Evening star., 1935-04-07

should be-works purchased for in
trinsic merit-and thus regulations
are made.
Two of the paintings acquired are
subject pictures, primarily illustrative.
One of these Is of st. Francis and was
painted by John Ramsey Conner of
Bryn Athyn, Pa, former student of
the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine
Arts. Philadelphia, and medal win
ner in the Pansma-Paciflc Exposition
in San Francisco in 1915 and in the
Sesqui- Exposition in Phila-
delphia in 1926. 1t is eXquisitely
drawn. lovely in color and significant.
The artist fully commands his me-
dium, is an accomplished craftsman,
has imagination and a message. Self
expression is well enough III its way,
especially when spontaneous, but no
expression is worth while unless it is
Understandable, is intelligent and has
clarity. Furthermore, a work of art
which is really fine, as in this in
stance. does not deliver its whole
message at a glance, but holds much
in reserve for those who inger.
The other STORY picture" acquired
is entitled Choir Practice" and shows
a group Of children gathered around
a young woman seated at an upright
piano playing an accompaniment,
leading them in singing. It is said
that this lady is the artist. Lauren
Ford, but be that as it may. the scene
that she has depicted is distinctly ap-
pealing. This is very little picture
and the details are rendered with the
meticulous care which 10 years ago
such famous artists as Meissonier,
Fortuny. Alma -Tadema gave to their
paintings. And yet, strangely enough,
this tiny picture recalls the large,
forceful canvases of Dutch interiors
with figures painted by Carl Melchers,
admired by traditionalists and mod
erniStS alike. Lauren Ford Is q paint
was represented in a previous bien-
NAL by painting, vision Of the In
nocents," and she has published for
children 1.-THE Little Book OF God"
grandmother's story Of the creation
very simply told and illustrated. Her
masters were George Bridgman and
Frank Vincent Du Mond. She is a
member of the American Water Color
Society and of The Mural Painters"
The other works purchased for the
permanent collection are, first and of
utmost Importance, Torso" a nude.
by Richard E. Miller, so beautifully
painted that it would lend distinction
to any exhibition and at the same time
put to shame the coarse, vulgar rendi-
tions Of such subjects, unfortunately
so much the vogue today, when the
tendency seems to be to realize the
worse rather than the best in life.
Richard Miller is one Of our American
painters who profited by the teachings
of the French impressionists without
surrender of his own viewpoint or in
dividuality, and has, hence, himself
proved q leader. His works are never
trivial, never merely Of the moment.
Also the gallery has acquired q
painting by Ross E. Moffett Of group
of fishermen, "Provincetown Wharf"
and a still life, Rubber Plant" by
John E. Thompson, both Of which are
in the more modern manner, but by
no means modernistic. Recurring 70
the fact that these paintings were not
prize winners 1t should not be forgot
ten that the Corcoran Gallery already
owns excellent and representative ex-
amples by Eugene Speicher and F. @.
Frieseke, on whom the first and sec.
ond awards were bestowed.
Two purchases have been made ns