Evening star., 1940-06-09
Fine Painting
Is Acquired
By Gallery
English Group by
William Hogarth
Now at Phillips
Ev Leila MechIin.

A notable addition was made to
the works of art in Washington
when the Phillips Memorial Gallery
recently acquired painting by Will
liam Hogarth entitled The Singing
Party" a work which, for many
years-in fact, from the time it was
executed-had been in the possess
sion of the family of Lord Vernon
of England.
Not only was the painter the
founder of the great British school
and one of the most interesting
personalities in the whole history of
art, but this is an exceptionally in
teresting example of his work, not
only showing him at his best, but en-
bodying the spirit of the time and
land in which he lived-18th CEN
tury England.
The Singing Party" consists of
five adults and child making
music. Interest centerS in grave
middle-aged man in curly wig play
Ing harpsichord, his eyes intently
fixed upon the book on the rack
before him. Back of him stands a
rather comical man, sans wig, hold
ing wind instrument in his hands
and blowing into it nearly all the
breath in his body, while his bulging
eyes follow the script of the music.
To his right are two singers, one
with song book in his hands and
the other leaning forward to read
from the volume on the harpsichord.
In back of the harpsichordist is
third singer, mouth wide open, left
hand appraised as though directing.
Finally, equally intent but not so
vehement, is boy with a song
book, singing cheerily, with upward
look toward the hand of the leader.
Canvas Is Large.
1t is an excellent composition, the
figures arranged in repeated groups
of three, each complete, and yet
part of the whole. AS the repre-
sentation is almost life-size. the
canvas is, of necessity, large, but not
an inch of it lacks interest. The
color scheme is rather somber, light
brown and gray and buff, and yet
the effect is striking. This is due
partly to the vivacity of those repre-
sented and partly to that of the
technique. The canvas used is of
fine grain and the painting smooth,
but the manner in which the pig
ment is handled gives it life and
strength. This is the more remark
able when it is remembered that
up to the time of Hogarth, the Hol-
bein-Van Dyck-Kneller tradition
had persisted in England, and Ho-
garth himself began his career as
an engraver. But, as Edith Abbot
says in her book on The Great
Painters" with reference to some
what similar work by this same
artist cServants," now in the Brit
ish National Collection, this is "a
record of human beings seen with
out any preconceived idea, capable,
intelligent, cheerful people, beauti-
fully painted by sound method en-
tirely his own. and infinitely more
interesting than the lords and
ladies of English society"
In the Phillips Gallery, this is
now hung in the library, on the
north wall. to the right of the fire.
place. to the left Of which now
hangs The Uprising" by Daunier.
with which it harmonizes in color
and realism. Studying the work
carefully, one becomes more and
more impressed by its spirit, and
also by its excellence of rendition.
Take, for instance, the intentness
of the faces and the complete pre-
occupation of each and ala pre-
occupation which, in itself, creates
atmosphere Note also, however, the
drawing and painting of the hands
that of the singer beating time,
of the man with his fingers on the
stops of his wind instrument, of his
comrade holding the singing book,
even those of the child, scarcely
more than sketched in, yet in
every instance characteristic, not
frozen but capable of quick motion
sensitive in the extreme. Dickens,
himself, could not have put before
us in his prose writing more unique
and living personalities than these.
In century England, many
such singing parties were held, for
then the people found special de-
light not merely in listening to
music. but in making it themselves;
and they did it well-in fact, doing
1t we'll was part of the excitement
of the game. Such custom was
beneficial to music and its appreci-
alton, as we'll as to those who
indulged in the pastime. In our
own day. effort has been made to
revive this custom, but the con-
ditions of 2Oth-century life are not
altogether auspicious Such habits
must have the proper setting or they
do not thrive.
Native of London.
Born in London in 1897, William
Hogarth. painter and engraver,
lived there until 1854: and what