Rhode Island School of
Design at Providence, to which it was
likewise loaned. Hearing that the
owners were willing to dispose Of it.
the trustees of the Corcoran Gallery
Immediately opened negotiations. with
the result that it is now permanently
to remain in Washington.
1t is Il moderate size canvas, four
feet in width by something less than
three feet In height, and pictures
group of women and chfldren-oyster
gatherers-on the beach at Concale. on
the northern coast of France There
are white. floating clouds in the sky.
the blue of which is reflected in the
pools of water on the sand. The air is
clear and sparkling-the sunshine brill
liant-the appearance is that or the
world after a summer shower, when
the whole face of nature scenes to
have been washed. The color is lovely
and the way the figures take their
places in the composition is a genuine
delight.
The sky and the beach are pictur-
esque enough to need no ornament, but
these people belong there and they are
a part of the picture. Sorella's paint
ings of the Spanish beaches are no
more vital and vivid than this; they
are more flashing Impressions and less
studied works: one would tire of them
sooner and not find them one whit more
clever
In the lower right corner of this pic
ture. which Is hung now in the Sar-
gent room. one will find the date, 1873.
under the painters signature. and
reckoning from the date of his birth,
1856. will learn with surprise that it
was painted when Sargent was only
twenty-five years old. At seventeen
John S. Sargent entered the atelier of
Carolus-Duran. with much to un-
learn" that master said, yet with a fa-
cility which dumfounded and was the
envy of his fellow students. This pic
ture shows not merely technical dex-
terity. but sound training and knowl-
edge; the figures of the oyster gath
skillfully handled. the painting is art
fully done. All this could not have
been learned in five short years-no,
nor in flfty-it is a kind of knowledge
which must be intuitive and which is,
after all. the real token of genius. And
| vet there is evidence of schooling, for
craftsmanship must be acquired
through practice. and Mr.. Sargent's BIZ
| sketches that have been destroyed and
| many the portraits that have been
| painted out to be painted In again.
Even Mr.. Sargent does not always
succeed Only last summer. when paint
ing in New England with some painter
! friends. he threw down his brushes
and declared he could not get what he
wanted. the elusive play of light out
| of-doors evading him. But Mr.. Sar-
gent knows when he does not succeed,
and. though enormously endowed, he
! labors untiringly to satisfy his own
ideals.
There is yet another thing this pic
| ture shows-that subject-pictures are
not out OF style and that after all
simple theme may be made very lovely
| II it is beautifully Transcribed. Sargent
has not idealied these oyster gatherers
| They are simple peasants and without
special beauty but they are vital and
human. and the play of light on their
| clothing lends charm to the compo-
sition. Furthermore. one discovers with
| IL start that this painting antedates the
earliest works Of the so-calIed "plein
air" painters, and yet not one of these
later day landscapists has rendered the
| illusion of light and air more truly or
vividly. Looking at this picture is as
looking through a window from indoor
shadow to outdoor light, yet there is
no forcing of effect. no exaggerations-
mere facts, beautifully seen and very
| truly interpreted. The Corcoran gal
lery may indeed be congratulated upon
this it's latest acquisition.
The ST. Paurs Institute of st. Paul,
| Mimi. one of the most enterprising and
efficient organizations in this country,