Evening star., 1937-12-26

progress in Washington
wv the cup Of the art lover
Is more than full. Luckily
several Of these exhibitions are con-
tinuing over the holidays, 10 that al
most every one desiring to do 30 may
see them. In fact those especially
interested may 60 again and again.
The loan exhibition Of portraits
commemorating the l50th anniversary
Of the framing of the Constitution
will be on view in the Corcoran Gal
lery Of Art until February /. So
important Is this exhibition that it
has attracted to Washington the di-
rectors of some Of the leading art
museums Of the country, as well IS
historians and connoisseurs Of early
American art.
OF much interest in connection
with this exhibition are some of the
miniatures which may have escaped
attention on first seeing. Among these
are several by Edward G. Malbone
and his colleague, Charles Fraser,
both of whom were masters Of the
exquisite art of miniature painting,
an art which they practiced quite at
variance with that of European paint
ers of the period, and with frank
ness and breadth surprising when the
flneness of the work is taken into
consideration.
There is q self-portrait in oils Of
Malbone, owned by the Corcoran Gal
lery Of Art and hanging in the gal
lery OF early American portraits 1t
Is q charming painting and shows
the painter to have been q man of
fine appearance and noble bearing.
Both Malbone and Fraser were
ChArlestonians, but Malbone died
when only 80 years Of age In the home
Of Q relative in Savannah and is
buried in the old graveyard in that
city, his grave marked with q suitable
inscription. Within the last few
months this house, having fallen into
disrepair, was pulled down, but the
beautiful plaster work and architec-
tural details In the entrance and stair
hall were transferred to the annex
Of the Telfair Academy of Arts and
Sciences. where they will have perma-
nent preservation, and where one
room is set aside as q Malbone me-
mortal.
It was not unusual for the early
American portrait painters to do min
iatures, as well as life-size portraits in
oil. Copley, Peale and others are rep
resented by these little works, as well
Is by large canvases.
Sporting Pictures Attract
Much Attention.
THE exhibition Of sporting paint
ings In the Museum of Modern
Art. Gallery Of Washington, continu-
ing to January 10, seems to fit in pc
culiarly we'll with the exhibition Of
historic portraits at the Corcoran GAL
lery. Of Art Despite our celebration Of
Independence, Revolutionary War and
determination upon freedom and self
government, there were very dose ties
binding the Americans of those days
with their English cousins overseas,
and those from whom they had been
descended. 1t was from England we
brought our enthusiasm for sports
and. according to English rules, We
set them up and carried them on. To
be sure, there is more fox hunting and
horse racing here represented than the
sport that Izaak Walton carried on
with such enthusiasm. or, indeed, that
Of shooting partridges. ducks and
other wild birds and fowls. But it Is
sport all the same, and 1t was painted
with q seriousness similar to that with
which the portraits Of the patriots
were put on canvas.
In both instances the intent seems
10 have been to gain complete techni-
cal competence In order to achieve q
veracious result. Also the painters in
many instances came from humble
origin. having begun by painting signs
and coaches, each achievement lead
ing to work on slightly higher level
until real competence was acquired.
These paintings Of men and horses
and dogs. sometimes Of the statesmen's
and huntsmen's ladies, were done with
surprising skill, not with the purpose
Of finding self-expression. but rather
with the intent Of recording faithfully
that which was graphically seen, .
Job well done, satisfying both to those
by whom commissioned and by the
doers.
Background to Art Of South
america Given In
DR.. HetDett'S Lecture.
A DD1T1oNAL significance Is given
= the portrait exhibition ut the
Phillips Memorial Gallery by the ex-
hibition Of pre-Columbian art from
Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru, set
forth this month, and only until the
3oth. in the foyer Of the National
Museum. This turns attention to the
art Of . people completely isolated
until conquerors crossed the sea and
invaded their mountain fastnesses-
. people obviously artistic and given
10 the art Of portraiture particularly
another link in the great chain welded
by and indicative Of culture.
VA eAAOA AAeCA0oe WoS NIOuScQ III CIllS
exhibition by the lecture on Ancient
Life in Peru" given by DR.. Edgar L.
Hewett Of New Mexico before the
Archaeological Society last Monday
Tening. None has made q more pro-
1ound study Of the culture Of the peo-
piles Of the Americas Of pre- Columbian
times than he, but few have more
ably applied its Lessons to the present
oe done more to advance the art Of
today-preserving the most precious
past and looking for future develop
ment. He Is . great believer IN the
utility Of beauty, N optimist, but not
without anxieties and qualms.