Evening star., 1935-01-13
COMMENT ON CURRENT EXHIBITIONS.

cOran Gallery OF Art, makes
q pleasing appearance. 1t is espe-
cially we'll hung. The majority of the
Ia paintings and the II works in
sculpture, of which this exhibition Is
comprised. come from local studios.
but not all. There Is Sprinkling Of
works by out-of-town artists which
lend variety, If in most instances
they do not raise the standard. For
!years these annual exhibitions Of the
Society Of Washington Artists have
been open to all whose works could
pass their jury, and it should not be
forgotten that before the Corcoran
Gallery inaugurated its great "bien-
mails" the works of the leading artists
Of America were included in these
local shows.
The Society of Washington Artists
has always been q rather conservative
body, but it has consistently held its
door open to those of the so-called
left wing" the inovators. There is
perhaps nothing very extreme in the
present showing, but contemporary
trends and currents are well illus
trated.
There are figures, landscapes,
marines, still life and genre, painted
In many places, some quite remote,
and in q great variety of styles and
manners, but the outstanding thing
about this exhibition is, that with
all its diversity, there is evidence,
almost without exception, of great
frankness and sincerity in expression
This being the case. minor defects
sink into insignificance.
OF all the pictures in this exhibi-
tion the one which will in all prob
ability attract most attention and re-
ceive the largest measure of public
appreciation Is a double portrait study
by Hans Schlereth. 1t is of an elderly
couple seated side by side with heads
slightly bowed as a prayer of thanks
giving Is uttered. The title of this
picture is 20. Lord. We Thank Thee
for Thy Unnumbered Blessings. )"
Some who would have all sentiment
eschewed may make objection on this
score. but were this painting unlabeled
it would tell its story and be out
standing.
OF very considerable interest are
two comparatively small portraits Of
two members Of the staff of the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Herndon
Phillips and Robert Parsons. by two
members Of the teaching force Of
the Corcoran School of Art. The
portrait Of Mr.. Phillips Is by Eugen
Weisz; that of Mr.. Parsons by Burtis
E. Baker. Both are excellent like
nesses. both are in cool color and very
simply treated. neither attempts, ap-
parently, subtle Interpretation of per-
sonality.
Likewise very straightforward and
direct Is study Of young girl
painted out Of doors by Mary Lewis
Hall OF this city, one of the most tai
ented and promising of the younger
group. This painting does her much
credit and lends to the exhibition a
note OF distinction, for it has not only
freshness and vigor, but certain very
agreeable reticence and dignity.
Margaret Moffat Yards portrait of
DR.. Henry Ward, the eminent zoologist.
cannot fail to find favor among the
friends OF the sitter, because of its
excellence as likeness. For this rea-
son, as we'll as its capable rendering.
II seems rather too bad that it was
not on a larger canvas. which would
have cvoided the present somewhat
cramped appearance in the frame.
From Richard S. Meryman, who has
just returned to the city after an abb
Sence OF some weeks engaged in filling
| portrait commissions, has come a very
engaging protrait of young woman
seen in profile, to which the Jury of
awards gave honorable mention. In
brown hat and fur, seen against a
| dark background, this portrait has the
| tonal quality, to say nothing of the
texture, which unfortunately many of
the modern paintings lack.
Good painting quality, atmosphere
light and vivacity are to be found in
Frances Wickersham's portrait of a
little Boy in Blue" The head in
Paul Burns boy With Book" is ex-
tremely well painted and much may
be said in praise of Nelson Davis por-
trait of Mrs. Davis"
At the far end Of the gallery in
which this exhibition is set forth hang
the paintings Of memorable charm.
The place Of honor on this wall has
been given to painting by Roy Clark
Of corn shocks in a field Drowned by
Autumn frosts, but illuminated by
bright sunshine. The title is Morn
ing" and the illusion of light and air
is excellent. To the right and left at
a short distance hangs a painting by
Benson B. Moore, catalogued as Win
ter on the Potomac" which, likewise,
attains its effect through unusual
lighting and is extremely luminous as
we'll as decorative in pattern, and
painting by Lila Tuckerman Of Cali
fornia of Marshes" a high-keyed
study in blue of low landscape, pic
turesquely crossed by a winding salt
creek-an excellent composition very
well rendered.
On this same wall Is to be seen
landscape by Marguerite Mum,
painted last Summer near Saltsville,
Va, in which a range of lofty noun
tains is sympathetically and under
standingly Interpreted. Directly op-
posite, on the near wall as one enters.
may be seen q landscape painted in
the same region in manner entirely
her own by Lucia Hollerith, secretary
of the society. It is entitled Sum-
mer Haze" and represents a mountain
landscape wrapped in veil of fog,
with distant objects ghostly in aspect
and those nearby acquiring. in con-
trast, added distinctness. Mary G. ]
Riley's strong and decorative study OF
the Mediterranean coast as seen
through the twisted trunk and limbs
of a nearby olive tree, hangs at the
other end Of this same wall and can
not fail to call forth favorable COM
ment. Beulah Weaver's prize-winning
Mountain Road" has the virtues OF
strength and simplicity.
Enforcement of an old rule, for some
time q dead letter, permitting no work
to this show previously exhibited in
Washington has proved, in some in
stances, restrictive. For this reason,
undoubtedly, the president of the So
ciety, Minor 8. Jameson, is represented
by single landscape. a Country
Road" which is smaller in dimensions
and far less important than works he
has shown previously this season at