Evening star., 1921-02-13

, Arts. The exhibition at the Public
| Library is held under the auspices of
| the Washington Society Of the Fine
! Arts. 1t will continue throughout the
month.
The exhibition of paintings by Miss
Sarah Munroe and Miss Catherine c.
Critcher at the Washington Arts Club.
which opened last week, is full Of
color and interest.
Miss Munroe belongs essentially to
the modern school. but she shows in
her work definite aim and robustness
of purpose. Her paintings are not
finished products, she is not standing
still, she has not yet attained her
full measure. but she is moving rapid
~ in that direction. There is evil
dence of progress and assurance of
success. Her pictures of women out
of doors are not only colorful. but vi
vacious and atmospheric. If shea is at
times vague it is not because she
wishes to evade the difficulties OF
craftsmanship. Her work is struc-
turally strong. her color, though vivid.
has refinement and shows in its com
bination cretain elegance of re-
straint.
Miss Critchers exhibits cover a
longer period in execution and are
more varied in character, some being
III d ulSn KEY, "HeTedS OlhSiS diC
essentially low-toned. They, too, give
evidence of talent distinctly out of
the ordinary and a grasp of the
medium which permits freedom in ex-
preston.
The exhibition continues to the last
of the month. when it will be replaced
by collection of paintings by two
Massachusetts, artists. Elizabeth
Wentworth Roberts of Concord and
Gertrude Fisk of Boston.
x x x x
The Washington Water Color Clubs
annual exhibition will remain on view
only about a week longer. 1t is a
commendable display and well merits
local patronage. Many Of the paint
cleverly rendered, but are charming
and they will be found upon inquiry
to cost much less than automobile
tires or fur coats. Furthermore,
though it may not always be remem-
bered. a good picture does not wear
out and the pleasure that it gives is
inexhaustable.
Some one once said that the highest
form of compliment was not to say,
How excellent that is. it is what I
have always thought" but rather.
How true that is and never thought
of it before" Many of the pictures
in the water color clubs current ex-
hibitions reveal beauty. which may
not have been discernable to the ma
jority heretofore.
X X x X
The art world at large sustained a
series loss recently in the death of
]. Francis Murphy, one of the best
| known and most accomplished Amer
| lean landscape painters.
Mr.. Murphy was born in Oswego,
N. Y. in 1853. He first exhibited at
the National Academy in 1876. Half
| of his year was invariably spent at
| Arkville, n. Y, which was also, it
| will be remembered, a favorite haunt
| of Wyants. Mr.. Murphy's early work
| was somewhat in the style of Wyant
and an excellent example of this
period is to be found in the Evans
collection in the National Gallery of
Art. a summer picture showing open
! fields across which a winding foot
path trails it's way. Later his work
became more subtle, and there are
none who so well represented the lat
ter day school of interpretative paint
| ing as he. His pictures are full of
poetic significance. yet are essentially
verile in character. He saw and re-
| vealed beauty in the relation of light
| to atmosphere in a very tangible and
wonderful manner. A second example
of Mr.. Murphy's painting is to be
found in the Evans collection. little
picture Of sunlight and mist, trees