Evening star., 1921-02-27

The exhibition of portraits by
Philip Laszlo, which opened in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art yesterday,
is not only one of the most notable
events of this season, but of many
seasons. Laszlo, now that Sargent
has stopped painting portraits and
Zorn is dead. is the most distin-
guished portrait painter of the day.
Orpen, the Irishman, is a brilliant
technician, but he is never as suave-
Cecilia BeaHx, is perhaps z.rlbre i. pro
found, but she legs. Xersat ae.t And
besides these two, fiohe orher'is IN
the same category.
Philip Laszlo has discerning vision;
his portraits are characterizations
he is a brilliant craftsman. a good
colorist and distinguished master of
technique. His style is vivacious.
his manner amiable. Apparently his
work is produced with ease-there
is no evidence of fumblipg- What
he has to say he says directly, sim
ply, briefly So simply, in fact, that
it seems almost obvious, and one
wonders why many cannot do as We'll
Furthermore, Mr.. Laszlo has essen
TALLY a pictorial viewpoint. His por-
traits are decorative, and, aside from
the subjects. they would lend charm
to any gallery or room; they are
never boresome.
To be sure the paintings now on
view in the Corcoran Gallery of Art
are a picked lot, but in. quality and
merit they are extremely even. SOME
The Hague, others from Fraaine and
England. The painter has sent por-
traits of his mother. bis wffS. and
his children, which Ehust be priced
possessions. Persons of foremost
rank abroad have loaned generously
been borrowed in this country and
q few have come from, Private homes
in Washington. Irwin Laushlin has
most kindly loaned a portrait OF MIS-.
Laughlin and three portraits of his
children, two of Miss Gertrude and
one of Master Alexander
The exhibition as whole presents s
a galaxy of stars socially and % >
ficially There is sketch portrait
of the late Col. Roosevelt, loaned by
Mrs. Robert Bacon, and portrait
of the late Robert Bacon, which was
painted in Paris at the same time,
which Mrs. Bacon also-has loaned.
There are portraits of Col. and MrS-
House, of Walter Hines 1Page,s> Jchn
w. Davis, ambassador to Great-Brlt- :
.
by the ambassador; of Hugh c. wal
lace ambassador to France aIld Mrs
Wallace; of William Phillips. Amerl-
can minister at The Hague; Joseph r.
Willard. American ambassador to
Spain, the last being loaned by Mrs
Kermit Roosevelt. Mr. Wizards
daughter. These are official portraits
of the highest type. painted not. 20
hang in a public hall or building. but
for the families of ths, indy id1iais
represented, and subJectVe!y 'hey
give cause for pride, showing our
american representatives 10 have
been and to be men of remarkably no
BILE bearing.
The portrait Of Mr.. Phillips is par
ticularly simple, an unostentatious
directs interest and carries c6nvfction
chiefly through its interprf SiQn. %
character. The portrait OF the iate
Walter Hines Page is more pictor iaI |.
representing the former am bassador
in his robes Of state. 1t, too, is a
powerful presentation.
The place of honor on the seni-cir-
cular wall is given TO n three quarter
length portrait of Cardinal Rarrpolla,
late cardinal secretary of state 70
Pope Leo XIII. This might be .dce
scribed as Il study in reds. the cardf-
naFs robe being seen against 4 back
ground of red. There IS less techni cal
display in this painting than in some
of the others. the work being fnoSe
suave and more finished. the corners
being. as il were, less abruptly turned,
The manner has been altered to suit the
subject and the countetrnnce Of The
cardinal affordS-indeed iNviteS-psy- =
Geological inquiry This poetrait. has
won high honors abroad and has been
the subject of much Ga1teripg. com
ment-
Another portrait of peculiar, inter
est Is of Jerome X. Jerome author OF
~Three Men in a Boat" AND other
clever writings. portrait Which pic
lures the subject entirely in white
The well known art critic, y. L 'ISal-
dry. is also admirably portrayed.
OF extraordinary brilIiancy is Il por-
trait of Austen Chamberlain. NJ p
And of special interest are portraits
Of the Marques of LansSowne and
the Marques of Carisbrooke. ., e..
It is rather unusual that a ,painte
who succeeds so well with men should
30 ably paint women with such grace
end skill as does Mr.. I4aszlo- The
Eamut of his ability in this direction
IS measured by his refined reticenr
Portraits of Mrs. Laughfn and Sof his
pwn mother. and his spectacular pres.
entations of Mrs. Elino- G|yn art
Nine Edwards. the latter loaned by
Senor Edwards. Chilean minister u
London. Nine. Edwards is an Opera
Ginger and Of Spanish type. She is
represented somewhat as ZUloa "a
might have represented her. though
with less brutality. The face is cN-
Guisite in its feminine deitcscy. tins
light of the picture, the co4or scheJrt
and pose are effectively dra matte. -
Between the two extremes just men.
fioned come a lovely and decorative
canvas. reticently rendered. which
portrays- the Duchess of Portland.
Mrs. Lassio- rs seen in double por-
traituref and twice pictured. In on,
instance as a slight eirlish figure il
her own drawing room and ga the
other with only head and shoulder.
visible. bit with the face reflected II
q mirror, .
There are two little pictures Of tn,
ertist's 'sAr- Johsa y-s r4l -s-s.. .,6 hi.
son Paul both delightful portra its
One of johnny shows hIu Iit'l- l.t
s...@ing over a table taking his frs