Evening star., 1939-08-27

which there are less than two score.
Even so Mrs. Huntington does not
disdain to do the little "Six Months
Old Colt" and the "Timid FaWn"
with all the power and genius at
her command. Thus it is with the
true artist.
1t is particularly fortunate and
felicitous that included in the group
acuired by the Corcoran Gallery of
Art should be Mrs. Huntington's s
head in marble of her mother, the
late Mrs. Alpheus Hyatt, a strong
but essentially lovable personality
The features are firmly but subtly
modelled. the planes of the head
pronounced. the treatment very di-
rect and simple. Rarely has old age
been portrayed more significantly or
with tenderer feeling, yet not one
atom of sentimentality seems to
have ciept in. 1t is vitally personal,
and before it every one is bound to
stand in reverent regard.
Studied Masters.
Anna Hyatt Huntington was born
in Cambridge, Mass, in 1876, the
daughter of DR.. Alpheus Hyatt, a
very eminent paleontologist and
pupil of Louis AgasSiz From him,
perhaps, she first derived her in
terest in and love for animals. To
her, as a girl, they were of absorb
ing interest. Her older sister Har-
riet, now Mrs. Mayor studied sculp-
ture and did some excellent work
before she herself thought of en-
tering the profession. BY this sister
she was initiated into the handling
OF clay and other rudimentary proc
esses. Later she studied under
Henry H. Kitson of Boston and Her
man MacNeil, in New York. Then
came some helpful criticism from
Gutzon Borglum, after which she
went abroad, not to enter the atelier
OF successful sculptor, but to
study the works of the masters
and to work independently.
In a studio which she rented in
Paris she modelled, without even
apprentice aid, her equestrian statue
OF Joan of Arc, which she exhibited
IN the Paris Salon of 1910 and on
which she received an honorable
mention. Had the jury not been
OF the opinion that woman could
not have done this work unaided, the
award would have been a medal of
the first class But later France
made amends by electing her first
a Chevalier and then an Officer of
the Legion of Honor and erecting
her Joan on the finest site in Blois.
OF which city she was formally made
a citizen. Spain has awarded her
the Grand Cross Of Alfonso XII, and
IN this, her own country, honors
have not been lacking. Among her
other wards have been Rodin Gold
Medal and the Saltus Gold Medal.
She is a member of the National
Academy of Design and the Amer
lcan Academy of Arts and Letters.
In 1923 Anna Hyatt married
Archer M. Huntington, poet, con-
noisseur and art patron, whose SYM
pathy in her work and understand
ing OF the significance of art have
been a great aid and stimulus to her.
Some of her best work has been
done since then, despite a 7-year
period Of idleness enforced by i'll
health.
1t was at the conclusion of this
period that Mr.. and Mrs. Hunting
ton established a winter home in
South Carolina on one of the three
old plantations once belonging to
the Allston family which they &C
quired. Here at "Brookgreen" they
have created a beautiful outdoor
sculpture museum, unique of its
kind, perfect in its appointments.
Displayed in Garden.
over 200 works in sculpture by
contemporary American sculptors
(of which not more than 20 are by
Mrs. Huntington HERSELF have been
brought hither and given most
charming setting in a garden cov-
erlng between go and 10 acres.
wherein are giant live oaks draped
with Slver moss, magnolias, fragrant
olives and other trees native to the
place. Over the walls fall jasmine
In golden showers. Here and there
are still pools with aquatic plants.
Set in the wall are panels lettered
with appropriate quotations by we'll
known authors in appreciation of
Natures lavish gifts. Each piece of
sculpture has been so placed that
it will appear to the best advantage
but none intrudes. Nature and art
seem here to be in utmost accord.
More than three years ago Mr.. and
Mrs. Huntington gave Brookgreen
Gardens to the State of South Caro-
line, endowing it generously and
stipulating that it should always
be free to the public, but they have
done much for it since and their
beneflcence has seemingly not as
yet come to an end. Thus while
attaining fame herself, Mrs. Hunt
lngton has held in highest esteem
the work of her colleagues and paid
to 1T the greatest compliment in her
power.
That her own work is conservative
in character goes without saying.
She is one of those who held un-
swervingly to tradition, but she is,
as the same time, minded in
her attitude to innovations. Time
will tell" she says, what is really
good and what. is not. What will
live and what will be forgotten" :"
Adding, "We are still too close to
present-day production to judge it
justly"
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is
indeed fortunate to be able to add
these seven typical pieces of Mrs.
Huntington's sculpture to their per-
manent collection at this time.
Railway Neors Arctic
Construction has been started on