Evening star., 1925-03-08


time ago that this exhibition would
open yesterday, but the committee In
charge was forehanded, and, having
it hung by Tuesday afternoon, 1t was
decided to advance the opening In
order that the collection might be
viewed by the numerous out-of-toWn
visitors which the inauguration cere-
monies had brought to Washington
AS has become customary, two
prizes-medals and an honorable men
tion-were awarded by the society
The first prize went to Charles Bit
finger for an interior with figure, en-
titled The Old Wallpaper" The sec
old prize was awarded Mathtlde Niue
den Leisenring' for a portrait study,
"A Danish Maiden" Honorable men
ton was accorded Inez Hogan for
study of Dutch woman. "Leonie.
The awards were made by an artist
Jury, consisting OF Mr.. CARRIER of
Philadelphia, Mr.. Bryant and Mr.
Mackall of Baltimore.
Mr.. Bittinger was a Washington
boy but has long resided in or near
Boston. He has made a speciality of
interiors. and has often introduced
into these, s in this instance, figures
of women in costume. There is
great revival of interest in pictorial
landscape wallpapers of the late
eighteenth century, and it is one of
these which he has made chief fac
tor in his prize winning composition
Mrs. Leisenring's painting shows
little more than the head and shoul-
ders, but is extra aordinarily well done
evideucing great technical compe-
tence, and is lovely both in tonal
quality and color. She exhibits also
an exquisite still-life painting-pink
roses in a clear. white glass bowl
adjacent to which is a small Chinese
bowl lined with turquoise blue-a
beautiful composition, in which the
spirit of the flowers finds sympathetic
and adequate rendition.
This exhibition is notable for the
number and variety of flower paint
ing. displayed. Immediately upon en-
tering the gallery the visitors atr-n
ton is caught and fancy captivaS ed
by 2 charming study of Crabapr!e
blossoms. by Annie D. Kelly. Above
this hangs an excellent painting of
fieur de lis by Lillian Moore Abbott,
less high-keyed. but equally artistic
A bit to the right is to be seen a
really gorgeous floral painting. en-
titled The Dream of the Old White
Bowl" the work of Alexis B. Many,
from whom we have now long since
come to expect exceptional achieve
ment. This is a medley of old-fash-
ioned flowers seen against a back
ground of very light gray, very deco
rative and keenly delightful. A little
farther on one finds a still-life by
Marguerite c. Mum, similarly deco
rative in aspect, but in quite diff
ferent vein--a. work reminiscent of
'hne old printed chintZ, one in which
red is the predominating color.
Above Mrs. Leisenring's Summer
Roses" hangs an engaging painting
of tulips, Orange. Blue and Cold" by
Gabrielle De V. Clements, and not far
distant is study of June Flowers"
by Sarah Munroe which is not only
colorful but luminous and atmos pheric
in quality. Hattie Burdette sends two
hower studies, both of peonies, skill
fully rendered in the manner of the
still-lIfe painters whose regulations
endure.
Cora. Brooks Blossom Time" and
Mary G. Riley's "Phlox and Lilies"
would hold their own in any collec-
tion for beauty and artistic excellence.
as would also Alma Bostwick's s
'Zinnfas." These same attractive
coIorful flowers have been beautifully
interpreted in this exhibition by
Eliza beth Muhlhofer and Iona Miller
Keplinger. each in her own individual
way. And this bHs no means com
pletes the inventory.
The place of honor on the semi-cir-
sular wall in this exhibition is given
to painting by William H. Holmes,
president of the society and director
of the National Gallery of Art-an
unusual and very engaging work, en-
titled THE Joy of the Fields" 1t
represents sloping hillside in
Springtime green. and shows a group
Of white-robed maidens dancing down
1t hand in hand-the joy of Spring, of
the outdoor world, of fair skies and
VIII ~ oh ,erl-v anti
mized.
Centering the opposite fat wall
hangs large and impressive painting
by Jerry Farnsworth, Calypso" a
picture Of a Spanish or Portuguese
maiden wearing picturesque head
dress and white veil. AS usual. she
is set against a landscape backdrop.
but the key is higher than usual for
the whole composition and the rem
der;ng more skillful and subtle. Both
this and the Little Sister," on the
opposite wall, mark, it would seem,
real advance in the work of this eX-
tremely gifted young painter.
There are more portraits and figure
studies than usual in this exhibition,
and. they are almost without excep-
tion good. Burtis Baker shows his
lately completed portrait of Dean
Eerryman Green of the Virginia
Theological Seminary-a gift to the
seminary of the class of pa con-
servative but strong and capable
work.
Catherine Carter Critcher exhibits
two excellent Indian themes-a por-
trait of Pueblo chief in blanket and
feathers and a very winning smaller
canvas, picturing an Indian grand |
mother with her little grandchild !
peering over her shoulder and hold
ing to her with clinging, small arms.
Cameron Burnside exhibits a cos
tune study, THE 1880 Dress" in
which textures are eXquisitely rem
dered. Eugene Weisz shows an am ]
bilious full-length figure of a woman
holding a fgurine which has much
to commend it. Burleigh Park
hurst sends skillfully painted study
of a. young Canadian, and from Susan
Kicker Knox comes an admirable por-
trait of Madame E from Moscow an
immigrant. Special mention should
be made in this connection of a three |
quarter-length figure study by Mary |
Kremelburg Gibson. which is entitled |
The India Bowl" and is not little !
reminiscent of the great Mancini-a J
work lovely in color and rich in tonal |
quality. Ellen Day Hale sends pic |
ture of THE Young Shipbuilder,"
which is essentially in her own en- |
gaging way, and Mrs. Bush Brown is
represented by a very conservative |
portrait, Mrs. William. S. E.''
The same variety in subject and |
diversity of style is noted in the land
scapes in this exhibition. Marjorie |
Phillips shows q difficult subject ex-
tremely we'll rendered, "Shanties on
the Canal" in which a line of leafess !
trees and their reflections in the |
water serve TO give a decorative pat
tern to the composition. Alfred |
HuttY is represented hY an excellent |