Evening star., 1923-11-11

nY special invitation, William
* III. Holmes is showing in the
CorCoran Gallery of Art 4
miscellaneous but delightful
collection of small sketches in water
color. These range in size from pic
lures no bigger than the palm of q
mans hand to studies perhaps eight
by ten inches in dimensions, or even
little more. They are all mounted
uniformly on = dark brown board or
matted in gold and are exhibited un-
framed in the cases in the upper
atrium
1t is essentially retrospective ex-
hibition and the exhibits have been
made from time to time in the last
twenty or thirty years in various
parts of North and South America.
In subject they are extremely varied.
including not merely landscapes and
marines. but figure studies and por-
to many. for Mr.. Holmes is chiefly
known as a landscape painter But
bis portrait work in this exhibition
r. Of hi@h standard uf excellence and
reminds the observer that to paint
such landscapes as Mr. Holmes has
produced one must be a consummate
araftSmau one of the greatest por-
trait painters of our day. when ask ed
why she did not paint landscapes, re-
Piled: because | cannot draw tree"
Mr. Holmes draws cr-se as wch rs
people with skill and understanding
of their anatomical structure. The
dominant note in all OF his work.
however. is spontancity. and spon-
taneitE of Il rare sort. coupled with
joyousnesS. 1t is as if many of his
pictures had been produced with a
happy chuCkle. Particularly is this
true of those in which he has intro
duced figures a a subsidiary feature.
All such have an imaginative. lyrical
quality rarely found in paintings to-
day. 1t is as though he peopled his
landscapes in order TO have company
himself, stressing in his interpreta-
tions Of nature the relation # nature
to man.
But to the artist and connofsseur
the fascination OF Mr.. Holmes water
colors is. and will always be, the
brilliancy nof his technique, Il bril-
liancy achieved by few and COM
parable to that Of Sargent. His han
ding of the medium is enchanting
and his use of color delightful. And
how much he has to say. In many OF
the tinieSt sketches there is volume
of comment. Mr.. Holmes is one of
the most diStIu@His ned of our CO.
temporary American scientists. but
one does not find trace Of Scienti itic
eXactitudc in his paintings. the ma
jority of which are done with q fun
brush and with extraordinary free
dom.
1t is peculiarly appropriate that
this exhibition should be held in the
Sorcoran Gallery at this lime. when
the Washington Water Color Club, of
which MI. Holmes is president is
holding it's exhibition in adjoining
rooms. Mr. Holmes is not only the
president Cf this organization but
of the Society OF Washington Artists
as well. and is, as every one knows
the director of our National Gallery
OF Art. which, under his supervision
has developed from Il litti.- more than
81 II
lections ever increasing and already
of great value.
= :: i
NICHOLAS r. BREWER, who re-
Gently held an exhibition of his
paintings at the Arts Club of Wash
ington. has remained in Washington
to execute a number Of portrait com
missions. and has painted among
others. portraits of Justice Pierce.
Butler, now on view III the National
Gallery of ART. and OF William H
Holmes, its director The latter is
three-quarter length and shows Mr..
Holmes with palette and brushes in
hand standing before his easel 1t
is good likeness. colorful. strongly
modelled and spirited.
Justice Butler is reDreSented seated
He too looks Squarely toward the OBJ
server and is characterized with evil
dent sympathy.
Mr.. Brewers portraits always pos
Y.
has had many notable sitterS Some
thirty years ago he painted several
portraits of Joseph jefferson in the
character Of Rip Van Wrinkle: win
ter before last in California he had
the privilege of painting Paderewski
shortly after IT,. latter returned from
Poland. His portrait of Harry Still
well Edwards was recently purchased
by the Macon Art Association for its
permanent collection. He is one who
tn
terest in and appreciation of art
throughout the country. for he has
always responded willingly to re-
quests to talk about art to groups
of those who desired instruction and
has been peculiarly successful in
speaking to school children. Fur
thermore. he has travelled much,
making his home from time to time
He is mepber of the Salmagundi
Club. New York. and the National
Arts Club, as well as other purely
professional organizations. He has
studio in Chicago and is Intimately
connected with art activities there.
He has wintered in Florida and in
California and has spent months to-
gether in New Orleans and in
Birmingham While he is what might
be termed al conservative painter, he
recognizes the best in current pro-
ductior and is keenly interested in
and conscious of the social and politi-
cal movements of the time.
X X X
THE Corcoran Gallery of Art has
just purchased for its permanent
collection an admirable self-portrait
of William NJ. Chase, one which was
originally given by the painter to
one of his favorite pupils. 1t is
small canvas, showing little more
than the head and shoulders. but
splendid piece of painting, toneful
and strong, comparing more than
favorably with the portrait that Mr..
Chase painted of himself by special
Invitation. for inclusion in the great
national collection of portraits of ar
lists in the UffiZi Gallery, Florence
The Corcoran Gallery, it will be
remembered, owns one of Mr.. Chase's
most famous fish pictures. 1t is
therefore, very pleasing that it should
have acquired this portrait of the
painter.
William NJ. Chase. it will be re-.