Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11

- IFTY-ONE etchircs by George T. Plow-
man of Cambridge, Mas, constitute
the first of the seasons series Of print
exhibitions in the Smithsonian Build
ing under the auspices Of the division
of graphic arts United States Material
MuSeu n.
John Galen Howard, one of the leading arch
fleets of California, head of the architectural
department of the State University, once said:
"If there be truth in the dictum that art Is
nature seen through a temper ament,' then as
suredly have in Mr.. Plowman,S etchingS q
rare evidence Of art. Whatever other admirable
qualities they possess, they ere genuine express
SionS of . temperament and that, too, gen.
timely artistic one" To which he addea ihls
is perhaps, for the most of US, their principal,
as it is an entirely sufficient claim to cordial
recognition. To the technical critic however,
whose demand is first of all for sound drawing
they are likely to appeal quite as much for their
admirable draughtsmanship."
An appeal quite as strong those which M
Howard .rentions is that OF subject and If one
may hazard the superstition in all probability
subject is of paramount Importance to this
etcher. Among the prints by which nc Is repre-
scented in this exhibition are for instance. such
plates as st. Marks, Venice; "NapOleon'S
Birthplace Corsica; Mount Of Olives. Jeru-
salem: Blue Mosque, Istamboul' Be-
thoven'S Birthplace. Bonn; "Mayfiower Barn.
Jordan's," and the like.
Because of their subjective ard historical IL
terest as landmarks and reminders of the past,
Mr.. Plowman has etched a series of covered
bridges, which he has diligently sought out in
New England and elsewhere. To recent num-
Der of the American Magazine of Art Mrs.
Plowman, the etcherS wife, contributed an ar
ticle on Covered Bridges" Illustrated by Mr.
Plowman'S etchingS, in whic-C eh' not only gives
interesting facts connected with the bridges, but
tells delightfully."- of Mr.. Plowman's quest and of
the interest he has taken in it. 1T has been no
easy task she says, Ito make drawings OF
bridges in the back country, perhaps in cod
weather. after the leaves. which veil structural
features have dropped to the ground. Then
there may be the disappointment of finding
that bridge has just been taken down when
one has waited overlong in visiting it.
So there is always tinge OF excitement in de-
picting these old timers, and especially if they
are located on neglected roa5s."
The covered bridge is vanishing, even from
New England, where they chiefly abounded, and
before many years they will be altogether
thing of the past But Mr.. Plowman'S ctchingS
will insure their permanent remem ORANGE
Among those included in this exhibition ale
Deerfield Bridge, Mass; Ledyard Bridge Han
over N. H. and Mill Bridge, Chester, VT. 1t is
interesting to compare these typical American
bridges with of the famous bridges of
the Old World. such, for instance as the Ponte
Vecchio, of which an etching is included in the
Plowman exhibition
Mr. Plowman has also made a speciality of
etching old vessels, especially famous whaler5,
some of which, stree he etched them have
passed into history, among them the Gay Head,
which was lost in the Arctic, and the Wall-
derer, wrecked in a storm shortly after leav-
ing her home port of New Bedford. The whalCr
"Wanderer," No. 81 in this exhibition, repre-
sents this group of Mr.. Plowman's work.
Finally, mention should be made OF Mr..
Plowman's etch.ngs of college buildings Baker
Memorial Library, at Dartmouth Fayerweather
Griffin and West Halls, at Williams; the chapel
at Hamilton College, New York-all archi-
tecturally interesting and significant because of
their simplicity and fitness examples Of
American college building design More elab-
crate, but likewise of especial interest is his
. etching of the Emma willard School library
interior, at Troy.