The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04

them put in more than that on the
problems assigned them.
The instruction work is under the
direction OF NJ. Thomas. who is In
charge when NJ. Laloux Is absent. NJ.
Thomas was but recently demobilized
from the French army. where he
served as a private. He Is assisted
by Fred r. Lear of the Y. NJ. C. A.
who was connected with the depart
ment of architecture Of Syracuse
University.
The American students at first did
not understand the French method Of
instruction, which Is to give the stu
dent n problem and leave him to his
own devices. The Americans at first
expected directions as to how to pro-
coed, but finally learned to plunge
ahead for themselves, the function OF
the teacher being to criticise and not
to guide. Thus are originality. re-
sourcefulness and confidence devel-
oped.
The current exhibition at the
Brooklyn Museum includes twenty
eight pieces OF artistic glass designed
and produced by the celebrated French
Jeweller Rene Lalique. This glass
was unknown in the United States
until the San Francisco Exposition OF
1915, and has rarely been seen In this
country since that date. The exhibits
include, in addition to the vases,
among which Is a very beautiful one
designed for a night light, necklaces.
bonbonnieres, powder boxes. paper
weights, seals and small statuettes.
Lalique has produced glass of wholly
original character, and the most beau
tiful so far known to modern times
Its beauty depends upon form and de-
sign more than upon color. which Is
very frequently that of clear glass,
but also occasionally of a light cop
per colored stain which is said to be a
form of enamel. The pieces are gen.
orally cast In the mould by the c.re-
perdue process and subsequently
carved and cut on the wheel. The
composition Of the glass has been
achieved after many years OF expert
ment and is so far a secret Of L.aliaue
who personally designs all the draw
ings and patterns. The exhibits at the
Brooklyn Museum are lent by the
artist.
In the Mrs. st. John Alexander Ex-
hibition Galleries there Is at present on
view besides some modern paintings a
collection Of objects of art that in
cludes bits Of old copper, glass, pewter,
odd tables, lace and the thousand and
one things that ASSEMBLE in old curios-
ity shops. A set OF chairs that are
notable in this collection were made In
the early American days, after the
designs OF certain chairs in the Petit
Trianon, and the brocades of which
were copied from damasks that had
been worn as gowns by Marie An
toinette
In the cellar Of the building, in a
gallery known as the Crypt" are a
number of carvings in stone and some
old paintings OF decorative interest.
One Of these that Is attributed TO
Glorgio Vasari is an interesting pic
ture OF the Christ.
The curator OF prints in the Metro
pol.tan Museum, ". NJ. WINS, Jr., will
give a series of talks on prints each
Thursday at the museum until MAY
and, In order that the largest number
Of people may be interested, will so
far as possible, avoid discussion Of or
reference 10 the technical aspects of
print making. The idea of the series
is to bring out in conversational form
the Importance OF prints as pictures
rather than as etchings or engravines
ana 10 show their great interest as
records of human Ire and thought.
The titles Of the several talks yet to
be given are:
May ). Interesting VS.. Beautiful: IS.
The Mirror OF Life; 90. Art in Life: 20
Wat of 1t all? Each talk will last
about forty minutes, and It is hoped
that after II Is finished there NAV he a
general conversation on the topics that
have been discussed
From a cores pondent in Paris ~ ie
learned that Charles Hoffbauer. the
French paipter, who is we'll known to
Americans and was recently decorated
with the Legion of Honor, will sail for
New York in the near future. The
purpose of lis voyage is TO finish tho
mural decoration OF the Confederate
Memorial Institute IN Richmond, Va.
which was left uncompleted by the
artist when he answered the call of
his country in August. 1914.
VI. Honbaucr returned to France on
the SAINT Anna, the second ship of
French reservists leaving New York
lie was at that time n territorial. but
on arriving IN France volunteered into
tho Active and served in the infantry
until! 1915, when he was ordered on tho
art commission Of the Musee de
FArmee. After three months OF this
service he again volunteered into tho
Active and was demobilized with tho
grade OF sergeant. Incidentally such
record would have brought at least
a Capta'ncy in the American ARMY.
especially when we remember that the
CroiS de Guerre was won during this
period.
The decorations IN Richmond's Con-
iederate Institute. Thomas J. Ryan's
magnificent gift, are about three
fourths on the way, the writer being
among n half dozen people who have
had TIE privilege of seeing them.
Luminous color and a grandioso hut
simple scheme OF decoration. which
many Americans Will remember in
Honhauer's Luxembourg picture
(painted at 81 years Of age) are ex-
pressed with even greater freedom in
the Richmond work---a more mature
freedom. Its sincerity of atmosphere
and type are not surprising since NJ
Hoffbauer ALWAYS tho s,u6on+ ,t,..l