Evening star., 1937-05-22

"ToWdrd Petersburg
the past, and life lived with grace
and dignity.
There is interesting coincidence in
the fact that in this same exhibition
! second canvas is OF Arlington. This
is a still life-a great bunch of mag
nollas-by Mathilde M. Leisenring-
which flowers grew on the historic
Arlington estate. This, too, may be
recalled as shown in the Corcoran
Biennial Exhibition and especially
we'll hung. It is broadly and strongly
painted with that feeling for sheer
beauty and knowledge of art which
distinguishes all Of Mrs Leisenring's
canvases.
A second contribution by this same
artist to the current showing is
portrait of lady in green gown,
effectively hung over the front mantel.
Clara R. Saunders Is represented
in this exhibition by life-size por-
trait study in water color, entitled
"Mademoiselle," very skillfully rem
dered, and an oil, Spring landscape
In the composition OF which a blos-
soming fruit tree in the foreground
Is chief factor. There is something
very lovely about this little oil paint
ing, an emotional quality held in
proper restraint but recorded with
significant lightness of touch
Margaret Zimmele is at her best
in small painting OF Great Pine
Tree" well drawn and pleasing in
pattern. Marguerite Mum shows a
simplified but rather dramatic view
of the country near La Granja,
Spain,'' and Edith Hoyt an excellent
rendition Of The Edge of Glacier"
in its mountain fastness. Among
other outstanding landscapes are
Country Road in Spring." subtlely
rendered by Minor S. Jameson, and a
characteristic Midsummer picture,
Towards Petersburg, Va" by Garnet
Jex.
An out-of-town member, Heldegard
Hamilton. is well represented by
toneful painting of Street in Al
giers" showing a group of typical
Algerian houses on a hillside.
Among painters of still life, both
in water colors and oils, who are we'll
represented are Elizabeth E. Graves,
Frances Hungerford Combs, Mary
Lukens, Jessie E. Baker and Isabella
B. Walker. All these and others are
commendable, but considering how
long this exhibition continues and how
few Summer shows there are for
which works need be reserved. 1t is
remarkable that the representation,
open to all club members, is not more
comprehensive.
Unusual Exhibition of Student
Work by Amateurs and
Professionals at Studio House.
THE fourth annual exhibition OF
= work by the students at Studio
House opened on May Is, and will
continue through the 28th. 1t in
cludes paintings and drawings by
q professional group making advanced
studies in the studios of the Phillips
Memorial Gallery and Studio House,
under the direction of c. Law Watkins.
But also are shown works by adults in
q weekly class for amateurs-works
done for the fun of the doing, without
expectation of reaching a professional
level. Undoubtedly careful selection
has been made, for the average of
merit in the works set forth Is prac-
tically on a level Also each work is
shown with dignity, and in a manner
calculated to increase impressiveness.
This is the way in which all art should
be shown, for II we do not prize it
ourselves how shall we expect others
to do so? But whether the merit
imputed is actual or not Is question
which the visitor is left to decide.
Certainly the paintings in the front
gallery make collectively q pleasing
showing and one which is thought
provocative. BY no means Is this
student work as we are accustomed
to think Of it. These are not exercises
10 increase facility, they are full
fledged flights. In some instances the
wings on which the painter would
mount may not have been strong
enough to carry him to his goal-but
one cannot withhold admiration for
the sporting chance" he took in cour-
age and good faith. Whether or not
such flights will eventually lead to
superlative achievement depends large
ly upon the power OF capacity to equal
ambition. But it should not be for
gotten that some of the works shown
In this exhibition are by painters who
have gained admission to professional
groups-for instance, Elizabeth Rob-
erts and Bernice Cross, both of whom
here show still life admirably painted.
They are students" but rs only every
painter is to his lifes end. In the
purely amateur group Isabel Allen and
Kelsey Saint have both made very
credttable contribution. There are
three well, II somewhat stifny, painted
figures, about one-quarter life size, by
Margaret Hall, which should be COM
mended, and . portrait study in some
what similar style and Of sincerity by
Eunice Barzyski. Engagingly naive
and quite out of the ordinary is .
small painting Of "Quartette," four
musicians with their instruments,
seen against a warm, luminous back
ground, by Mary Winslow, q most
ambitious subject handled with very
surprising skill.
The section Of the exhibition set