Evening star., 1919-04-06
Notes of Art and Artists.

The exhibition of the Washington
Water Color Club. which closed ias'
week, proved an unusual success
twenty-three or twenty-four paihl-
ings being sold at total OF oven
$1,000. These paintings were pur-
chased in most instances by chahee
visitors. persons who, happening 10
see the exhibition. found sumclehl
pleasure in certain exhibits to desire
possession. This is exceedingly en-
coura ging both to the artists and 10
those who are eager to see Washing
ton become one of the leading art
centers.
1t also goes to show that the pup
lie to which the artists must prlmar-
ily appeai is composed of those really
interested in art In other woros'
that it is not necessary 10 com
mercialize art to secure purchasers,
that exhibitions held in the so-calieo
shopping district have really no ad-
vantage over those held in an art
museum 1t is from those who nave
an inherent or cultivated taste for
things which are really beautiful ano
ine to whom art and artists must
look for patronage and support.
In this same connection 1t is inter
esting to know that in the last rev
weeks FIVE or six small bronzes by
Mrs Bessie Potter Vonnoh have been
purcha sed from the collection on view
in the Corcoran Gallery of Art. And
that quite a number of etchings by
Ernest p. Roth. simultaneously
shown in the same gallery. have like
wise been acquired by gallery WIS.,
itors.
The exhibition of drawings and
paintings by French soldier artists
which will open in the Corcoran CAL
lery of Art next Saturday afternoon
with a private view and reception,
but which after Saturday for period
OF three weeks and more will be free
to the public. promises to prove OF
extraordinary interest.
This collection. which has been
shown in several of the leading art
museums of this country. has lately
been supplemented by group OF
paintings and drawings quite recently
completed. The whole collection now
aggregates 500 exhibits and from
{ these the $50 best have been chosen
for exhibition in Washington.
The collection is being circulated
aud shown in this country under the
auspices of the French ministry of
only the talent of the French soldier
and his courage in the face of dan
ger. but the attitude of the French
government toward art.
**
The war, while essentially detri-
mental to art during its progress, has
undoubtedly had its influence, and an
exceedingly strong influence. both
upon production and in the develop
ment of talent along certain lines.
Bruce Bairnsfather, whose carrica-
lures have become popular not only
IN England but in France and Amer
lea, is said to be discovery of the
men at the front" Before the war he
was practically unknown. A British
publications review of an exhibition
or Mr.. Bairnsfather's drawings held
in February at the Greatorex Gal
leries, Grafton street, says: Men who
!, had been in France returned and
talked Bairnsfather referred to illus
| trations in periodicals which had left
the average civilian cold. Mr.. BARNS
= father has the Dickens faculty of in
venting or interpreting a type: his
Old Bill is now as familiar to the
British empire as Mr. Lloyd George.
The so-called phlegmatic British
temperament has discovered sense
Of humor in the war that is purely
idiosyncratic. Deeds of heroism., en-
wrought and accepted in spirit in
clined rather to gayety than tragedy
Mr.. Bruce Bairnsfather is the most
he has Interpreted this spirit in his
drawings of Old Bill and Bert and
their adventures"
The popular play, The Better ole."
which was at oRe OF our theaters last
week and which has been one of the
hits" of the season in New York, is
entirely based upon series of car
{ teens and caricetures by this gifted
British artist. who is so essentially q
CAnada has already determined upon
the type of it's official war memorial
which is to take the form of a pic
terial collection by the leading artists
Of Great Britain. properly housed in a
building erected especially for the
purpose. The pictures, which have
been painted or drawn during the
years of the war, under direct COM
mission, were shown lately at Bur
lington House, London, where the
great exhibitions of the Royal Acad-
emy are annually held.
the best collection of war pictures
which has been brought together. it
suggests the finest conception of a
war memorial which has SO far ma
teriSuSeo
ne collection. which is as yet by no
naaaAs complete, represents every
phase Of Canadian activity. at home.
at the front. on land. on water and in
the air, aad In each instance these
typical scenes have been interpreted
by an artist whose past achievement
fndicated most clearly his ability to
do full justice to his task.
Among the artists are Augustus
jain, Byam Shaw. Richard Jack, Will
liaR Orpea and julius Olssen.
The building has been designed by
Hr Richards. architect, with the par
ticulaY object in view of displaying
the collection to the best advantage.
.*
A painting by Everett l. Warner
entitled Along the River Front"
showing a typical scene in lower New
York, has recently been purchased by
the Toledo Museum of Art for its per-
manent collection.
Mr.. Warner was Washington boy
and has long been identified with