Evening star., 1935-04-14

These newest paintings of Edward
Bruce's are primitive in type which Is
alien to all that the painter himself Is.
Primitive art is fine and cherished be-
cause it Is sincere and simple. 1t can
not be produced to order. When Ed
ward Bruce exhibited in the Rein
hardt Galleries in 1884 he seemed TO
bring into the world of contemporary
art new note, and one very welcome,
very valuable: he seemed to have a
genuine contribution to make through
his painting. Has it been submerged
in larger interest, and If so merely
delayed, or lost? II the last then the
world is thereby the poorer.
TWO more paintings in the Corcoran
Gallery of Arts biennial exhibi-
tion bear the magic sign Sold" These
are Paddock No. l" by Randall Davey.
and street Corner, Charleston, by
Stephen Etnier. The former was ac-
quired by the Corcoran Gallery of Art
for its permanent collection, the latter
by Duncan Phillips Mr. Davey has
two paintings of horses in this exhi-
bition. one of a Rearing Horse" and
the other, the purchased work, Of
horse in paddock with attendant
surroundings. Both are we'll painted,
good in color, toneful and subjectively
interesting, especially to horse lovers.
Paintings OF this sort are a new de-
parture for Mr.. Davey, who, heretofore.
has made a speciality of portraits and
| figures. He studied with the late Rob-
ert Henri. and many felt that the
| latter'S cloak had fallen upon his
shoulders. The Corcoran Gallery al
ready owns one Of his portrait studies,
painted in somewhat the Henri style
For some years Mr.. Davey has lived
in Santa Fe, and his work has been
undergoing change. but apparently,
from his exhibits here now, there has
been growth as well. He is repre-
sented in the permanent collections
of the Chicago Art Institute. Cleve-
land Museum Of Art. Detroit Institute
of Arts and in other public and private
collections.
Stephen Morgan Etnier was born
! in York. Pa. but now halls from South
/ HarpsWell, Me. A delightful account
/ of voyage he made on sailing sloop
down the coast to Charleston, writ
/ ten by his wife. who was very impor-
! tant member of his exceedingly small
| crew, was published some months ago
/ in the Atlantic Monthly. 1t was prob
| ably on this adventurous holiday that
! the picture in this exhibition, pur-
chased by Mr.. Phillips, was painted.
/ Mr.. Etnier has had as masters Rock
/ well Kent and John Carroll, but nel-
/ ther has apparently Influenced his
work. He is a good painter, but he
/ seems to have been more concerned
with reality than in search of beauty.
The corner of Charleston that he has
chosen to picture might be found in
the homelieSt section of any small city.
Inherently, it has nothing to COM
mend it. and why it commended it
self to him for transcription is hard
to understand, especially when so
much of rare quality and beauty was
so close at hand But, after all, that
/ is the artists affair.
AN EXHIBITION of Portrait Heads
in Sculpture of officials Of the
Present Administration. by Reuben
Nakian, opened in the Corcorar Gal
lery of Art yesterday afternoon with
a private view and will continue
through Sunday afternoon, April 26
Mr.. Nakian has been in Washington
some time doing these portraits OF the
so-called New Dealers. He is a New
Yorker, a pupil Of Paul Manship. his
studio is on Washington Square and
he is sponsored by the Downtown Gal
lery. In 1881 he received a Guggen-
helm fellowship. He is represented
by head of Pop Hart" in the Mu-
scum of Modern Art. by Performing
Seal" Lap Dog" and Girl in the
Whitney Museum. and the Newark
Museum has his Sea Lion" bronze.
He belongs essentially to the modern
school.
OVER 100 paintings and a few
~ works in sculpture were. according
to report. sent III for the Independent
Art Exhibition, which will open in
nine department stores a week from
tomorrow. These were judged BY
committee of nine. of which Duncan
Phillips was chairman. The works
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