The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-30
DAINTY ETCH|NGS.
BY ARTIST ROTH
PUT ON DISPLAY


making. bazaar-attending days, IL
/ you wish to rest the eyes and heart.
drop into the pretty lIttle-print shop
on Conhecticut avenue and spend an
hour or two examining the treasures
on exhibition there, and you will find
\ refreshment for both eyes and soul in
! the dainty etchings and drawings.
work OF the finest masters in the
| graphic arts.
Charles Dayton. OF 1901 Connecticut
avenue. is showing at present large
| and beautiful collection OF the etch-
| ings and drawings OF Ernest ID. Roth,
! an American artist of unusual deX-
/ terity and skill with the etching
needle and pencil The variety and
/ charm OF his work. show his appre-
citation of the beauty in a stretch OF
canal. old doorways and streets in
| Italy and France, and the play of
| sunlight and shadow on water and
wall.
DRAWINGS Not Often Seen.
His drawings, which one does not
often see. are delicate sketches OF
the streets and picturesque corners
OF Rouen. Charities, and Amiens,
places that are OF especial interest
at this time.
| or his etchings. the largest collec-
ton is composed of those of Florence,
! a series made as early as 1906, anoth-
er 1907, and then again in 1912 and
1918.
\ Florence seemed TO make a Oery
definite appeal to Mr.. Roth. He
knows and loves every part OF the
lovely, classic old town. and liked
picturing the grim piles OF houses as
seen from the Arno. the "Ponte
Vecchio" in the morning and evening
light; "Trinita,r the Rag shops" as
well as the feAthery poplars along
the roadsides leading from the city.
4 collection OF his etchings is in
the Uffizzi Gallery and at the inter-
| national exhibition at Venice Queen
MarEherita bought a number OF them
Etching Way to Golden Horn.
| Frank Mather wrote most enter
tainingly of meeting Mr.. Roth many
years ago in Florence, when the
young artist said he was hoping to
etch his way to the Golden Horn"
| When he was exposdilated with for
his careful, painstaking devotion 10
the smallest detail in his work. he
replied that 'he would begin to leave
| things out after he was sure he could
put them ina good rule for all
young artists to follow-not 10 seem
to be dexterous, at the expense OF sac
rincing some exquisite, historic monu-
ment.
This early. rigorous apprenticeship
| made II possible for him later to
subordinate it to great discrimination
and freedom.
Beside the larger plates there are
dainty etchinEs OF a quiet canal"
just a gondola anchored at a doorway,
or a vine-covered gateway that is
reminiscent OF Whistler. The etch-
ing. f'Fiesole." a view framed in tall
poplars, is especially charming. An
other exceptionally hne plate is the
'Tbeater OF Marcellus, Rome" which
shows the feeling OF solidity and
strength, but conveyed with great
lightness Of touch.
Used Feather Dipped In Acid.
Mr.. Roth is said to use a feather
dipped in acid, passed, touch by
touch, ovet the lines, with his plotting
paper in hand, rather than the acid
bath which Is the usual method
among etchers. In this way he is able
to secure unique results quickly.
The prices OF Mr.. Roth's etchinEs
range from $40 to S25, SO they are
within the reach OF even the most
modest collector. and no collection IL
quite complete in which he 10 not
represented.
Mr.. Dayton's prints in stock are
most valuable, and one finds choice
examples OF the work OF the French.
italian, English, and American etchers
represented in good Impressions.
- NwhfaNIara the
Belgian set OF ID. Y. Cameron, from
the artists own collection. McLaugh-
lin, whose prints are rising in value
every day. J. Andre Smith. seen in
both etching, crayon and water color:
Benson, in his lovely flights Of birds; !
Zorin's delicate nudes poised IN tho
sunlight: William Auerbach Levy, in
his clever drawing OF old Jewish fig |
ures, "The Journeys End" a char
acteristicaIly skillful plate. and Gus |
tave Leheutre, whose work as an
etcher is unfortunately not we'll
known in this country,
Converted To W hIstIer.
He was a painter, but after becom-
ing acquainted with Whistler's deli
verted to the medium which he said
had always seemed to him without
interest sInce the invention OF pho
Biography" He became a student OF
Rembrandt and Claude as well as
Whistler. and confined his studies to
no special town or corner OF the
world-but his curiosity embraced all
that was offered to him.
Paris, it's gardens. its faubourss,
Lagny, and finally Tropss
where the old streets bordered with
wooden houses. furnish him with all