Evening star., 1919-10-12

The Scottish Rite Temple. 18th
street, is gradually becoming a treas
ure house of art. Not only is it a con-
spicuous work of architecture from
the monumental and artistic stand
point, but it's sculptural adornments
are likewise of artistic importance.
At the present time two large seated
figures of Isis and Nepthys, designed
for the granite bases on each side OF
the great stairway of the atrium. are
being executed in New York by David
Edstrom. a distinguished Scandina-
Wan sculptor who during recent years
has made his home in this country.
These are, strictly speaking, not only
decorative figures, but meant to ex-
press in plastic form the souls of the
Egyptian goddesses.
Speaking of these figures. the sculp-
tor said: Il have compre hended them
from studying the Book of the Dead
Isis stands out as the Queen of Ma
ture,' intellectual or splendid intui-
tions of life. Nepthys I See as the
personification of the instincts. but
none the less beautiful. She was al
ways faithfully serving Isis and gave
up everything to help restore Osiris
from the dead. However. Isis is ever
the queen, the one that. takes the ini-
tiative and gives birth to the avenger
Horus.
This study of Osiris and his spouse
Isis, the serving Nepthys and the
young Horus is to my mind one of the
most wonderful and sublime revela-
tfonS OF the fall, struggle and. resur-
rection of the ego ever given to man.
l have in my two statues tried to
bring out the two goddesses thus and
yet to give to both divine beauty and
dignity"
The Isis and Nepthys are rendered
in truly Egyptian style and spirit, all
the symbolic features being rem
dered with exactness. For instance,
the throne surmountipg the head of
Isis fs both her name and fs symbolic
OF her place among the gods; the
headdress of Nepthys signifies the
house. the eating bowl and the house
ire
The sculptor has always kept ir
mind the fact that he was presenting
eymbolically the images of two god
desses for the help of man. not "jus
two nice figures to embellish ant
beautify glorious temple"
1t Is not yet decided whether tn,
statues will be cut in Swedish blacl
granite or black Belgian marble. bu
probably the latter. AS the contrac
for these statues was signed during
the war, when no Belgian marble
was obtafnable. black granite wa,
suggested, but the marble is SO su
perior that it is the sculptor's earnes
desire that it be used.
4 +
The great statue Of Lincoln by Dan
lei Chester French which is to b,
placed in the Lincoln Memorial, thi,
. city, is now approaching completion
This has been called "the most monu.
mental work in marble ever attempt
ed in America" The height of tn,
statue without the pedestal Is % fee
and 1t weighs 270 tons.
It represents Lincoln seated in
chair of monumental design will
arms upon which the great man'l
arms rest with ease Because Of tn,
pose of the body and the design o
the seat the usual awkwardness o.
such position has apparently beel
entirely overcome. There are many
who have felt that only a standins
figure could be monumental, but it il
believed that when this statue is pu
in place all such fears will be ban
ished.
Obviously such statue could no
be cut from single block Of marble
indeed. twenty eight blocks wer,
used for the purpose.
1t is understood that the statue will
jbe In place, as well as the mura
panels of Jules Guerin, who painted
these decorations for the interior, be
fore many weeks. and that the grea
memorial will be ready for dedication
in the near future.
-
The Landscape Club Of this city Il
holding a little exhibition of painting
by members at the Ames Gallery, 1901
H street.
The club, which was organized las
season, is made up chiefly of mem
bers of the Society Of Washington
Artists, who have exhibited here ant
in other cities and have banded to-
gether for the purpose of sketchint
expeditions and the benefit of mutua
1921 18th street, where. in the neal
future. they intend to hold q thum
box exhibition, comprising abou
thirty sketches made in France ant
Germany by two of the members VIII
have recently returned from Arm,
service in France.
The club makes sketching expedi
tions on Sundays and holidays int
the adjacent country, painting direc
from nature.
The exhibition at the Ames Caller.
comprises "a pictures. winter. sum
mer, spring and fall landscapes. TIL
majority are of moderate size ant
represent twelve members Of tn
club, w. Bowyer Pain. r. F. Cornett
=. G. Cassidy. B. B. Moore. A. J
Schram, Charles H. Seaton. Hadley v
Patterson. jr.: w. 8. Cline. @. q
Mitchell, A. H. o. Role. NJ. C. Hon
George NJ. Rowen and Herbert Fran
els Clark.
The paintings are for the most par
good in composition and show a Low
Of nature and sympathetic rendering
Special commendation must be givel
to the sketches by Hadley v. Patter
son, jr.: A. H. o. Role and George N
Rowen.
- +
The Corcoran Gallery of Art has a,
Interesting program Of exhibition
planned for the coming season. A
soon as the exhibition Of water color