Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
DIPLOMATS WIFE
BRILLIANT ARTIST
Sonora DaviIa Finds Time
Between Many Duties to
Paint Still Life.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

=. Fulfilling the duties of a diplomats
wife graciouSly, while supervising the
upbringing Of two small daughters, Is
but part of a days work for the charm
ing young wife of the Chilean Ambassa-
dor. Sonora Carlos Davila. For the
sonora is an accomplished artist, spe-
cializing in still life studies and using
for her subjects groups ana oplecIS
peculiar to her own country. Ola terra
GOTTA lars. so tremendous that they
might have hidden Ali Baba and the
40 thieves: quaint cooking utensils OF
the Chilean peasants, and ancient mis-
sails and cruciflxeS brought In Colonlal
DAYS from PARKWAY Spain are only
few of the interesting items utlilzeo py
Sonora Davila in the arranging OF her
groups.
II love to paint subjects that are
ancient or have an appearance OF the
mystic about them" the sonora SAID.
Sometimes I find corner in simple
ranch home or it may be under a trelllS
in a patio garden where 1 see group
which attracts me-"
Indicating the study of a table on
which stood candle, an old painting
and a vase containing a single rose,
the Ambassadors wife continued:
ia SlOuP Woc q wy
old and beautiful painting of the Virgin
which l found, Just as you see the
group represented. in the home OF some
poor country people. 1t must have been
very old and l was so attracted by the
picture that I offered to buy 1t. But
the owners poor as they were, merely
shook their heads in refusal, explain
ing that the painting was sacred and
had great powers for good and they
would not part with it under any con-
sideration."
Exhibited in Santiago.
This study by the sonora, charmingly
executed in oil, in interesting soft tones,
was exhibited at the National EXPOSE
ton of Santiago where it was awarded
the third medaille." Entitled "Devo-
ton on Ranch" the picture is de-
lightful glimpse of a corner in the home
Of the simple, pious country people OF
Chile. Another painting, Corner of
Sacristy,' might be a group from one
Of the old Spanish masters. A candle,
a missal and crucifix form the princi-
pal objects in this interesting still life.
Sonora Davila'S works are intensely
Spanish in atmosphere and the sonora
tells you that among the old masters
there are none whose works she adj
rnires greater than the two famous
Spaniards, Greco and Goya.
Asked as to how she looked upon
nodernistic art, she replied that, as a
general rule, she did not care for it,
But I must admit like the paintings
and drawings of PicaSso." she said, land
I think he is a great artist. although
many of his studies are decidedly 'fu-
turistic'"
You have studied presume, since
you we're small child?" the sonora was
asked.
Has Interesting Studio.
'sNo," she replied, II did not serious
" take up the study of painting until
several years after was married. AS
a child I was educated at the Lycee
for young girls, in Santiago. There, I
merely had the drawing which every
child has in school. I graduated when
was 16 years old, and then for several
months, / amused myself by taking a
few private lessons. But never worked
seriously until after I was married and
after my two little girls were born.
Then I took lessons from a very IA
nous Chilean professor, Pablo Bur-
chard, with whom I studied for two
years
Il had studied with him only about
one year when I exhibited by first
painting at the annual National Ex-
hlbition, where I was awarded a pre-
MUM. After studying with Pablo
Burchard, I continued my work at the
Escuela de Bellas Artes, in Santiago.
II you will come with me-" said the
sonora. Il will show you my studio"
Leading the way to the third floor of
the beautiful Massachusetts, avenue
home, she conducted her visitor to a
large, well lighted room, ideally ar
ranged Tor studio and filled with all
sorts of interesting. curios collected
from various parts of the world,
Little Time in Washington.
Sonora Davila sighed as she looked
about the room. II should so much
like to be able to paint now, but have
very little time in Washington during
the Winter. There are so MANY things
must do, duties to attend to. that
do not have time to do the work with
my painting. Ard there are so MANY
things which I should like to paint
she continued, picking up an odd At
rican instrument. formed from the shell
OF tortoise, which lay on a nearby
table.
Il found this in Africa, last Summer
when / was abroad with my family. /
picked up so many odd things in all the
countries I visited, and hope to use
them some day in my still life groups"
Many beautiful and interesting things
from her own country have been gath
cred by the Ambassadors wife in the
artistic studio. Native rugs, hand
woven; odd bits Of Indian and native
pottery; funny little brass bells on
red cords, which tinkle the presence of
donkeys or patient llamas in the crowd
ed places of picturesque Chile; all the
many colorful bits of colorful country
are collected in the atelier of Sonora
Davila.