Evening star., 1921-03-27

tpoiHliHSS, etcnlnSS ana drawings ny
Frank w. Benson. which opened in
the sCorcoran Gallery of Art last
Thursday. is one of the most engag-
ing displays that has been held in
| this city The: work is not only
varied in character. but interesting
to laymen and artists. fresh. colorful
and picturesque and at. the same time
| technically individual> and excellent
Furthermore. it is a thought-provok-
ing collection. 1t covers a consid-
cradle period of production and it
contradicts some of the theories that
have come to be regarded almost as
axioms
In the first place, it is common to
consider az, artists work ins the light
of evolution; his latest pictures are
supposed to be his best. Mr.. Ben
sons art has not been all of one
sort; it's character has changed but
in point of merit he has not for at
least twenty years surpa ssed himself.
The four oldest paintings in this ex-
hlbltion stand out today in the mass
of newer works as masterpieces. He
may have gained in skill and ia cility.
but the thoughtful observer is bound
to ask himself if even so the painter
may not have lost in depth of in
sight and power of conception. Love-
ly as are his interpretations of out
door life, still iovelier are his pictures of.
people painted indoors in the spirit of
the older school The joyousness of the
one Is ephemeral. the joyousness of the
blue smock. the two ladies' in white
gowns and the little girl with a cat are
not merely paintings, they are spiritual
interpretations and they are rendered
with rare insight and exquisite taste
capable Of arousing not mere enthusiasm
but profound emotion.
There Is group Of figure paintings,
including the Portrait Of a Lady"
loaned by the Metropolitan Museum Of
cinnati Museum, and a "Stin Life"
loaned by Duncan Philips of this city,
which are strong in color. rich in tone,
splendidly decorative. but of very
dinerent type from the reticent early
works. more impressive. to be sure. but
more given to externals. material rather
than spiritual things. Works, however,
which If considered singly would in each
instance constitute wealth in owner
snip anording untold resources Of
esthetic pleasure.
Contrasted with these in quite a
dinerent key are the outdoor pictures
OF which William Howe Downes, in
his foreword to the catalogue Of this
CORRECTION. writes with enthusiasm. He
The JOY Of life. felt by a healthy
ard normal man: the poetry Of youth
and the big. sunny. breezy world of
outdoors: the beauty of pure. clear,
cool. sweet color-something Of ali
this is the summing-up in ones mem
ory OF the most habitual and charac-
teristic phase of Frank W. Benson's
art. Refreshing-that is the right
word to describe the effect Of his hap
nv lot ~ III
aside the curtain. throws open the
window. lets in the light and air; we
breathe more deeply. and are glad
dened.
Mfr. Benson's cherfulness is tenn
peramental. and has no suggestion OF
the artificial gayety Of the comedian
His art is spontaneous. natural and
full OF the saving grace Of whole
someness Its .externals are entirely
in harmony with its inner nature OF
is light, he never labors his point, his
style Is sententious and pithy. in
every stroke he Is significant, but
nothing is there for show. The
clarity Of his method and manner re-
spends to the clarity Of his concep-
tion..
Many of these conceptions are fig
tures of young people in landscape
setting and in full sunlight. This sort
Of motive makes formidable demands
upon tHe lcCnHICdl TtSOuTCeS OF Inc
painter and. SO far as that part Of the
subject is concerned. it is enough to
say that Mr. Benson has repeatedly
come of with flying eolors, victorious
over all the Intricate difficulties in
volved in the problem. What is more
to the point. he never let's US feel that
it is accomplished with a great effort.
The apparent ease of the achievement
is one of. it's charms.
In the series Of landscapes with
n
scape setting-for the figures are of
primary importance-the organic re-
lationship that exists between the
parts gives that unity which is es
sential. to a good picture. One has
the feeling that the landscape with
out the figures, or the figures without
the landscape, would be unthinkable.
The figure ina Benson outdoor PIC
ture Is bathed, as II were, In the ac-
tual and comfortable sunlight, cares !
sed by the balmy summer breezes, and
becomes an inherent part of the open /
air scene. tangible and indispensable |
asset in the pictorial ensemble. Il
Many painters have made more or |
less successful pictures of girls in ]
white dresses. out-of- of-doors. in fun |
SO much radiant luminosity and SEN
sible warmth to the light. 30 much !
grade and human genuineness to the |
maidens. not to speak OF that still
the two together. the sunlight and the |
girl? For, after all. the one exists for i
the other. nor is one more important !
than the other. 1
"Of course. our artist makes other !
kinds Of pictures9interiors. land
scapes, hunting scenes. marines, por-
traits-but the same spirit animayes
them all. 1t is a spirit in which man
illness and delicacy are mingled in an /
fashion. Only in the Amer
lean atmosphere would it be at home !
and only here. perhaps, would it be !
appreciated and valued as It is
Undoubtedly the visitor to this ex-
hibition. which will continue until !
April IS. will find special interest in !.
Identifying the same models in sew
eral of the paintings. Mr.. Benson has (
painted his own daughters many
times. not perhaps because they were |
mcst accessible. but because they spe- !
cially served his purpose. His pictures |
are not of his children, but embodi- /
ments OF the spirit of childhood and |
youth, visions which have come be-
fore him, seized as opportunity Of '