Evening star., 1938-12-04
By Leila Mechlin.

by the late Paul L. Gill of Phila-
delphia opened in the Corcoran Gal
lery Of Art on November %, to con-
tinue to December 49, This collec-
ton, comprising % paintings, is set
forth in the southeast corner gallery
ON the first floor, and from a water
colorist's point of view is particularly
engaging. Technically. the work is
amazingly clever, the painter regis
tering, with the utmost obvious
swiftness and economy of effort,
subjects, in some instances very COM
picated, like an Indian ceremonial,
and, in others, of monumental pro-
portions, such as Mount Saint Pierre
and Perce Rock on the Gaspe Pen
Ursula.
Habitually he disregarded, 1t would
seem, all but that which is most
essential, leaving much of his white
paper bare and keeping his color
very wet, fresh and brilliant. In
deed the technical method which he
employed Is as hieroglyphic, self
invented for his own purposes, pri-
marily as an aid to memory. One
can imagine when, in the presence
of these paintings, his having said,
upon being suddenly confronted by
one of the subjects, Nov here is
something 1 must not forget will
jot it down quickly" And the re-
markable thing is that these very
expert jottings are very much alive
and significant, for. in his transcript
tions, he has captured the spirit
even more than the substance of the
scene.
His Indian subjects are especially
animated, though boldly slashed in:
his transcriptions of the coast, with
It's towering rocks of the Gaspe, are
overwhelming in their strength and
impressiveness. Some of the other
subjects are a little less skillfully
handled, perhaps because less
worthy themselves of the distinction.
Now and again one wishes that the
artist had taken the time to carry
his paintings a little bit farther,
that the beholder's vision be clari-
fed. But that they were painted
with enthusiasm. at fever heat, none
can doubt. and this, in itself, makes
them exciting.
Water color today has taken on
80 many compilations and become so
much more a medium for genius to
command, that its potential interest
and delight seem to be unbounded.
The Towering began back in the
early years of the present century
when Winslow Homer started paint
ing with this medium in way then
all his own, with a boldness and
freedom heretofore undreamed of.
Then came Sargent, resorting to it
as a relief from portraiture in oils
holiday lark-and after him. ex-
Derimenters such as Dodge Mac
knight, Charles Hopkinson, and,
most extreme, John Marin; to say
nothing of John Whorf of Boston
and Eliot OHara of this city, both
top-notchers today, and a score or
more of lesser lights. Mr.. O'Hara
has not only set pace by his own
most skillful paintings, but has
rendered very large service in his
teaching and through his books deal
ing with the use of the medium.
John Whorfs achievement as
water colorist was recognized last
June when Harvard University be-
slowed upon him an honorary de-
eree-the first ever given by this
institution of learning to profess
sional artist. 1t is an interesting
fact, worth noting, that while paint
ing in oil color has been growing
muddier and muddier, painting in
water color has become clearer and
more sparkling.
All this and more the Gill exhibi-
ton brings to mind, but from the
works on view attention should not,
and in their presence probably will
not, wander. Born in Auburn, N. Y,
in March, 1894, Paul Gill, who died
In Philadelphia, or its environs, last
May, lived much less long than could
be wished, but his career from first
to last was exceptionally successful.
His art studies were begun at Syra-
cuse University and continued at the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine
Arts and later abroad. He won two
travelling scholarships, through the
merit of his work, as well as numer-
GUS medals and honors. He was a
member of the Philadelphia Water
Color Club, New York Water Color
Club, American Water Color Society,
and regular exhibitor. From 1895
to the time of his death he was
member of the faculty of the Phil
adelphia School of Design for Wom-
en-, which is now known as the Moore
Institute. He is represented in some
OF the leading public and private
collections. After all, in the troub-
lous postwar days how few have
made so good record or employed
their talent to better advantage.
Paintings in Christmas Sale
At Phillips Memorial Gallery.
The Christmas sales snow in the
Phillips Memorial Gallery opened
auspiciously last Sunday afternoon
with large attendance and record
of II purchases. The display, which
Includes no work priced at more than
$25, nor less than IS, is to be found
tn the print room below stairs