Evening star., 1933-03-05
PAINTING DISPLAYS
STANDARDS HIGH.
1925 Works Are Exhibited by
Washington Water Color
Club.
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

The Washington Water Color Clubs
annual exhibition which just opened
In the Corcoran Gallery of Art is de-
Ughtful and refreshing. Not only does
it uphold a high standard of excellence
through works well rendered. but makes
immediate appeal through the colorfui
quality and inherent charm OF the ex-
hibits. A better exhibition OF water
colorS has not been seen in this city
for some time.
Although only one gallery has been
allotted to this exhibition it comprises
more than 125 paintings.
Obviously this is by first intent a
local show but it is not so restricted.
In fact many of the works shown have
come from outside and from a distance
some from California, others from
Oklahoma, one from Colorado, one
from Kansas. one from Georgia, quite
a number from Ohio, Connecticut, New
York and Pennsylvania as well as near
by Virginia and Maryland. In subject
matter also there is variety-the gamut
running from elephants to iris and IN
Guiding typical scenes in many parts
of the United States, Europe and
Mexico Figures are in the minority;
of portraits there are only a few;
flowers and still life are fairly album
dant and exceedingly effective; there
are some fine marines, one or two good
interiors. houses, churches, city pictures.
all with an interest peculiarly their
own.
Elephants Well Presented.
The elephants to which reference has
been made were painted by Gertrude
G. Brown of this city and are admir-
ably presented as in their native habi-
tat with excellent suggestion of bulk.
weight and motion. Sybilla Mittell
Webber, who is holding a one-man ex-
hibition of etchings at the Smithsonian
at the present time, shows here a well
painted head of a dog-a Great Dane
and under the title "Plumage" Emily
Nourse Steuart of this city displays an
engaging painting of a pair Of red and
green parrots.
The place of honor, and well merited,
has been given to painting OF pink
dogwood by Elizabeth Muhlhofer, a
very lovely interpretative work. Lila
M. Cabaniss of Savannah, Ga. has
sent charming painting of white
Phlox," which, like Miss Muhlhofers
painting of dog wood, renders the spirit
as well as the form of the flower and
suggests its ephemeral quality. Iona
Miller Keplinger shows very beauti-
full composition of bright-colored
Einnias. Elizabeth Sawtelle contributes
q bunch of Autumn flowers on table
as part of pleasing still-life group.
Frances Hungerford Combs shows
still-life composition, ''The Fruit Bowl"
handsome in color and well rendered.
Mary P. Godding is well represented by
q painting of cyclamen, and Edith
Mccartney by an elaborate composition
in which a crystal ball is the chief
unit. Among the flower paintings, at
tention should be called to painting
by Lesley Jackson of an old-fashioned
garden all abloom and very pleasing.
Seward Hume Rathbun contributes to
this exhibition two unusual paintings
of typical Western scenes, one entitled
Guarded Land and the other Dawn
Watch" the latter picture Of sunrise
across a patch of desert cactus "a
subtle but at the same time most sue
cessful transcription. Eliot O'Hara,
who. incidentally, is now on his way
back from South America, is repre-
sented by painting entitled Bend in
the River" simple composition,
strongly and effectively rendered. Peter
Wagner is at his best in sunset pic
ture. Evening From Battery Hill, Me, I"
and in a picture Of sawtoothed rocks
in the Bay of F1mdy.
Charm in Bills Work.
Among those who handle water color
In a broad virile style is Margarete
Lent, well represented in this exhibit
ton by Cement Mill" and THE Hill
side" both notably fine. There is great
charm in Carroll Bills paintings,
walls of Avila" and "Cuernavaca,
Mexico" picturesque foreign scenes
rendered with veracity and artistic
feeling. Much may be said in praise
of Mary K. Porter's little painting,
travellers Palm,' because of its sin
cerity and nice effect of movement.
Clara Saunders shows not only large
impressive flower study, but a very un-
usual portrait in charcoal with color
applied in little more than a tint, yet
very characteristic. Benson Moore
makes an especially valuable contribu-
ton in water color, entitled Autumn
In the Blue Ridge" in which long cloud
shadows are seen on hillsides through a
screen of slender trees. From Constance
Cochrane of Philadelphia have come
two colorful, rich paintings, one of
"Azaleas. Arnold Arboretum, the other
of a Flower Shop" Miss Cochrane
invariably uses a full brush and color
in strong. full tones.
There is in this exhibition an excel