Evening star., 1918-11-03

LARRY VII, PdlHliieo W A]N " -
H. Blashfeld. which was exhibited
here in the Corcoran Gallery in Sep
tember, has been purchased by the
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New
York. for it's permanent collection.
This picture, which is approximately
9 by II feet in dimensions, was
painted by Mr.. Blashfield with the
idea of reproduction as poster for
the fourth liberty loan. With the
works of other artists contributing
through the pictorial division of the
committee on public information II
was sent to Washington to be sub
mitted to the authorities here who
had the selection of these posters.
Unluckily it went astray and did not
arrive until some time after the Sc
lection was made. hence it was not
among those reproduced.
At the time of the fourth liberty
loan drive it was exhibited in one
of the great shop windows on 9TH
avenue, n. Y, attracting much at
tention, and it was while thus shown
that the purchasing committee of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art deter
mined upon it's acquisition.
Meanwhile, however, with the ar
lists consent, arrangements had been
made by the American Federation OF
Arts to show the painting successive
ly in six or more of the leading art
museums of this country. AS the Cir
cult was formed before the purchase
was made the Metropolitan has kindly
consented to lend it for the purpose.
1t will be shown in the Albright Art
Gallery. Buffalo. in November. and
then succeSSively in the art museums
of Detroit, Cleveland. Cincinnati, st.
Louis, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, etc,
for period of two weeks each.
Those who saw the painting while
it was on exhibition at the Corcoran
Gallery in Washington Will recall
it's impressiveness and stirring quail
ity, a picture which Interestingly
combines vivid realism and allegory
and is bound to increase patriotism
wherever it is shown.
The American Federation of Arts,
under whose auspices the Blashfield
painting is to be exhibited in the
art museums, is national association
and has it's headquarters in this city.
Its membership is made up of or
chapters, and individuals; the former
class embraces. almost all the art
museums and associations in this
country, the latter persons interested
in art in all parts of the United
States. 1t was established in 1909 at
convention held in Washington,
with the purpose of unifying art in
terests in the United States and in
creasing art appreciation.
1t sends out year by year, not one
but many exhibitions. comprising oil
paintings, water colors, prints. ex-
amples of craftsmanship, etc, etc. 1t
also circulates illustrated typewrlt-
ten lectures on art. This season it is
making special feature OF war pic
ture exhibits such as Joseph Pen
nelrs war work Autographs; the
French artist Lucien Jonas litho-
graphs entitled The Soul of
France; sets of war Autographs by
British artists such as Brangwyn and
Pryse; cartoons by the Dutch artist,
Louis Raemaekers. and posters by
American and foreign artists. 1t is
Interesting to know that not only do
these exhibitions go to art museums
and associations, but in some In
stances to the war camps.
Furthermore during the past year
the American Federation of Arts. at
the request ,the Y. NJ. c. A. war
work commission, prepared specially
for use in Army camps illustrated
lectures on American painting. Ameri-
can sculpture, civic art, French
painting and French architecture,
which for some months now have, it
is understood. been in constant use
in the camps of the A. E. F. in
France One of these lectures-that on
"Amerian Civic Art"-has been
translated into French and is being
Of hn ',
army also.
Mr. Robert W. de Forest, president
of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
and first vice president Of the Amerl-
can Red Cross, is president OF the
American Federation of Arts. Henry
Jennings and Glenn Brown of this
city are among the vice presidents.
* X
The exhibition of pictures by Abbott
II. Thayer and Gerald H. Thayer. his
son, illustrating protective coloration
in nature and concerned with the
originatioh of camouf1age in war
which opened in the Corcoran Gallery
of Art October 26. will continue to be
on view until November II.
Among artists and scientists this ex-
discussion. and to the general public
it has proved a source of unusual in
terest.
1t will be followed by an exhibition
of approximately 200 paintings and
drawings by American official artists
at the front. exhibited under the aus
pices of the War Department.
In December will be shown, in the
special exhibition room at the Cor
coran Gallery, collection of Persian n
textiles. potteries and other art OBJ
jects exhibited originally at the Pana-
ma-Pacific exposition and since in
some of the leading art museums un-
der the auspices of the Persian gov
ernment.
Owing to the fact that the National
Museum is almost entirely given over
to the office force of the war risk in
surance bureau. the National Gallery
Of Art is at present closed to the pub