Evening star., 1917-10-28

direct style and is a very remarkable
winter picture.
The Hanging Branch" and Spring
GrayS' are in the second manner and
are peculiarly subtle and successful.
1t is difficult to imagine anything more
delightful than these two small can
vases representing water seen through
or against the leafy branch of AN
overhanging tree. There is real poetry,
too. in The Brook-Octobcr," a mel
ancholy scene made beautiful by the
soft autumn haze which enwraps II
THE Farm" too. is charming and spon-
taneous, and goes to show that a very
little picture can sometimes present
very big theme. The effect of spa
ciousness here is peculiarly notable.
But in this exhibition there is nc
picture which is not good. which does
not show the interpreter to be an
artist. man of keen perception and
of technical skill-and this is saying
much. Such an exhibition offers real
refreshment and of a kind much needed
in these times.
The Metropolitan Museum, New York,
has recently brought together, in com
memoration of the completion of the
Catskill aqueduct. Il collection Of paint
ings by men of the Hudson river
school The bulletin of the museum
announcing this exhibition says: This
collection Of pictures. besides remind
ing US of the debt we owe to the men
who gave US our most characteristic
national art. VIII take on the value of
historical documents through their rec
ord of changes brought about by the
creation of large bodies of water
where formerly were woods and
meadows"
The so-called Hudson river school
was made up Of such men as Thomas
M. Asla I1,t,- lt1I 'h,,Il as
Cole Frederick L. Church. John i.
Kcnsett. John W. CaSilaer. Hart. Bier
stadt, WhittredGe. Wyant and lnness,
almost all of whom arc represented in
the CorCoran Gallery'S permanent col
lection. They lived in the vicinity OF
New York and painted chiefly in the
country through which the Hudson
river flows.
hard and cold today, and they are in
some instances weak. unreal and stilt-
ed. but some are very lovely and show
sensitive appreciation of both nature
and art-sincerity of purpose and lofty
ambition. Far from discarding these
works as old fashioned. they should be
priced as d worthy expression of our
early art. 1t is we'll. then. that the
opening of the Catskill aqueduct, a
splendid present-day feat of engineer
ing. should have offered occasion for
them to be recalled to notice.
There has been some thought and
no little talk of further commemorate
ing the completion of the Catskill aque-
duct by converting the space occupied
by reservoir in Central Park which
is no longer necessary. into a sunken
garden with a little lake. at the head
of which was TO be placed MacMcnnies'
great Columbian fountain that has
never been put in permanent form. IT
seemed an admirable scheme, but OBJ
jectors have arisen. and now its full
pity to lose an opportunity to create
beauty and it is shame to leave SO
splendid Sculptural work as Mr.
MacMonnies' fountain in the oblivion
of a storage shed.
The Society of Washington Artists
will hold its twenty-seventh annual
exhibition a t the Corcoran Gallery of
Art from December Is to 80 Exhibits
Will be received on December : and
application blanks may be obtained
from Miss Lesley Jackson, who is act
ing secretary in the absence of Louis
I. Clephane, who is serving in the
Army.
The National Academy of Designs
winter exhibition will open in the Fine
Arts building, New York, on December
"A. continuing to January 13 Exhibits
VIII be received November &c and 81
LEILA MECHLIN.