Evening star., 1937-12-19
By Leila Mechlin.

season, consisting OF sporting palnJ-
ings, the majority of which are lent
by private owners. Through the me-
dium of these paintings there have
been created within doors the gay
and colorful scenes of the hunt in
England and in America.
To the preview last Sunday after
noon were invited not only high Of
flcials of the government, members of
the cabinet and the Supreme Court,
connoisseurs of art, and those socially
prominent at the National Capital, but
= also representatives of the Green
Spring Valley Hunt. the Elkridge-Har-
ford Hunt, the Middleburg. Upperville,
Warrenton and Fairfax Hunts, all of
whom found much to interest and ad-
mlre in the display, a case of subjec-
tive as well as artistic interest, and
the two running, in sporting ver-
nacular, meek and neck"
The period covered is from 100 to
the present. Of the IS or 27 deceased
artists represented are included the
most famous in this branch of the
history Of art in England, while among
the 20 or more contemporaries are
some outstanding names.
.,g In this exhibition the so-called
modern" fades almost out of sight,
although there are pastel and one or
2 two drawings by Degas, exceptionally
notable, and water colors by Raoul
Duffy and Joseph Golinkin-but even
these give pre-eminence to subject
matter. The artists, having something
to say, express themselves clearly and
intelligibly.
In her delightful series of essays,
published under the title I'm Pursuit
of Laughter" Agnes Repplier inclines
to the belief that merriment belonged
to the Middle Ages and did not sur
vive the dawn of a new day, but Anglo
Saxons have always found delight in
sport, and the color with which they
have bedecked it has lent distinct
note of gayety. If one would escape
the humdrum monotony Of everyday
life, let him visit this exhibition of
sporting pictures. 1t will be found re-
freshing, for it represents sheer en-
joyment, and of sound and healthy
sort.
Over the mantel at the far end of
the large gallery hangs portrait of
Capt. Patrick Miller by Raeburn,
one of the greatest portrait painters
of all time, which is owned and has
been lent by Mr. and Mrs. Dwight
Davis of this city. A young officer in
uniform, with gun in hand. he stands
beside his horse which, dark in color,
almost merges with the foliage of the
background.
OF EQUAL interest, and perhaps
more direct and simple in han
ding, is full-length, life-size por-
trait Of THE Celebrated Sportsman"
j. G. Shaddick, Esq, by Ben Marshall,
lent by Arthur S. Vernay. Inc. He,
too. stands beside his mount; his
huntings dogs are at his feet, over
his right arm is his gun, in his left
hand, upheld, bird that he has just
killed. The inscription on the tablet,
affixed to the base of the frame, de-
clares that his skill acquired, no bird
In flight escaped" This portrait is
an excellent composition, broadly
rendered, in manner more associated
with the later years of the 10Th
century than his own day 1t was
exhibited in the Royal Academy in
1906, following by five years the first
version Of the same theme.
Marshall is also represented in this
exhibition by a self-portrait in hunt
ing togs with gun and dogs, and two
paintings of famous race horses,
Sailor on EPSON Downs with owner,
Colonel Thornton" and Sam on Ep-
som Downs" both of which, In ac-
cordance with the fashion of the time,
show the horses with abnormally small
heads and long bodies, in each in
stance, however, with clean-cut sill
houette.
A third extremely interesting full
length, life-size portrait in this exhi-
bition is of Col. Thornton, Marques
du Pont of Thornville Royal, York
shire, pictured "Roebuck Hunting in
the Forest of Glenmore," and holding
on his arm a 12-barrel rifle, the only
one ever known to exist. This por-
trait was painted by two artists who
worked together, Philip Reinagle and
Sawry Gilpin, both of whom were born
before 1850 and died before 1884.
Strangely enough, the painting of the
head recalls the present-day painting
of our American artist, Glackens, both
In color and style. The subject of
this portrait has come down to fame
as reviving the old art of falconry.
It was he, furthermore, who presented
tN Tof fo 40 frcf cly Nf ~,
hunting dogs to be brought to this
country, the same dogs which Lafay-
cite in turn presented to George
Washington.
The earliest painter represented in
this exhibition is James Seymour,
whose dates are 1702-1752, and who is
represented by a painting of Flying
Childers." Seymour is said to have
been considered lazy fellow by Hor-
ace Walpole, yet he seems to have
been an industrious artist, to have
r drawn well and to have painted ac-
curately. There is obviously q primi-
tive feeling in his work.
SEVEN paintings in this exhibition
are the work of John r. Ferneley,
whose dates were 17s2-1860, the son
of village wheelwright in leicester
shire, who followed his fathers craft
until he was 81, when he went to Lon
-- don and studied in Benjamin Mar
shalrs studio. Then, making a
h. speciality of horses, he went to Ireland
&. and found patrons among the promi-
nent Irish sportsmen of his day. His
George Freer of Enderby" and II. H.
Hungerford, ESQ.," are typical, not only
OF his art, but of sporting life
There are two Herrings represented,
father and son, John Frederick and
Benjamin. The former for four years
drove the famous stage coach known
as the "York and London High Flyer"
but he abandoned this occupation to
paint pictures of racing and coaching
subjects. For fifty years he exhibited
regularly at the Royal Academy, and
among his patrons were those of royal
birth. Not only are his paintings to