Evening star., 1926-03-21

continues, from Mancini to Modi-
gliani, each of whom has a half-dozen
or so of paintings; but the exhibition
is comprehensive, serving at the same
time to bring to light the younger
artists Of today: for instance. Donghi
and Cadarin. The former. only 27
years of age. who lives in Rome, has
two finely considered works Of con>
spicuous merit. The latter, who was
10 works of neo-classic style"
The most generously represented in
this exhibition is Mancini. whom some
term the Sargent of Italy" No less
than l2 of his paintings are herein
included. The Brooklyn Museum has
generously lent Boldini's portrait of
Whistler. and Mrs. Lydig his portrait
of herself.
The painter whose work will create
undoubtedly the greatest amount of
interest and controversy is Antonio
Donghi, modernist. whose works.
however. bark back to tradition and
are forceful examples Of the art OF
simrlification of direct painting.
There are included in this eXhibi.
ton 10 paintings by Spadini, who died
in Rome only last year. it is said in
the full flower of his art. In the Ven
ice biennial of 1924 he won "spec-
tacular and sensational success
This exhibition comprises, however.
not only paintings but sculpture and
examples Of decorative and graphic
art. From the glimpse which the
writer had of the exhibition on its
arrival in New York the impression
fingers that the sculptural section is
Of particular interest.
1t Is understood that the opening
view will be made an international
affair. with the Italian Ambassador.
the Secretary Of State and members
Of the Italy-America Society in at
tendance. The exhibition will be
arranged by and in charge of Dr.
LaurO de BOsiS, who has made Spe-
cial study of Italian art and will
deliver two or more lectures on the
subject in the auditorium of the
National Museum while the exhibition
Is in progress.
THE jury for the Corcoran Gallery's
Tenth Biennial Exhibition of Con.
temporary American Art will meet in
this city the early part of this week.
This jury consists of Edmund c. Tar.
bell, chairman: John c. Johansen,
Jonas Lie. Leopold Seyffert and Rob.
ert Spencer. with the director Of the
gallery as an ex officio member of the
hanging committee. 1t Is for this
jury to award the William A. Clark
prizes and the Corcoran medals. The
former are four in number and aggre-
gate $1,000.
The exhibition will open on the
evening Of April with a private view.
From April to May Is it will be
free to the public.
DURING his recent brief stay in
Washington Philip A. de Laszlo
has painted not only the portraits of
the President and Mrs. Coolidge,
shown a fortnight ago in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art. but portraits of Mr..
and Mrs. Larz Anderson, Secretary
Mellon and Of his daughter, Miss Ailsa
Mellon. The last three were painted in
the Larz Anderson residence in an i'm
provised studio on the upper floor
which has an excellent north light.
The portrait Of Mr.. and Mrs. Larz
double portrait. representing the
subjects seated on a sofa Of dark wood
with plum-colored covering and incon.
spicuous design. Mrs. Anderson is at
Mr.. Andersons right and trif1e
nearer the observer. She is represent
ed wearing an evening gown of black
velvet with a black lace scarf over
her shoulders, an attire which is not
only very becoming, but will likely not
so out OF style. Mr.. Anderson is seen
in conventional evening dress, with
the red scarf or sash of the Belgian
order of distinction awarded him in
recognition of his services during the
war diagonally across his breast, re-
lieving the blacknesS and lending an
agreeable note of color. Mrs. Ander-
sons head is turned slightly to the
right with an upward tilt, giving an
air of animation and alertnesS. Mr..
Anderson looks directly toward the OBJ
server. Yet the two figures are in
complete unity-an extremely difficult
effect to achieve in a double portrait.
Furthermore, there is entire absence
of the suggestion of posing; to the
contrary, an unconventional air of
naturalness pervades the canvas.
The background in this instance is
an undecorated wall, light and sunny
in tone. which throws the figures in
relief and gives the impression of a
spacious. airy apartment. To the ex-
treme right are the long. graceful
folds Of a curtain, dark in tone. lend
ing decorative effect, and over the ex
treme end of the sofa at Mr.. Ander
sons left lies a dark evening cloak.
To say that this portrait recalls the
great works Of the masters of the
British school may lead to misunder.
standing, for it is by no means tmita.
tive or reminiscent, but it Is impossi.
BILE to see it without recalling certain
splendid double portraits painted by
Raeburn and his cotemporaries. There
is in it a sumptuousness combined
with simplicity. The likenesses are
excellent and, more still, each is a
significant characterization. Here is a
picture which may well be valued as
a personal record, but which is at the
same time impressively beautiful, es-
sentially worthy and memorable as a
work of art. Certainly the distin-
guished painter has never achieved a
more satisfactory result.
The portrait of the Secretary OF
the Treasury was ordered by the New
York Chamber Of Commerce and will
go there for permanent placement.
1t is hreeQuarter length and shows
the Secretary standing almost as
though arrested in passing. His left