Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

background and accessories are in other shaGcs
of red, not merely contrasting but creating dis
sonance. The effect, however is interesting
and pleasing The face is beautifully rendered,
the expression animated and engaging, the pose
is easy and well taken But the treatment of
the subject is primarily decorative and FIAT. A
somewhat similar. though modified, color
scheme is shown in Mr. Comins' portrait of
Miss Elizabeth Ogleby of Chevy Chase, very
spirited portrait
Mr.. Comins is. perhaps, at his best in his
paintings of children. For example, his portraits
of Master Billy Crane and Master Demarest
Lloyd. Both realistic and admirably rem
Gered, vital interpreta tions.
Hanging with these portraits two paint
ings of rocks on the Massachusetts, Coast, very
red in the light of the afternoon sun. very
strong in manner of rendering. One of these
compositions shows only the rocks The Other
gives, over the top of a great pile, glimpse of
the blue sea in interesting contrast.
Here, too, are his somewhat satirieal paint
ings entitled 1878" supposedly a typical family
group in a drawing room of that period, today
strangely out of date, and Fireworks Of
the series representing contemporary life with
the crowd. In extrsnne modern mode, both in
composition and manner of treatment, are
"Design-Foot Ball. Liberia and Labor"
the last fresco. Showing yet another turn of
gift or fancy is a Negro head rendered IN a
manner almost scuipturesque; and the painters
seh-portrait in freSco. which, while an unnis-
taxable likeness is without conceit.
Strength IS of course very desirable at
tribute Of art, but why strength must often
in the present day be accompanied by clunlsi-
it is difficult to understand But these are
confusing times, and those who are bent on
exploration have no easy path to tread
THE world of art sustained very serious loss
Jess than a fortnight ago in the death of
Philip L. Hale of Boston, brother of Ellen Day
Hale Of this city. There has scarcely been an
exhibition Of note at the Corcoran Gallery Of
Art for years in which Mr. Hale has not been
notably represented. For years he had been
teacher in the school of the Museum of Fine
Arts, Boston, and on the museums advisory
committees. He was also exceedingly well
known as critic and writer on art, having
contributed for years, first for the Herald and
then the Boston Transcript. He studied at the
Julian Academy and fEcole des Beaux Arts in
Paris. He was most excellent craftsman and
technie1an. He had a keen sense of beauty and
high ideals Of art. In 1902 he married Lillian
Westcott Of Hartford, a painter who has kept
pace with her husband in distinction of her
work. Few have had a happier more success
fu1, fuller and rounder life than he. He is rep-
resented in the Corcoran GaLery's permanent
collection by painting entitled Girl with
Muh." His works are included in the perma-
nent collections of some of the leading Ameri-
can art museums
TO James Lesesne Wells, instructor in the
art department at Howard University ,
one OF the Harmon awards for distinguished
achievement among Negroes has lately been
made. This consists of a gold medal and
$500 honorarium. The award was made be-
cause Of Wells creative work in the field
Of art.
Wells was born in Atlanta in 1903 and
studied at Teachers College New York and
for three years at the National Academy of
Design. For two years he did decorative work
In New York For the last two years he
has been here at Howard University He is
especially well known for his block prints
many of which have appeared as ilustra-
tons in THE Survey" The Dial" and in
Willis Richardson's book, plays and Pageants
OF Negro Life" Commenting upon his work,
Washburn Freun says: Wells has the
rhythmical feeling of his race that makes
him create spontaneously in old Negro forms.
His art, therefore, combines individual naiyete
Continued ON T1pPntu-secOu6 Pane