Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-25

thus that Mr. Oakley is presenting
through the medium of arts universal
language the contemporary life which
he sees about him today.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art pur-
poses to redecorate its picture gall
ieries some time in the near future.
In order to make the best selection
both of wall coverings and general
color scheme. the gallery has sought
the advice of Charles A. Platt and
through his suggestion has expert
mented with one gallery, that COM
monty known as the loan ROOM. to
the left of the staircase.
The walls in this gallery have been
recovered with burlap of warm gray
tint, known today as sand color.
The woodwork. which is oak and was
finished in natural tone. has been re-
finished and tinted likewise in gray.
The handrail, which so long has held
visitors at arms length from the pic
lures, has been removed. as has also
the molding fixing the picture line.
The pictures themselves have been
hung lower than the old molding
permitted and as result the appear
ance is not only fresher and cooler
than it was before. but also more m
innate. The background is exceeding
ly becoming to the paintings, II one
may use this term, and old FRIENDS
will be found to have new interest
and charm. because of their more
agreeable and harmonious setting.
BY the real picture lover these ola
friends are by no means to be de-
spised including the portrait or jack
son by Sully, 1.-THE Vestal Tuccia,' By
Leroux, and certain notable loans. 10
mention only a few.
The day is past when red brocade
was considered the one and only back
ground for paintings. Whistler was
one Of the first innovators in this par
ticular. insisting upon providing the
right background for the display of
his own works of art The example
which he set was followed by few
artists and by number of art deal
ers and through them. and the conta-
gion of example. the custom has
spread until now the business of dis
play has in truth become in itseit an
art.
In this scheme for redecoration the
Corcoran Gallery is in the forefront of
the progressive movement and is TAX
ing advantage of the successful eN-
periments of other leading museums.
The collection of water colors by
! Francis de Byron Khun. of which
me ntion was made last week in these
columns. has been attracting consid
era BILE attention at the Corcoran Gal
lerv. 1t is CHEEKY little display
pleasantly challenging the passerby
and naturally evoking interest.
Mr.. de Byron-Khun is particularly
interested in the use of water color
as medium and to this end is estab-
fishing a number of prizes for water
color painting in this country. Two
OF these prizes he has offered to the
ashington Water Color Club. and
they have been gratefully accepted
They are for $50 and 500 each and
are TO be given annually at the eXhi
bition of the club for the most meri-
torious and the second most meritori-
Gus paintings shown therein. Both
prizes are given as memorials to the
French water colorists who died in
the war. This is a very gracious and
very generous act on the part of Mr..
de Byron khun and one which cannot
fail in It's twofo!d beneficent pur-
pose.
!: x 4 !:
Miss Hattie Burdette has lately
completed charming figure study Of
young girl IMPLYING Spring, seen
with hair and frock blowing in the
, breeze against springtirne land
scape of tender green foliage and