Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27

great genre painters of Holland 40 or
so years ago scrubbed in their color.
using wet paper in a way which,
while attractive, did away with the
sparkle which earlier painters by other
methods had secured and which paint
ers today have recaptured. Then came
time when water colorists used gray
paper and purposely gave their works
the appearance of pastels This, too,
had its attraction, its charm, but 1t
remained to an extent for Sargent and
a few others to demonstrate the full
power of the medium, retaining it's
peculiar characteristics, recognizing its
limitations and making the utmost or
its potentialities. Winslow Homer per-
haps preceded Sargent in employing
the medium in this manner. In recent
years his water .colors have come into
great vogue, and deservedly. Frank
w Benson follows the same method.
It is in the style of these masters
that Mrs. Brannigan paints. Her pic
lures in this exhibition of Irish castles
are peculiarly. attractive. well drawn,
admirably painted There is no fault
to be found with them structurally; at
the same time they have atmosphere,
pictorial effect. They are extremely
simply rendered. vital interpretations.
She also shows an engaging picture or
Bristol: two very clever and interest
| ing bridge subjects, probably found in
Ireland, for in one, beyond the pictured
stream, rise heather-co covered hills meet
ing the skyline. One or two of her
subjects Mrs. Brannigan has treated
almost entirely in line-bold, broken
| line~-with the least bit of color to lend
effect Only a very skillful craftsman
could do this and achieve success.
Mrs, Brannigan Is member OF the
National Association of Women Paint
ers and Sculptors, of the Washington
Water Color Club, the New Haven
Paint and Clay Club and the North
Shore Arts Association. She was
| born in bingham. Mass, and studied
| first at the Corcoran School of Art,
then at the National Academy OF De
sign, and later under Henry =. Smell.
| Too much could hardly be said In
praise of her present exhibition.
4 * =
AT the Veerhoff Galleries, 1872 Con-
"A necticut avenue, there is nov on
view q collection of water colors and
| etchings of birds by Charles e. He'll.
| Mr.. He'll has made a speciality of birds,
| and his etchings and water colors are
| at one and the same time scientifically
correct and artistically worthy. He is
an extraordinarily good technician.
! His line is delicate but significant; his
| treatment OF surface and of texture is
| remarkable. With what would seem
! to be few strokes of his pen or brush
I he gives the effect of feathers. of fluff
f. finess, which appeals not only TO those
| who seek accurate representation, but
| TO the casual observer, whose fingers
will be found to itch for the touch of
the downy little creatures.
| In every instance Mr.. He'll uses a
perfectly fiat background, but he in.
| PRODUCES in each case bit of tWig or
| flower, which lends decorative effect
and places the bird in relation to ma.
| ture. Those who have sought in vain
! in handbooks on American birds for
that particular bird which perches in
| ones own arbor, or, perchance, on
the window sill, will realize what a
vast difference there is between the
stereotyped colored reproductions and
these remarkable paintings by an
artist In this collection 1t is simple
matter to recognize ones bird neigh
bors.
And what jolly little fellows they are!
In one instance Mr.. He'll has pictured
! a song sparrow giving voice to song,
head uplifted, body tense. claws grasp
ing the stump on which Ii rests lest
in the very exuberance Of song it
lose it's balance. His pictures Of young
blue jays are peculiarly pleasing. and
his picture of robin gives special
opportunity for assurance of accuracy
by comparison with the latest arrivals
who are now hopping over our Wash.
ington lawns.
Again. in connection with these
works, one recalls Saint Gaudens' say.
ing: 1T is not what you do, but the
way you do il, that signifies" Mr.
lieil's way is uncommonly clever and
charming.
, This exhibition will continue to
, April T.
, There is also on view at the Veer-
} hof Galleries at the present time a
; very beautiful painting of the sea on
the New Jersey coast by Warren Shep.
pard Of New York. an artist compar.
= atively little known. but of exceptional
t ability, an authority on navigation
: the author of text book on this sub
!, ject. This painting by him is per
haps IA little reminiscent Of the works
D OF Richards. inasmuch as it is real