Evening star., 1919-09-24
HOLMES PAINTINGS
| ARE ON EXHIBITION
Imposing Array Of Water
C0I0rS on View at Cor
coran Gallery.

A comprehensive exhibition of water
colors by William H. Holmes. curatc~
of the National Gallery of Art and
president of the Washington Water
Color Club, is at present on view in
the Corcoran Gallery of Art. This ex-
hibition, comprising retrospective and
recent works, entirely fills the semi
circular special exhibition gallery
ana makes a most dignified and inter
eating showing.
As it will be remembered, Mr..
Holmes is not only an artist but
distinguished scientist. and his scien-
tiflc studies have taken him far
afleld. His painting, while of the
highest professional order, has fur
nished him recreation and wherever
he has gone he has painted for pleas
ure. Thus his scientific explorations
and exhibitions have proved doubly
fruitful.
Depicts Great Mountain.
One of the paintings in the present
exhibition is that of the Mountain of
the Holy Cross. one of the great
mountains of the world. Mr.. Holmes
made it's ascent in 1873 and was the
first person known to have done So.
mere are olHeE pan SSo 80
South and Central America. In our
own far western mountainous and
desert country as we'll as in Europe.
A most dramatic presentation is that
of "CEft Dweller'S Sunset InVoca.
rion.' Peculiarly forcefui, fuil OF
titled 'Evening in the Tropics" And
no less picturesque and forcefuiiy
handled are "A Central American
village and "The Land of Palms.
Four Pictures of Sea.
There are four brilliant interpreta-
tions Gf the sea-one a moonlight
scene, one representing the open
ocean and two picturing the surf.
Mr.. Holmes has MADE speciai
study of cloud effects and has rem
dered such most skillfully. His pic
ture in this exhibition entitled "A
Passing Shower" is very graphlc,
and his Interpretation of "A fiay1ui
Sky" after a shower is extremely en-
gaging- &c,
Landing Party. Vera Cruz" and an
other of "A Dream Day on the La
COON, Venice"
Number of Maryland Subjects.
Yet quite a number of his best sub
1ects Mr.. Holmes has found IN the
vicinity of his one-time home. near
Rockville, Md. One of these is enti-
tied Cattle Paths, midsummer
picture showing a wealth of foliage
and strong contrast of light and
shade.
Mr. Holmes style varies greatly.
Sometimes it is crisp and inclslVe'
sometimes he allows his mediqm 70
method of rendering: more often.
however, he employs pure color. after
the English water-colorists style
His picture of boys frolicking in a
country brook, entitled Happy Days,
has wonderful simmer OF light
and atmosphere; whereas his paint
ing entitled Sweet Seclusion OF the
Hills" is literally a symphony In
brown extremely delicately handled
Human Note in Pictures.
Mr.. Holmes is known best as a
Dainter of landscapes, but one Will
note with interest that almost every
picture in this exhibition has In II a
human note of interest, that In all OF
his landscapes. or almost all. MI.
Holmes has introduced figures singly
and in groups. He has added figures
SO skillfully to his compositions. how
ever, that they become naturally a
part of the picture, adding interest
and never intruding upon the compo-
sition. And he has almost always
chosen for this purpose happy people,
picnic parties. summer fdlers, persons
who are literally making nature their
own.
It is gratifying to know that even
at th,s time of the year. when interest
in art matters has scarcely reawak-
ened, the attendance at this exhibition
has been fairly large, and no less than
eight of the paintings shown have al
ready found purchasers.
The exhibition will continue until
the 30th of this month.
LEILA MECHLIN.