Evening star., 1936-02-29

his professional colleagues are "The
Gothic Spirit" and lie Penseur de
Notre Dame"-gargoyles rendered with
not only humor and understanding,
but a very special lightness Of touch
which is almost inimitable. One could
enumerate indefinitely. Some of the
plates to be included in this coming
exhibition are tiny, not exceeding 2
by inches in dimensions. None is
very large. They a. : invariably etched
in the artists studio from pencil
drawings made on the spot with in-
finite care and Professionalism in
themselves have almost the beauty
of the finished work AS some one
who knows his work has said, his
prints are not "slavish limitations of
the actual physical aspects of existing
structure, but rather spiritual recon-
struetions embodying the faith, the
aspirations and thoughts of bygone
age"
Dorothy Noyes Arms. the etcher's
wife, has told in her charming books,
Churches Of France" and Hill Towns
and Cities of f'orthern Italy" (illus-
trated by her husbands etchings) +.
something of the dinlculty of making
these drawings, surrounded by inquisi-
tive onloOkers or under adverse
weather conditions-as we'll as Some-
thing of the JOY of discovery and tri-
umphant achievement. They motored
from place to place as the spirit moved
them, tarrying or moving on as cir
cumstance induced. gathering as they
went, rich material for future inter-
probation, together with memories
like loose bunch of flowers culled
at random, each for some quality of
color or fragrance, all its own" These
memories refer in many instances to
the making of the very etchings which
will be on view in the Corcoran GAL
lery of Art next week and when once
communicated give them added sig
nificance.
Like her husbands etchings, Mrs.
Arms word pictures are colorful and
full of atmosphere-she is an OBJ
servant, well seasoned traveller
graceful and very gifted writer.
In 1880 John Taylor Arms was
made an associate of the National
Academy of Design and three years
later an academician. In 1888 he
was made by France a chevalier of
the Legion of Honor and in 1884 the
Royal Society of Painter -Etchers and
Engravers Of England elected him to
associate membership. He is repre-
sented not only in the leading print
collections in this country, but also
in the Albert and Victorian Museum
in London, the Bibliotheque Nationale
in Paris and other outstanding foreign
collections. He is president of the So
ciety Of American Etchers and gives
much time to the advancement of the
graphic arts and their appreciation.
Gordon Grants Ship Pictures.
THE exhibition of ship pictures by
Gordon Grant, which will open In
the Corcoran Gallery of Art next Sat-
urday, under the auspices of the
Washington Society Of the Fine Arts,
increases in interest and Importance
as the date Of the showing approaches.
In addition to the 80 paintings pre-
viously promised, one of which, by the
way, is the portrait" of the U. S.
frigate "Constitution"-"Old Iron
sides"-lent by the president, two ad-
ditional canvases will be lent by local
owners. These will be 1.-THE China
Sea-" lent by Thomas w. McKnew,
and Sovereign of the Seas" owned
and lent by Melville Grosvenor.
This exhibition will include ships Of
many kinds not as at anchor In safe
harbors, but as sailing the high seas.
One canvas will set forth the defeat of
the Java, q British ship, by the Con-
stitution, In 1912, an event of great
historical interest. Others will recall
the days Of the barques, the clipper
ships and the windjammers.
There viii be pictures Of whalers
and Of other fishing craft-in fact the
whole colorful history Of the days Of
sailing ships viii be wildly recalled.
A sailing ship Is in herself q work Of
art, beautiful in line, fine In propor-
| ton, graceful and rhythmical IN mo-
| ton. To see such under full sail is q
| sight now growing very rare, but at
| all times memorable. Gordon Grant
is not only painter and etcher Of
distinction, but an authority on the
history and development Of sailing