Evening star., 1928-12-16
BY LAILA MECHLIN.


birth. who has become an American
citizen. These works are displayed IN
the large central gallery in the new
National Museum, on series OF bur-
lap covered screens placed against the
wall most effectively.
The series includes 81. canvaSSes OF
moderate size. The majority picture
exteriors Of the great French cathedrals,
in fact. in the entire collection there are
only four interiors-two of ChartreS,
one showing the Rose Window, one OF
Bourges and one of the Cathedral OF
Rouen. These are exceptionally inter-
esting The exteriors include the IA
cades of the cathedralS just named ana
in addition Rheims, Bayeux, EvreuX,
LouvierS, Auxerre. Beauvais, Senlis and
the churches of Moret. ST. Maclou ana
st. Ouen, Rouen. All of these show
elaborate carving. lace work in stone,
sculptural detail multiplied indefinitely.
Obviously the painter has suggested
rather than completely told the story OF
this carving, presenting an impression
of the elaborate finished work rather
than the work in detail. He has chosen
to represent these great cathedrals
through veil of mist-morning light,
evening light-hence without strong
demarkation of light and shade,
a dreamlike quality about these paint
ings rather than an impression Of real
ity but there is no doubt that the sub
jects have been most carefully studied.
Elihu Root, referring to the building
of cathedralS. once spoke of them as
created through "the magis of art and
surely nothing has been created by the
hand of man more beautiful. more mag
ical. These Gothic cathedrals Of France
are not only the glory Of that nation
but of the world. witnessing both TO
the faith and to the skill of those by
whom they were erected So long as
they shall endure, France will remain
2 place of pilgrimage for the people of
the world hungering for beauty and for
the expression of living faith.
Mr.. Van Veen hints in his paintings
of the beauty of both the exteriorS and
the interiors of these great buildings,
happily giving to the observer glimpse
of the magnificent colored glass OF
.CAartres, for it is the glass of these
6Ethic cathedrals which goes far toward
gIorifying them. a glory which those
who remain outside can never realize.
To those who have read and are ia
miliar with Henry Adams book on
Chartres the paintings of that cathe-
dral in this exhibition will have special
the writings of Ralph Adams Cram are
likewise given added significance, and
the fact that We in this city are at the
present time rearing Gothic cathedral
on Mount ST. Alban adds timely in
tereSt to the showing.
The painter of these canvaSes, Pieter
Van Veen, came, We are told in an IN
PRODUCTION to the exhibition catalogue,
from n long line of illuStrious painters,
among them -Rubens. And the work
which is here shown occupied him for
eight years. It was done with the ut
most care under many difficulties, and
in spite of all obstacles.
It was the Cathedral of Chartres
which first aroused in Mr.. Van Veen a
desire to produce this Series-Chartres
seen in the silvery early morning light
"faintly veiled in a gossamer OF rosy
moisture just vanishing in the suns
embrace" One of the most interesting
of the works undoubtedly is that OF
La Tour de Beurre, Rouen," that
wonderful creation which derives its
name from the fact that the people of
Rouen deprived themselves of butter
in order to contribute to the cost OF
building this magnificent tower, and
thus IT came into existence.
And what an inspiration these Gothic
cathedrals of France have been to
artistS-more especially etchers! Com
missioned by the 4a Century Co., Mr..
and Mrs. Joseph Pennell made
pilgrimage to them years ago which re-
suited in their splendid book, "Cathe-
drals of France written by Mrs. PEN
nell, illustrated by her husband. Many
others have drawn and etched them
since, but none, perhaps, with greater
enthusiasm or more sympathetic under
standing.
These paintings by Mr.. Van Veen
are shown under the patronage OF the
French Ambassador, Paul Claudel.
They will remain on view throughout
this month.
THE National Gallery Commission
held its annual meeting in this
city last Tuesday. Those in attendance
were DR.. Abbot, secretary OF the
Smithsonian Institution; William Fl.
Holmes, director of the National Gal
lery Of Art: James Earl Fraser, sculp-
tor; E. c. Tarbell, painter; j. H. Gest,
director of the Cincinnati Art Museum;
Charles Moore, chairman of the Ma
tional Commission of Fine Arts; john
Lodge. director of the Freer Gallery
of Art. and James Parmelee. AS long
as the National Gallery of Art is lin
tied by its present restricted quarters
there is little opportunity for develop
ment, therefore the commission gave
most of its time to discussing the pos
sibilities of securing tangible aid Tor
promising young artists in America; IN
other words, to the encouragement ana
protection of the specially talented, and
the development of a native art.
4 x
7 TNDER the auspices of the Washing
- ION Community Institute, the
washington Society of the Fine Arts and
the washington Public Library, Henry
Turner Bailey will give an Illustrated
lecture in the Central High School
Thursday evening, December 70. on
How to Look at Picture and What
to Get Out of It"
Mr.. Bailey is a director of the Cleve-
land School of Art and the John Hunt
ington Polytechnic Institute of Cleve-
land: also adviser in educational work at
the Cleveland Museum of Art. He was
formerly State supervisor of drawing
for Massachusetts and editor of the
School Arts Magazine. He has been one
of the representatives of this country
to the great international congresses on
art held abroad and is both teacher and
lecturer of international standing.
There is probably no more popular lee
turer in the field of art on the plat
form today than he Among his pub
lished writings are Mature Drawing, y
Twelve Great Paintings" Art Educa-
ton" Photography and the Fine Arts, "
Symbolism for Artists" "The Tree
Folk" and most lately 1.-The Magic
Realm of the Arts" just from the press.
Mr.. Bailey is himself an artist, sketch
ing with freedom and skill, making his
own Christmas greeting cards, leading
his pupils through his own expert
knowledge. While essentially a dreamer
and exceptionally sensitive to beauty
he has a dynamic personality and is
therefore one of very wide and efIectual
accomplishment His ambition and his
life work have been to open the eyes
of those with whom he has come in
contact to the significance of beauty.