Evening star., 1935-05-12

chest This picture is distinctly in the
manner of the school Of Meissonier,
which had great vogue in the l880s
when. presumably, Mr.. watrous was
studying in Paris. but has gradually
lost in prestige ever since. In 1887
the fabulous sum of 5000 is said
to have been paid for Meissonier's
painting entitled 1907" one of
Napoleonic series of four, which was
given to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in New York, where it may now
be seen. After the turn of the century
the value of MeiSsonier's paintings
went down to about $1,000 and since
the war they have been obtainable for
as little as 5000. Perhaps some day
appreciation of their ConSummate
craftsmanship will lead to restoration
in market value. It must be remem-
bered in this connection that at the
time that Meissonier was producing his
masterpieces and that Mr.. Watrous
painted Records" which, by the way,
was widely acclaimed and known.
through exhibition and by having been
engraved on wood by Timothy Cole
lOI OIlC tIlC lCddlIls SNOA
telling pictures were in great favor;
Alma was painting his pic
lures of life in ancient Greece and
Rome, Knaus such pictures of German
peasant life as The Forester at Home"
owned by the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
and Fortuny was doing his exquisite
water colors of Spanish grandees and
ladies. All of these men were primarily
illustrators, but they were master
craftsmen and very brilliant techni"
clans. The trouble with this school
was that in many instances the stories
that they told we're trivial and did not
bear repeating. Therefore, when the
public had learned them by heart they
lost their interest. They had nothing
more to say.
AS representing this particular period
this painting by Mr. Watrous has
definite place in a public collection,
but it is interesting to know that the
painter has moved forward with the
times and stands today among those
who are recognized leaders. An eX-
cellent example of his current work
was included in the Corcoran Gallery's
Biennial Exhibition still life rep
resenting a wooden, painted statue OF
the Virgin, Marie de Bourgogne,"
work of the Gothic period and very
beautiful. This was painted by Mr..
Watrous with all the precision that
one sees in Records" but with much
greater breadth. The medium itself
is far less obvious and back of the
work is a spirit which lifts 1t above
the merely initiative into the realm OF
interpretation Mr.. Watrous has in
recent years painted number OF such
pictures and invariably they have
won the highest plaudits from both
his confreres and the public. For a
painting entitled Celebration Of the
Mass" shown in the Pennsylvania
Academy's recent 130th annual exhibi-
ton. he was awarded the Walter Lip
pincott prize. The National Academy
of Design has given him their Clark,
Altman and Carnegie prizes and a
few years ago elected him to their
presidency, from which he but lately
retired. The National Institute of
Arts and Letters has just elected him
a member. The Corcoran Gallery of
Art is fortunate In owning not only
the painting Records" but also one by
Mr.. Watrous of his mother shown in
biennial exhibition Of or 10 years
ago.
1T is not generally known but
should be a matter of great salts |
faction that Emil Carlsens painting. |
20 Ye Of Little Faith" Christ walk
ing on the water, has been given by !
the artists widow and son to our |
Washington Cathedral. Carlson was
o very gifted and genuine artist and !
whatever he did he put the best of |
himself into 1t. When asked once !
by o fellow artist why he took such