Evening star., 1938-06-26

Many Early Painters Received Both Appreciation
Mr.. Evans Gave Extensive Collection to Nation

most lovely Of which is the large
lunette dedicated to Lyric Poetry"
He Is also represented in the Evans
collection by two decorative canvases
one a very large canvas, Eros ct
Musa," which is now hung on the
wall of the east staircase in the Ma
tional Museum. the other. smaller in
dimensions, "Musa Regina"-both very
charming. But the portrait of Mrs.
Evans and her little son, a boy of 8
or 10 years Of age. seen standing by
the side of her chair. is perhaps of
even more enduring interest. Admira-
bly, painted with a full, free brush, it
conforms to the chief requirements of
portraiture. Double portraits are not
always successful-but this one is.
The two figures are sympathetically
portrayed but the composition has
unity. One does not feel that the
sitters are posing, the painter would
seem to have caught them of guard.
They are quiet but essentially indi-
vidual, thoughtful. thought provoking.
1t is a sound piece of painting and
apparently easily achieved. But all
superior works Of art have this de-
ceptive quality. the art which con-
ceals whatever stress there may have
been of effort.
The Interlude" by Kendall IS of a
different type and very differently
rendered. Its coloring Is rather high
keyed, pastel shades Of gray and pink
predominating. The mother holds an
open book on her lap, her arm is
around the little girl standing by her
side and leaning against her shoulder
her lips are lightly pressed to her
forehead
IT WAS meant to tell a story, that
story of mother love which never
grows old. and it tells 1t well without
sentimentality. 1t Is only the weak
who need fear to portray beauty Of
aspect or Of spirit. Kendall in this
instance was unafraid. From the
artistic standpoint the composition Is
excellent, the color scheme charming
in harmony and tone and technically
the painting is admirable. Kendall
had consummate skill and very ex-
ceptional training.
He was born at Spuyten Duyvil,
N. Y, in 1869, and at an early age
began his art studies in the Art
Students League of New York City.
This schooling was supplemented by
study in the Academic Julian, the
Ecole des Beaux Arts and the studio
OF Oliver Merson in Paris. He was
only % years of age when he received
honorable mention in the Paris Salon,
and two years later he won q medal
at the Chicago Worlds Fair. From
then on for a quarter Of a century
medals and honors were apparently
showered upon him and examples Of
his work were steadily acquired by
American museums.
The Metropolitan Museum, New
York. has his "Seerer" and also his
Psyche" the Pennsylvania Academy
OF Fine Arts his Beatrice; in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art is his Mar
cissus,' little nude child inspecting
MS image In \ mirror. From 1918 to
1922 Mr.. Kendall was dean of the
Yale School of Fine Arts. The last
few years of his life Che died this past
spring. were spent at Hot Springs, Va,
where he had established a residence
and Strdio
X ENDALL'S reputation was made
largely through his paintings of
children whom he interpreted most
sympathetically. In all of these paint
'ngs. including THE Interlude," he
seemed to suggest the fragility and
mystery Of childhood, approaching his
Interpretation with certain reverence
and gentleness which was peculiarly
his own. They are not In any sense
modern madonnas even when the
mother, as In this instance, is included
IN the composition, but they have a
spiritual quality inherent to childhood.
It Is for this reason, and because they
are well done, that they make peren-
NAL appeal.
That, however, first and foremost
Kendall was an accomplished draft
man and able painter should not be
forgotten, especially as the tendency
today Is to minimize such technical
equipment.
Indeed we are led to believe that
proficiency Of this sort detracts from
the spontaneity of expression and
hence the transmission of thought or
intent. Obviously this is not 20.
If Mr.. Kendall had not commanded
his medium he could not have given
US paintings Of such subtle, positive
quality as THE Interlude," "Narcissus"
and his equally well-known and be-
loved composition known as Allison"
about all Of which there is, in addition
to sturdy reality. the fragrance of an
almost dawless work Of art. The in
clusion Of the first Of these In the
william r. Evans national collection
Is indeed telicitous - well - fortu-
nate.