Evening journal., 1918-10-29
ART, PATHOS IN
FRENCH salon
Exhibition of War Paintings
Excites Admiration
Then Brings Tears
SPIRIT OF FRANCE
SEEN IN DISPLAY

The French Art Exhibit is open to the
q public every day this week. from 10
o'clock in the morning to II o'clock at
night. in the High School annex.
Brilliant in color and beautiful in COM
position, the modern French paintings
{ now on exhibition in the new High
School building. bring TO the beholders
the radiant, intrepid spirit Of immortal
France. Although there are many war
paintings. there are few that will repel
by a display OF the physical horror OF
the war It is not a gloomy, but bright
and cheerful art display
With the true instinct OF the French
race for art, the painters have realized
that a beautiful landscape in Belgium
has far more power TO bring tears to
the eyes. by It's suggestion OF contrast,
than a painting Of the devastated condl-
tion OF the same andscspe. There is in
fnitely more pathos in the quiet little
picture OF the mother and baby waiting
by the freside for the absent father,
than there is In the battle-scenes.
The late Howard Pyle, the famous
Wilmington artist, used TO say that
horror that was too clearly shown in a
painting defeated its own purpose. The
prominent wounds and bloOd-stains plac-
ed conspcuously in picture, so repel
the observer, that his mind instinctively
closes against emotion. Also, said Mr..
pyle. such pictures leave nothing to the
imagination. Everything is shown and
no mystery is left 10 keep the observer
thinking and imagining for so continued
a period that there is time for his mind
10 feel deeply the spirit OF the picture.
That is the defect OF the drawings in
the little room labelled German Afro
cities.' They are gruesome. they are bar
barous in tho extreme, without the mys-
terry Of real life, and do not touch the
heart as deeply MS the gayer pictures OF
the exhibit
There is something infinitely sad in
the bravery gay pictures OF dancing
,grls and laughing children, Of sunny
market streets coming from The artists
~ war-stricken France. II is the soul OF
a country that will not be overcome by
sadness and terror, but is determined to
90 on believing in beauty, and joy, and
love
No war lecture will make the observer
feel so keenly what the world war
means 20 humanity as will these four
hundred paintings from France. The OBJ
server comes away with the distinct
feeling Of having clasped France by the
hand and said. we will battle with you,
brave Ally. for all the finer. spiritual
side Of life, which YOU have here eX-
pressed in these paintings.
On the technical side. an artist VIII
find much delight in the fresh, crisp
colorings. the graceful lines. the direct
treatmentof the many themes.
-Four little aviation sketches, by Farre.
which hardly attract the observer at
FIRST glance, prove wonderfully interest
ing upon study. They show tremendous
sketches Of landscape far below, and
battle-scenes amid a sea Of clouds. They
take the. observer up in the air more
than 9ny aviation pictures shown in the
magazines.
There is every possible subject. ami
mails. still. life. interiors. nude studies,
flowers, .sea-coast, battles, ruins. pretty
girls. gay cavaliers. Venetian scenes.
- There was distinguished assemblage
OF Wilmingtonians at the formal open
mfg. yesterday afternoon. The Hotel
dupont orchestra played selections, the
guests standing in reverent silence dur
ing the paying Of the star Spangled
Banner" and la Marseillsise.'
Monsieur Jules Ratzkowski. an emf
uent French salon director, in charge or
the exhibit. made the address which
opered the exposition.
He spoke with emotion Of the ii2,oOO
fatherless children OF France, who will
receive most Of the money from the ex-
hibit. This is the last showing Of the
pictures. he said. in which part Of the
proceeds will be given to the Red Cross.
Hereafter the orphans Of France, and
he widowed wives Of French artists
Nil receive the money. He begged Viii
nington people TO come TO the exhibit
Tor the sake OF the fatherless children
crushed under the iron heel OF the Ger
man army.
In the audience were two French
heroes Of the war. both Of whom had
been wounded in battle. Lieutenant
Clarct. Of the French army, is now sta
toned in this city as a munition inspec-
.or Monsieur Emile Jacques, a veteran
n the First Battle Of the Marine. is a
member Of the Second Zouave Regiment.
NJ Ratzkowski spoFe Of the pleasure it
gave him TO meet NJ Jacques. as that
was his own old regiment. Emmanuel
Elias. rs assistant director.
General Charles Bird julien Ortiz and
Clawson s. Hammitt, were present at
he opening
Mrs. julien ortiz is chairman OF the
patronesses; Mrs. John B. Bird, treas
1rer; Mrs Paul dupont. secretary.
In charge OF the exhibition are Mrs.
Richard Reese. Mrs Thomas w. Wilson,
Mrs. c. Marshall Barton, Mrs. Charles
l. Candle, Mrs. Hneyr p. Scott. Mrs +.
~. Curtis and Mrs. John B. Bird.
N-70 CFNTS Is