Evening star., 1937-04-24
By Leila MechIiu.
.HE multiplicity of exhibitic

opening at this time would
suggest timely Towering of
art in keeping with the season
OF blossoming trees and shrubs But
the fact is that Nature herself is
formidable rival in this field, when in
fresh Spring dress, and lays the
artists under special obligation as to
verify. With eyes filled with the
brightness of Spring sunshine and the
beauty OF Spring leaf and flower, works
Of art on exhibition must be very
good and more than clever to en-
gage and hold attention and admira-
ton. Measured by even this exacting
standard, however, those who have
made the rounds of local exhibitions
this week have found in them much
to admire and enjoy.
The exhibition of paintings and
sculpture owned in Washington, which
opened in the Phillips Memorial GAL
lery on the 18th, and will continue
until the 30th, Is one in which every
lover OF art must find untold delight.
1t contains not only the works of
great masters, but choice examples.
Furthermore, the collection as a whole
covers long period and comprises
works Of extremely varied character.
II nothing else, 1t should teach the
catholicity of art and the absurdity
of insistence upon any fixed way of
expression. There are too evidently
many ways, if but one end, that of
truth and sincerity. And in these
works beauty is ever present, intrinsic
not merely in subject, but rather in
presentation. In almost every in
stance these pictures are beautifully
painted. though very differently.
What could be more exquisite than
the Rest During Flight Into Egypt
by Gerard David, from the Mellon
collection, q small panel painted
over 400 years ago, but with colors
undimmed and workmanship un-
rivaled. The Madonna with the
Christ Child in her lap is in blue
dress and cloak of heavenly hue, with
just touch of red at neck and hem
of garment. There is a lovely land
scape setting and the Babys interest
ts engaged by bunch of white grapes
held in His little hand. But like
wise how enchanting is the little
painting, oil on wood, by Fragonard,
of The Visitation of the Virgin"
lent by the Hon. Irwin Laughlin, much
more freely rendered, but with equally
evident reverence and JOY. This rep
resents the meeting, recorded in the
scriptures, between Mary and Eliza
beth; and band of little cherubs
carrying the latter's chant of praise
to Heaven. 1t is all done with light
touch but with insistent simplicity
and charm.
TURNING to the portraits-what
- revelation one finds here in such
outstanding examples as, to name
only few, the Portrait of Woman
Holding Book" by the Maitre de
Flemalle fifteenth century Flemish
artist-from the Dumbarton Oaks
Bliss collection, rendered with such
magnificent exactitude, breadth and
simplicity; the two little Ambrose
BensonS Of a man Of the early six
teenth century and his wife-lent by
Mr.. Adolph Caspar Miller-rendered
with much the same deliberate cor
rectness, but also vital. In striking
contrast are the Head of Christ"
by an unknown artist of the Venetian
school, owned by Mrs. Marshall Lang
horne, and the portrait of the Mar
1uise D'Andelot by Rembrandt, lent
by Mr.. and Mrs. F. L. Belin, both of
which glow with light and are rich
and toneful to a remarkable degree.
The one has more than suggestion of
Titan. while the other witnesses to
the power of the greatest artistic
genius, perhaps, of all time.
In the Rembrandt portrait the
hands are rendered, with especial
significance, as characterful, If not
more so than the face. Then, follow
Ing the changes that time brought, are
boldly painted portrait of a man
in uniform by Vincente Lopez, lent
by Mrs. Keith Merrill, and portraits
of the eighteenth century British
school by Reynolds and by Raeburn--
one owned by Ambassador Houghton
and the other by Mrs. Merrill-each
fully characteristic, but painted, per-
haps, q little more than the earlier
works to crafty vanity-not that Of
the individual, but the period. And
with these great works one finds
head Of little child dressed In
blue, painted by none other than G.
P. A. Healy, an American artist,
whose active years were those of the
mid-nineteenth century, never great,
but, as in this instance, at times very
good. The lender of this interesting
canvas is Mrs. Frank Bennett. One
cannot but conjecture how astounded
the painter himself would have been
to find himself in such distinguished
company.
Another work by an early American,
calculated to arouse pride, is that Of
Fruit in Pressed Glass Bowl" by
Ruben Peale, lent by Mrs. McCook
Knox, realistic presentation, but
very well rendered and extremely
colorful-a thoroughly painterlike per-
formance, direct but sophisticated,
with an elegance all its own.
With extreme hospitality and mod
esty, paintings belonging to the Phil
lips Memorial Gallery have not been
included in this special showing, and
both the large gallery on the second