Evening star., 1924-01-13

sculpture by the two distin-
guished Russian artists. Saw
erly Sorin and Sefaphim Soud-
binin, which opened in the National
Gallery of Art. National Museum. last
view, is distinctly an event of note.
These artists make no sentime ntal
appeal 1t is not question of their
being Russians or coming from
country which has suffered much. but
of sheer merit of work; each has
talent OF a distinguished and unusual
ordci
The paintings Icy Air. S"-.n are
quite different from any thing ihat
one has seen Before All are pnr-
traits and are done IL 4 nmhinGtiou
of water color and tempera Oh paper
which has linen as its foundation.
In most instances Mr. Sorin leaves
the white background untinted.
drawing his figure with crayon in
graceful. sweeping lines. and deli
cately modelling both features ami
costume by means of subtle handiln.
of tonal tints. He has been lIkened
to the great French portraitist IN
gres, and, like Insres, he is a master
craftsman hut his works bring more
forcibly to mind the marvellous draw
inSs of Holbein. many of which Were
lik ewise in line and tint.
One of the most mastery oi the
works shown is of a woman. with
simple headdress. which is almost iii
| monotint. but is intensely character
,s,,I tsif aIx .f-.lT "a
Luxembourg, in Paris, has offered to
purchase this picture. despite the
; fact that it already owns the por-
trait of Pavlowa by the same artist
But Mr.. Sorin. feeling il to be his
ma asterpiece. does rot wisn 10 sell il.
| 1t has tragic history. Together
with his striking and engaging por-
E; trait of the Princess Olga orlov. ii
fell into the hands of the bolsheviks
! and was mutilated. Being recovered
! by the artist. it suffered shipwreck
and was for more than an hour soak
| ed by water when Ie@cued. But the
vicissitudeS through which it has
passed Seem only 10 have heightened
(; it's beauty.
! The back ground OF the portrait Of
T.; Prince Obolensky likewise shows
i slashes which are Of bolshevik origin.
! The prince was a inember ot the
white army. The portrait was used
las an Identification in his search.
/ Being unsuccessful. it was slashed
j and she artist bought il back after
a considera BILE time from a soldier in
+; the red army.
| Occupying the place OF honor in
the collection is lately completed
!portrait OF the Duchess of York. The
ipainter has represented her in d very
4simple white frock. seated in brown
icovered chair with a garden hat sus-
pended from her arm. He explains
that he did not wish to picture her
lin splendid robes. but rather in the
style of 1870 which befitted her sin
,cere simplicity. 1t is. he declares.
tcharacter above all things that he
desires to interpret. and for this
Jas subjects. He shows remarkable
character studies of two artists
familiar in the Latin quarter in Paris.
las we'll as characterful likenesses of
1.-THE great Russian dramatist. Litovzev,
land of the Russian philosopher. Leon
lChestov. who is now lecturing at TIL.
Lady Betty. formerly Miss Field Of
jChicago. which was reproduced IN
these columns last week. ls the only
instance in which the artist seems
ito have used dark cksround. and
ifor this very reason it isles pleas
ling. perhaps than the other works
shown. ..
I; Among his recent american por-
! traits are a fu'l-length seated Dor
trait of Mrs Otto II. Kahn or New
York, really marvellous Dresen'a-
ition. ard of her daughter. Miss, Mar
,garet Kahn. the latter'mereiy d neau
| and shown wearing. as Tor some iahc6
ball, a white turban.
| It is i'm his drawings of Young
girls. such as those of Miss Kahn
and Of Marcella Curzon. that me
sdelicacy of the artists touch and ms
ability to interpret the softness o!
youth without prejudice of pret,itl-
mess is manifested. There Is nIs-
her Of these portraits. but it is the
tragedy. apparently: of eharactes re-
jrather than of clrcumseancs- ~,
tragedy which has either been woven
into the life of an individual or has has
ibeen brought therein from unw1ttlns
,choice. .. .oo,. hin,
70 nroduce portrait such as those
shown. Mr.. Sorin said that some Were
done in four sittings. others IN n, sls sh
or seven. whereas one, Whlch hao an 'i''