Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09

- HERE is great variety in treatment
as well as subject to be noted in the
collection of etchings by Frederick T.
Weber of New York, which opened in
the Smithsonian Building November
8 TO continue through the month. Fifty prints
are shown, including three etched as book plates
and four as Christmas cards. The earliest in
date Is "Old Warehouses, Lubbock" made In 1905.
Among the latest are "Old Milford House, East
Hampton, N. r." and Peck slip, New York."
both produced last year and undoubtedly among
the finest shown Ranging between these dates
IN time of production are interpretations Of
foreign places, SUCH for instance, as "Shipyard
I'm Finland" and "Refectory Of the Bernhard
Monastery" after which comes an interesting
group Of outdoor subjects freer, more simple
In treatment and style-"Old Farm" October
Morning" "At Watermil," etc.
Apparently about eight years ago Mr.. Weber
turned TO portraiture and etched Mother and
Daughter" and one or two nudes. But the city
picture still made appeal, and in 1924 he did
two notable etchings of Madison Square Gar
den, one In the early Spring. the other in early
Summer-elaborate compositions skillfully rem
dered. These etchings now take on a historic
character, preserving for al time the recolIec-
ton Of the beautiful tower designed by Stanford
White after the Giralda at Seville.
OF unique interest are two etchings by Mr..
Weber Of interiors in the Metropolitan Museum
Of Art, one Of corner of xVIIth century
Swiss room in the main building.
Two of Mr.. Weber's prints are in color
sRectory Of st. Jean du-Doigt Brittany" and
Factory In Finland" But when the line Is
hne, the tonal relations nicely adjusted. 1t is
within the power Of black and white to suggest
color more satisfyingly than through its actual
introduction. The virtue of these two prints in
color by MIR. Weber is that the color has been
applied with such restraint.
Mr. Weber has had an unusual life. He was
born In Columbia s. c., ia 1885, was taken to
New York when very young, and from there
to Finland. His studies were pursued m
school in Berlin. and when just 20 he be-
gan drawing from life. trip to Holland In
his boyh0od gave opportunity for acquaint-
ance with the works Of the old Dutch masters.
With this as a background he made the ac-
uuaintance Of Liebermann and other revolu-
tionists, those who established the now famous
Secession. In 1904 he worked with A. w. Finch,
a Belgian modernist In HeNsingfors, Finland,
and 1t was under his infuence that he began
etching The following Winter he spent In
Paris working In Ferdinand Humberts studio
in Nontmartre. where among his classmates
vas Branue, today one Of the recognized lead
ers Of modernism. In 1905 he was working I'm
Lubbock and produced q number Of etchings,
among them "Ships In Harbor," OF which an
excellent print is included In the current exhi-
bation This became his first exhibit at the
Paris Salon. Impressions Of this plate have
since been acquired by the Metropolitan Mu-
scum Of Art and the Library Of Congress. In
the Summer Of 1906 he was in st. Jean-du-
Doigt, Brittany, where he met Eugene Yak and
worked with him for time.
Apparently Mr. Weber has always been seek
ing not merely inspiration, but knowledge
Though his works were accepted by the various
exhibiting bodies in Paris. he entered Julian's
Academy and studied under Jean Paul Laurens
finding him a sympathetic master. Later he
entered the Ecole des Beaux Arts, winning q
..rfza In gcIilOt1lre
under verlet and exhibited in the salon In three
mediums painting, etching and sculpture.
Returning to America In 1914. he gave his
whole time to his professional career and con-
trihuted prints to all the leading exhibitions.
About year ago he became president o. the