Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28

Special interest attaches to the c1-
Inhibition of paintings by Edmund c.
Tarbell and Edward W. RedfeId which
opened in the Corcoran Gallery OF Art
last Thursday. because OF the recent
announcement OF Mr.. Tarbelrs appoint
ment as principal of the Corcoran
School of Art.
Sixteen paintings by Mr.. Tarbcll are
and give excellent opportunity to Judge
the caliber of the art of this dis
tinguished painter.
Prominent place has been given to
two works in portraiture. one of which.
a group showing mother and three
children. was but lately completed.
This portrait calls to mind the triple
portrait of Mr.. Albright and his two
grandchildren by Mr.. Tarbell, which
was exhibited in the Corcoran Gallery
always find much favor. The other
conspicuously placed canvas is a por-
trait of Mrs. Ames of Boston. an un-
usual composition, showing the lady at
tive French console. the rocco frame
Of the overmirror offsetting in the way
of background the graceful lines of
her head and face. The figure is in
rendered. it's repose nicely contrasting
with the restlessness of the furniture
design.
A portrait of Mr. Ames, frankly
painted. hangs somewhat to the right.
A portrait of Mrs. Lawrence. also of
Boston. in somewhat the same spirit.
though simpler in composition, hangs
to the left. This portrait is peculiarly
attractive in color and shows exquisite
rendering of textures. By many it is
considered one of Mr.. TarbelrS most
successful works
A portrait Of C. c. Glover, owned and
lent by Mr.. Glover. which was painted
by Mr.. Tarbell last winter in the board
included in this collection, as is an
unfinished sketch Of Mr.. Minnigerode.
secretary and director of the gallery.
OF utmost interest are the interiors
by Mr.. Tarbell in this exhibition.
There are other portrait painters of
no less distinction than Mr.. Tarbell.
but there is no one who has so beau
tifully and artistically interpreted the
interiors of typical refined American
homes.
In this exhibition is to be seen his
exquisite painting. Girl Crocheting,
recently acquired by Mr.. Wheeler of
this city, work comparable to those
excelled by none: a composition pos
sessing complete unity and rendered
with consummate art.
Here is his Josephine and Merci."
owned by the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
a picture Of his own daughters in their
summer home. ono girl reading the
other writing. both utterly unconscious
of being painted or of serving as
models, and thus perfectly placed in
the sunlit atmosphere OF a real home.
Nothing could be more lovely than the
way in which the sunlight pours in
through the curtained windows and
without eXaggeration makes beautiful
each object in the room.
"Of still later date is third interior.
Girl Writing" showing on the part
of the artist amazing craftsmanship
and complete control of medium. A
fourth composition, somewhat similar
in character, is that of a young woman
studying, also owned and lent by Mr..
Wheeler.
Mr.. Tarbell was born in West Groton
Mass, in April, 1862. He studied first
in the School of the Museum of Fine
Arts, and then in Paris under Bou-
LANCER and Lefebvre. Frank w. Benson
and Robert Reid were with him in
France and shared many of his expert
ences. At that time impressionistic
art was in ascendance, and the prob
lens of light and air were attracting
great attention. None of these young
men, however. was carried away by
the current which was sweeping the
majority of art students off their feet.
They assmilated the best of the move
ment, and each has since interpreted
it after his own fashion in way es-
sentially individual.
Mr. Tarbell is distinctly a believer in
good craftsmanship. and he is of the
opinion that one must master a Ian
guage in order to find adequate ex-
preston. But he does not stop there
and his works are not merely exact,
but interpretatiye. His interiors pre-
sent the illusion Of light and atmos-
phere: they have pictorial quality and
at the same time genuine artistic
worth. 1t is this combination which
has always been found to give per-
manency of value to works of art.