Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-20

| "EEhs
The exhibition of studies and sketch
es for mural decorations by Miss Vio-
let Oakley at the Corcoran Gallery.
which closes October %, will be fol-
1 lowed by unique and interesting ex-
hibition of studies in scientific CAM
outage by Abbott H. Thayer. one Of
the most distinguished Of our living
American artists.
For a number Of years Mr.. Thayer
has given almost his entire attention
to the subject of protective celebration
| n Ia ure, even to the extent of his
| own work as an artist. At his home,
in Dublin, N. H., he has lived the life
of a reclusef and naturalist, and has
made many experiments to show that
| there is in nature a well defined syS-
| tenn of protective coloration.
| Several years before the war began
in fact. when many believed that
such war was not in the range Of
convinced that some day man might
have to avail himself of the scientific
| knowledge escorted to intuitively and
inherently by wild life in nature.
! When a scientific congress was
being held in Washington as many
| came down from his New England
home to personally explain and DEM
onstrate his theories. The writer,
CHANGING to visit the National .Mu-
scientific congress was in recess, was
told that Abbott Thayer, the great
painter, was in one of the courts
and could there be seen. These courts
are quite spacious and have grass
plots as carpets. On one of these,
| a pot, stood the eminent artist, with
two or three scientists. Hurrying
forward with cordial greeting, he ex-
| claimed: Shut your eyes, don't look,
caller with closed lids forward. Now
he said: "See how many humming
birds can you count on that bush?"
After a careful survey his visitor
ventured to say: Three" The de-
light of the artist was almost beyond
II knew it. I knew it," he said; .!
knew it. There are seven and all
in plain view This was one of Mr..
Thayer's experiments in protective
coloring.
An official Of the Smithsonian In
stitution, realizing Mr.. Thayer's dis
tinction} as painter, said to him:
Mr.. Thayer. perhaps YOU do not know
that the National Gallery of cart, in
which are represented some of the
best of our American painters, is to
be found on the second floor Of this
building. While there are SO few
here at present, wouldn't you like
to 20 up and see the pictures. Mr..
Thayer's expression changed. on the
instant to indifference. Pictures"
he said. pictures; no, I don't think
I am much interested in pictures"
Yet this artist has painted some OF,
the really great pictures that have
been produced in America-t"The Vir-
gin Enthroned." in the Boston Mu-
scum of Fine Arts, which is probably
by American artists in this country;
eoThe Virgin" in the F'reer collection
and "Winged Figure" in the Hllyer
Art Gallery. He is one of the four
or five American artists whose works
are included in the Freer collection.
His contribution to American art is
very great, but as a patriotic serv-~
ice, believing his nation to need the
knowledge which his research in this
direction could supply, he has put
aside fame and distinction and a
work he loved to develop this sys-
tenn which to a great extent has led
to the successful work in camou-
fage carried on by artists for both
the Army and the Navy.
Mr.. Thayers theory. as whole, has
not been entirely accepted, but this Is
+rue of all such work; pioneer mere
" leads thought and inquiry in, the
Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney is very
much interested in Mr.. Thayer's work,
and through her efforts and under her
auspices this exhibition has been col
lected and set forth.
+ 4
The American Academy in Rome,
| which, according to its charter, has
its headquarters in the Octagon in
| this city, is at present almost entirely
| given over to- war work.
The villa. Miraf1ore is being used as
a hospital for the care and education
Of italian soldiers who have lost
! arms and legs, having been lent for
| this purpose to the Italian govern
ment Half a dozen workshops have
| been put up in the garden of the villa
| with large plot of land next door.
| where the soldiers themselves have
| raised vegetables and flowers.
| The Villa Aureila, formerly the resi-
dence of the director, is occupied by
Col. Perkins Of the American Red
occupied by Capt. Parsons of the
| American Red Cross.
| The fellows in architecture, in paint
ing, in sculpture and landscape archi-
| lecture are, almost without exception,
working with the Red Cross in dine emf
parts Of Italy. Lieut.. Cox. son of Ken
yon Cox, is stationed in Rimini, where
he has charge Of lace school for
profughi and other similar activities.
under the direction of the Red Cross.
Paul Manship. at one time a fellow
in sculpture Of the American Academy
in Rome, who has designed and mod
eled one of the government medals
recently issued and has Adones much
distinguished work. in sculpture. has
] recently returned to Italy to join the
academy forces and help relieve suf-
/ fering and help to win the war
| On the other hand Prof. Charles
Epson Clark. director OF the school of