Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17


known organizations. In short, this
promises to be an exceedingly interest
ing showing.
REGINNING tomorrow. Mildred Gid
dings Burrage of Boston will set
forth a unique exhibition at the Dun
| thorne Gallery-an exhibition of maps
done in gesso and decoratlvely framed A
number of these exhibits are copies of
historic maps. others are modern and
original in method of rendering. Among
the historical maps Is a copy of Capt.
John Smiths map of Virginia. engraved
by William Hole and first published at
oxford by Joseph Barnes in 1912, a
map now in the possession Of the New
York Historical Society. Belonging to
the same period is a pictorial repre-
sentation of the adventures OF Capt
John Smith among the Indians, from
THE General Historic of Virginia, New
! England and the Summer Isles" by
! "Captaine John Smith, sometimes Gov
ernour in Those Countryes and Admiral
of New England. London, 1882" taken
! from the original. III the possession of
the Massachusetts, Historical Society.
A map of the Atlantic Coast Is from
a unique copy in the collection of the
Royal Geographical Society. and one OF
! the New England Coast. copy of part
of Champlain'S manuscript map, 1907.
is from the original, in the Library OF
! Congress.
Among the modern maps is one of
Cape Ann and another of Cape Cod.
! These maps, accurately copied from
the originals. are given. as the catalogue
truly says new interest and decorative
value by their rendering in color. Paint
| ed on gesso ground. they represent
fl,e ofa ~ 0rf &c
the italian word for a preparation Of
whiting and glue on which the decora-
ton is painted with water color and
given a waterproof wax finish. With
this medium one can work in low re-
lief and create a surface which has the
| interest of projection. Such painting
| has great permanency, aS witnessed by
the freshness of color of the italian
primitives. Miss Burrage, who had
made extensive experiments along these
lines also shows a screen painted with
a waterproof paint recently invented In
France for purposes of mural decoration
which is thought to be a rediscovery OF
the process used by the Egyptians. This
process is technically known as "Stic
3" and has very much the appearance
of gesso. A practical question In re-
| gard to the use of this process for mural
decoration in this age and day is wheth-
er its rough surface will not prove es-
pecially hospitable to the smoke and
dirt with which much Of our city at
mosphere is laden.
| Mildred Giddings Burrage had her
artistic training in Paris and has work.
ed much abroad. She has exhibited at
the Salon d'Automne and at the Inter-
national Art Union in Paris. and her
work has been shown in the PennSyl-
vania Academy and in the exhibitions
| of the Architectural League of New York,
| the Chicago Art Institute, the Boston
Museum of Fine Arts. and elsewhere,
A collection OF her maps was shown
as one-man exhibit at the JesSup
! Memorial Library, in Bar Harbor. and
incidentally one Of her works in this
| exhibition is conventional repreSen-
tation of the Garden at Aldersea, Bar
Harbor.
Miss Burrage's exhibition opens to-
morrow afternoon. when teaw will be
served from 4 to 6, Mrs. Archibald
Hopkins serving as hostess.
SIMULTANEOUSLY Gordon Dun
~ thorne will place on view in his
gallery. 1925 Connecticut avenue. March
10 to 80. a collection Of etchings, litho-
graphs and water colors by Joseph Pen
nell. many of which have lately been
brought to this country from England.
Included in the collection are such well
known subjects as Waterloo Bridge"
Hampton Court" 1.-THE Long Palace"
San Maclou, Rouen," Flower Market"
and Butter Tower, Rouen," and sew
eral Washington subjects, such as the
Waiting Room, Union Station" view
Of the Capitol from the station. etc.
This exhibition will pleasantly sup
,1V~ H. II rt.&t ~
ton at the Library Of Congress and will
afford lovers of etchings and admirers
Of Joseph Pennell to see and possibly
procure additional examples Of his dis
tinguished work.
THERE Is now on view In the Library
of Congress, in the hall given over
for exhibition purposes to the manu-
script division, miniature in wax of
George Washington, of great historical
and at the same time considerable
artistic interest. This, 1t is understood,
Is the work of Patience Wright, one of
the most interesting characters in the
history OF early American art. It Is in
white wax, yellowed by age, on q dark
background in gold frame shadow box
lined with green, and was given, accord
ing to tradition. by Gen. Washington to
his personal friend, Col Hartley, a
Revolutionary officer Of York, Pa. At
Col. Hartley's death his effects were
sold at public auction and the minia-
ture was purchased by DR.. John Morris
OF York, by whose direct descendants It
is still owned. Among those descend
ants and present owners is Luther Nor
ris Leisenring of this city.
Patience Lowell was born In Borden
town, N. j., in 1725 and In l748 married
Joseph Wright, who died In 1859, leav-
ing her with three children. AS a
means of livelihood, she took up model
ing in wax and acquired really great
J reputation. In It'll, after having held
exhibitions in Philadelphia and New
; York and executed numerous commits
sions both for busts and life-size eff
gies, she went to London, sailing on the
Snow Mercury Packet. She was known
and generally referred to as 1.-The in
genius Mrs Wright" and certainly
both her work and her conduct OF
her worldly affairs merited the appella-
ton. The success that she had secured
in this country was more than repeated
in London, where she received commits
sions to model in wax portraits of the
King and Queen with whom she is said
, to have been ION intimate terms" and
; of other celebrities. A description OF
! ! Mrs. Wright and her studio given by
: Mrs. Adams at the time that Mr.. Adams
: was our first minister to the court of
ST. James, is entertaining but far from
: fiattering.
: But 1.-The ingenious Mrs. Wright" I'M
: doubtedly had way all her own. Hel
.. son. Joseph Wright. studied under Ben
jamin West and became a painter Of
. very decided merit. After returning to
, this country, he made life mask Of
!, Washington for the purpose Of paint.
= ing his portrait. and it was from Thu
life mask and from her sons portrait
that Patience Wright modelled her wal
: miniatures of Washington, of which
. the one in the Library of Congress,
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