The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-04-02

temporary Of Renouf, since he
was born at Verdun in 1929 and
died at Anglers in 1900. In this
composition an old Roman tradi-
ton is presented. The cult of
the Vestal Virgins. which origt-
mated In Athens and Sparta.
reached its height in Rome.
But. according to the story. the
virginity Of the priestesses was
in question. and the test offered
was that they should be able to
hold water in q sieve. In the
picture we are shown the Vestal
Tuccia. who. standing by the
River Tiber, holds aloft the sieve
Of water without spilling drop.
The figure. though we'll devel-
oped. Is exceedingly graceful. and
has been sometimes copied as a
separate detail. Other maidens
watch her from a temple or pal
ace, no doubt the Atrium Vestae,
where the Vestal Virgins lived
in Rome. Tho style Is quaint
and academic, yet the public
loves this picture. which was
painted in 1874. when it was ex-
hibited at the Paris Exposition
and received a second-class gold
medal. Hector Leroux. the art
list. was awarded many medals
and other honors during his Ca
reer. including. like Renouf, the
coveted decoration Of the Legion
Of Honor.
Still another Of tho old IA
vorites hero IL charlotte Corday
in Prison." by Charles Louis
Muller. who was popularity called
Muller Of Paris" and who also
received similar honors to those
Of Renouf and Leroux- Tho pub
lis knows this picture we'll. and
1t has been q special favorite
with painting teachers, since the
composition OF tho beautiful face
behind tho prison bars lends It.
self very readily TO copying by
q student. 10 that perhaps al
most too many copies Of this
subject may be found IN Wash
inston homes-that II. by seeing
It 10 often We are likely to for
get that the original Is really a
remarkable picture Of great
beauty.
DUTCH SCHOOL FAvORITES.
But not all tho favorite pictures
Of the Corcoran are by French
artists Jozef Israels Interior Of
q Cottage" is a splendid modern
example Of the Dutch school, by .
leading exponent, q peasant painter
Of Holland. This is a study Of
mother and child, the peasant
mother sewing for her little one
asleep in the cradle. Light streams
in from the window, where a potted
plant is blooming. 1t Is all beauti-
fully painted in the style character
istic Of Israels. always with a ten.
derness, a sentiment, a sympathy
for his subject. Israels' most
famous painting, alone in the
World" Is owned by the Rks.
museum In Amsterdam, where one
may see a whole roomful of splendid
examples Of this artist, which the
guide at tho gallery there saves
until near the end of ones visit
because the Dutch are SO proud Of
their peasant painter.
Israels received many honors
during his long life, from 1924 to
1911, and these included besides
numerous medals. the Legion Of
Honor and knighthood in the orders
OF the Dutch Lion, Francis
Joseph Of Austria, and Leopold of
Belgium. Although he became so
famous, 1sraels never lost his
modesty, and often during his
later life he preferred seclusion to
meeting the many people who
wished to know him. On one occa.
sion he made a journey to Spain
In his old age. and some travellers
whom he met said: How strange
that you have the same name as
the famous Dutch painter! But, Of
course, you are not connected with
him" They would have loved to
meet tho Dutch Hebrew artist, who
had risen from q peasant and re.
ceived so many distinctions. but
they could not believe that this
simple man was he, and the
painter was only too glad to escape
without revealing his identity.
Afterward they were much cha