Evening star., 1928-04-01

The Judges Of the competition were
William II, Holmes. director OF the Ma
tional Gallery OF Art. Richard Merry
man. principal of the Corcoran School
Of Art. and II. *. Bush Brown,
past president OF the Arts Club and well
known as a sculptor. The award war
made TO a painting by William
Dovener Of the Bureau OF Ethnology,
doubtless because of excellent construc-
ton and a certain vitality in interprcta-
tion Almost. II not equally good. Ger
tainly no less frank and simple. Is the
work of Royal G. Steadman. a portrait
rendered somewhat In primitive style
and without the least pretension--a
work which, If selected, would have
done honor both to the painter and tc
the subject.
One OF these portraits was by de-
scen6snt OF Commissioner Newton. Miss
A, A. Newton OF the Bureau OF Plant IN
dustrv. whose work was much TO DC
commended.
II was interesting to note that each
painter interpreted the subject with
variety each In q style all his or her
own. Oddly. the award assured in
chlsion Of the portrait In the perma-
nent collection OF the department and
vas Signifed by a blue ribbon. after
the manner of awards In State fairs.
For small local community COM
petition Of this sort Is interesting and
commendable. but when conducted
under the auspices OF one OF our great
departments OF Government 1t would
seem to signify little comprehension of
the real value OF art or the poten-
tialities Of portraiture, Certainly 1t Is
better to have portrait sincerely
painted by an aspiring artist than a
commercial Photographic representa-
ton. put our Government tthe richest
In the world today. In acquiring por-
traits of It's cabinet officers for per-
manent preservation should be able u
pay for the best and be satisfied with
none other.
At the Yorke Gallery tomorrow will
be placed on view collection OF draw
ings and paintings by Percy Crosby.
the we'll known creator OF "Skippy,"
who has of late entered the field OF
serious art This exhibition. compris-
ing drawings. Autographs, etchinss and
water coiors. was shown at the Ander-
son Galleries, New York. In February.
Mr. Crosby was born in Brooklyn,
N. Y. and began his art career at tn
age of II by selling humorous draw
ing to life. Between the ages OF 10
and 20 he worked on almost every
newspaper In New York, drawing car
toons and courtroom sketches. Then
he studied for five years at the Art
Students League. The war interrupted
hts career only by changing his place
Of work. Serving In France he kept
a daily comic strip going In American
newspapers called The Rookie OF the
18th Squad" It was not until 1923
that he originated "Skippy" A num-
viously exhibited viii be shown In this
collection.
Margaret French Cresson has lately
completed a portrait bust Of Com
mander Richard r. Byrd. commissioned
by Capt. and Mrs. John II. Gibbons of
this city, by whom 1t Is TO be presented
TO the Corcoran Gallery OF Art. This
portrait. which has been declared most
satisfactory. was commissioned while
Mrs Cresson had a studio In this city.
but was modelled in her studio at Glen
dale. Mass, on her fathers. Daniel
Chester French's, estate 1t was started
before Commander Byrd made his
memorable flight 10 Europe and has
been completed from sittings since his
return. Like all OF Mrs. Cresson's work.
1t Is modelled with grave simplicity. and
shows not only technical proficiency but
sensitive touch and intellectual dis
cernment
The Washington Water Color Club
viii open It's Thirty-second Annual
Exhibition In the National Gallery of
Art. United States Museum. next Sat
urdav,