Evening star., 1933-03-05

by Thomas CainsbOrOugh. In the
Sears, Roebuck Galleries.
Francisco Jose de Goya was born In
Spain in 1746. the child of peasants.
He grew up in a simple cottage, with
practically no knowledge OF the art
of the past. From monk he received
his first lessons It is said that almost
Immediately upon turning to art he dis
played great talent, but the record OF
his early years Is q record OF untoward
happenings-street fights, brawls, flights
from officers of the church and OF the
law, first to Madrid, then to Italy. In
Rome he came in contact with Louis
David, who undoubtedly exerted a
strong influence upon him. In 1774 he
returned to Spain, married and set
tied down. But he was always more
or less of rebel.
For churches in Spain he painted
many pictures; Of the grandees OF
Spain he did many portraits, but it was
in this series of etchings illustrating
the frailtieS Of human nature, the IN
cidents of human life, making sport OF
his contemporaries those whom he
should have held in "reverent esteem
most freely. And how bold he was:
representing the favorite Of Queen
Maria Luisa, Manuel Godoy, as an ass
! though such he may have been. Dill
| ficult may some today find 1t to realize
that these amusing and amazing Carl
catures belonged to a time so far dis.
tant and not to our present political
era.
Goya was not only great etcher. but
| he was q great aQuatintiSt, one OF the
greatest that the world has known,
and his use Of this medium Is espe-.
cially well illustrated in this series OF
etchings. There is probably no repro
ductive method more technically dill
ficult than aquatint, yet Goya handled
it apparently with an ease and force
that few have equaled.
william M. WINS, jr., curator OF
prints Of the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art. New York, writing Of Goya, has
said: mo other artist in black and
white has ever exhibited such tre-
mendous vitality as he. No other maker
of prints has put into them the same
exuberant, fullblooded delight IN life,
and, strangely, with this often almost
delirious overflow Of animal spirits,
there is the most remarkable sensitive
ness to the significance Of gesture. Who
has ever made motion so moving? His
very line is kinetic. He does not relate
motion. he exhibits it. For sensitive
ness to the beauty of the human body,
the beauty of the hideous, Goya stands
alone. No one has so pictured fear"
On the purely technical side MI:
WINS remarks on his broad maSslng OF
sharply contrasted light and shade, MS
ability to tell tale with the simplest
means, and reminds us that Goya Is
the only one who has ava1led hlmsen
of all the possibilities OF aquatint, VINO
vIyifh a1ldQcftV
and resolution and success, IN 1t ex.
pressing powerful and fundamental
thinps. "One of the greatest artists the
world has seen, and his greatest work
that in black and white"
The Goya etchings now on view (and
for sale at an amazingly small price, AZ
Gordon Dunthorne's are from the Span
ish National Calcographie, printed from
the original plates but at mucn !ater
date than the first edition. Many,
however. are excellent impressions,
few comparing with the best printed
under the artists own supervision. Tnus
is brought home to us knowledge OF
what our own National Chalcograpne,
endowed by the late Joseph Penneu,
may eventually become.
| he cXlllUlIlO11 Va PnAAeAAA6S ~ SH.S
Argentine Gaucho country by de
Ouiros in the National Gallery OF
Art will continue only one week longer,
and those who have not seen 1t, or have
not seen it more than once, should avail
themselves of the further opportunity.
Sienor de Quiros Is one Of the great
painters, not merely Of South America,
but of our time, and this series of paint
ines now on view here in our National
Gallery may well be regarded as epoch
marking.
THE exhibition of Indian Tribal Arts
| continues at the Corcoran Gallery
of Art through March Z, In order
that visitors to the Capital at this time
may have opportunity to view this un-
precedented collection.
From the 9th to the 18th that portion
Of the exhibition which was offered tor
sale will be shown under the charge OF
a special representative, in 'The Three
Musketeers Shop" 1929 Connecticut
avenue.
The mural paintings, which are a
special feature of this exhibition, will
at the same time be placed on the walls
Of the corridors Of the third floor OF
the Interior Department.
Mrs. John Sloan. wife Of the well
known painter and president Of the Ex-
position of Indian Tribal Arts, will re-
turn to Washington for the closing. It
Is to her untiring interest that much
Of the success of this exposition Is due.
Despite the fact that the collection has
been for more than year on the road,
it will continue on tour throughout 1888.
AN illustrated lecture on miniature
~ painting will be given in Barker
Hall, Y. w. G. A. Build3qg, under
the auspices Of the Washington So
ciety Of the Eins Arts, BY Eulabee Dix
i