Evening star., 1938-03-27
By Leila MechHn.

THOUGH the art season vii
~ soon begin to wane there is as
~ yet no cessation in exhibitions
4 \ here or throughout the coun'
try. In fact, activity and interest In
this field continue apace. This Is the
last day of the exhibitions of sculpture
by Anna Hyatt Huntington, and OF
water colors by Elizabeth Poe, in the
Corcoran Gallery of Art, but already
an exhibition of illustrative drawings
by William J. Glackens has opened
there. and, on Tuesday of this week, a
collection of drawings by Isabel Bishop
will be put on view.
The Anna Hyatt Huntington exhibit
ton has attracted exceptionally wide
attention and called forth very high
praise. 1t is beautifully shown in the
gallery set aside for transient eXhibi-
tions, the works being in themselves
dignif1ed and impressive, and colorful
effect is aided by series of beautiful
old tapestries hung on the walls, suffi-
GENTLY high, however, not to interfere
with the silhouettes of the pieces on
display The better acquainted one
becomes with these works in sculpture
by Mrs. Huntington the more signifl-
canoe they took on. They have the
quality of great art in that they seem
simple, but the discerning feels behind
this simplicity the great knowledge
and skill of the sculptor, who has
however, lost herself in her work
There is no bravado, no straining for
effect no display of technical clever
ness, but in the result is evidenced
profound sympathy with the subject
and real understanding of the deep
hidden facts of art.
No one who has seen, or will see this
exhibition this afternoon. will ever
forget Mrs Huntington's lovely Diana,
1T the end of the gallery, dominating,
by grace and dignity, the collection as
. whole, especially as here f1anked
by the two young centaurs; nor will
the superb portrait head of her mother
at the other end of the gallery-so
simple, yet so sensitive, cut directly
from white marble-easily be erased
from memory. And with these will
be recalled the status of the Joan Of
Arc, all spirit, and El Cid, all courage
and boldness.
PUT 1t is as sculptor of animals that
Anna Hyatt Huntington has won
especial distinction and stands almost
alone, and it is the variety and charm
of these which SAVIOR the whole show.
In matter of merit there is little to
choose between them. The Elephant
Running" is bronze, vies with the
polar Bear" in marble; the Colt Six
Months Old" with the little "FaWn,"
cropping grass; a sturdy Bull COM
pares admirably with Donkey Roll
ing; the variety and comprehension
seem unending And the size in no in
stance signifies; the smallest pieces are
rendered with the same evident knowl
edge and care as the large ones, quite
as much art has gone into the model
ing Of little bear on his back, playing
with his toes, which one could hold in
one hand, or into a pair of book ends,
As into the life-size groups of Grey
hounds Playing" and "Fawns Playing"
which have been prize winners and
especially popular with visitors.
Mrs. Huntington is an academician
and does follow tradition. but the only
restrictions to which she submits her
self are those of self-discipline and
sincerity. The gift of expression and
the spring of inspiration are her own,
and from within. While essaying at
times similar subjects, her work dif-
fers as widely from that of Barge as
the earth is from Mars; inevitably so,
for she is, as Barge was, an individual
ist. One does not have to try to be
original-this Is something which can
not be acquired or cultivated-one is,
or one Is not. that is all. But like
Barge, Mrs. Huntington has always
striven for correctness, truth, and has
given to her work her best in un-
stinted effort. The privilege of seeing
and studying such a collection of
sculpture as this is exceedingly great.
From here it will 60 to New England
to be shown first in the Art Museum
at Yale University and later in Hart
ford. Pittsf1eld, Andover, Manchester,
N. H., and Springfield, between now
and autumn, when it will 60 south.
Illustrations by Glackens
Exhibited.
WILLIAM J. GLACKENs was, 1t
w will be remembered. the chair
man Of the jury Of selection and award
for the Corcoran Gallery Of Arts most
recent Biennial Exhibition of Con-
temporary American Painting, and is
today much better known as a painter
'ttan as an illustrator, but, like many
another American painter Of note. he
made his way to fame via illustration,
through the medium of which he re-
ceived not only hand-up in the mat
ter Of financial return, but made very
definite contribution to the public at
large and, incidentally, to art in
America.
The Corcoran Gallery has been for
tunate enough to borrow. through, it
Is understood. the Intervention of Mrs.
Glackens, some of william J. Glackens'
original illustrations, still in his pos
session. These, now on display in the
cases in the upper atrium wherein
were lately shown drawings by Leon
Kroll, are, in most instances, in black
and white. the exceptions being elabo-
rate composition In which . bit Of
color has been introduced through the