Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22

"BEN F. CoMINS Of this city has been
working experimentally for some years
FH in freSco and has lately produced in
this medium several remarkable
panels, two of which were placed on
exhibition yesterday afternoon in his studio,
1911 Connecticut avenue, where they may be
seen today and through March rs, from 2:30 to
$50 pm An who are interested win be well
come This is the only time this season that
Mr. Comins' studio will be open to the public
The new panels, which, by the way, are TO be
shown in the annual exhibition Of the Arch-
tectural League of New York shortly, represent
labor and Industrial achievement. The largest
panel Is 10 feet high by feet wide and Is an
apotheosis Of the "Age of Steel" 1t shows
great steel structure such as is reared today as
the skeleton Of a skyscraper A nude man OF
gigantic proportions stands astride two OF the
beams holding aloft great croSs-beam on his
shoulders. Much smaller In dimension are
figures Of i've other steel workers engaged in
rearing the fabric 1t is a powerful and inn
pressive presentation representative OF strength
power and achievement of builders today. This
large work Is done on three horizontal panels,
neatly joined, of wood on the surface Of which
plaster has been thin1y laid On this plaster
the painting has been produced with fresco
coloFs while the entire surface was wet II
error Is made it cannot possibly be corrected
except by ehise1ing out the plaster, but colors
30 mixed and laid are permanent, imperdsh-
able. The old masters produced their great
well one must be both quick and sure, strong
craftsman with q clear vision.
There has been in recent years considerable
effort to recapture the secrets of freSco paint
ing and re-establish it. In the American School
at Fontainebleau course in freSco painting
has been conducted successfully for number
of seasons. Mr.. CominS, therefore, seems to be
taking the lead in a new movement, discover
ing new uses for an old practice, and Incl
dentally individualistic expression.
In quite different manner Mr.. Comins has
lately executed charming figure Of Pomona"
as fresco on the dining room wall Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Frederic Atherton's new home on Massa-
chusetts avenue, now nearing completion. This
figure, about life size, Is painted in delicate
tones Of pink and blue and gray on the drab
plaster wall between two windows. Garlands
Of fruit and flowers, F1orentine in style, high In
relief, cross this wall above the long windows
and complete the composition. There Is
something very faun-like in Mr.. Comins' "Po-
mona'-very light and fanciful, suggesting the
wood sprite, q coy vanishing figure. Between
this and the age Of Steel" there Is great con-
tTast, yet both are In the same difficult medium.
visitors to Mr.. CominS studio win also have
the privilege Of seeing a lately completed por-
trait Of Justice Holmes, an excellent likeness
and q distinguished work; an oil painting, life
sized, as usual showing the justice in judicial
robes, and as seated In court with alert and
keen expression, very dignihed and thoughtful
1T the Arts Club. 2OI7 street. there win
open today and continue for fortnight
an exhibition Of paintings by Ramon de Zubi-
aurre, one of the foremost painters Of Spain,
whose works have been seen here at the inter-
national exhibitions held by the Carnegie In
stitute In some Of our leading American mu-
seums, IN the international expositions at
Venice and in an exhibition of Spanish art
held some years ago In the Jeu de Paume under
the auspices Of the luxembourg. Both he and
his brother, Valentin, deaf mutes Their
father was o musician who made his debut as a
singer In the Cathedral Of Bilbao when only 8
years OF age. At the age Of Is he was organist
in parish church. After holding many posi-
tons he was finally appointed director OF the
Royal Chapel and professor at the ConServa-
tory Of Madrid. Through what Leonce Benedite,
when director Of the Luxembourg, called ~the
cruel irony Of fate" neither Of De Zubiaurres
sons ever heard his music, but they inherited