Evening star., 1940-08-18

twentieth century art. The Watteal
and many connoisseurs as one Of
the best and most beautiful works of
the artist, is insured by Mr.. Moser
for 100000.
Early Ill Health Failed
To Curb Genius.
When one considers the III health
caused by pulmonary trouble which
began when Antoine Watteau was
still in his teens and which at times
caused him to sink into deepest de-
spair and melancholy, it is marvel
Gus the gayety, color, frivolity and
loveliness which he characterized
in his paintings. AS one OF his BIZ
ographers has said his palette was
4 rainbow in which all the pastel
colors mingled in one glorious SYM
;phony of life and light made more
beautiful by mysterious shadows,
half concealed statues and a subtle
charm.
"A Lesson in Love" has all the
witchery, charm Of sylvan surround
ings and glow OF color which Wat
teau loved to paint. In the fore
ground a guitar player strums the
strings standing before group Of
lovely young women, one OF whom
has her lap filled with roses, pre-
tending to ignore the musician, and
centering her attention on an ex-
ouisite companion half concealed in
the shrubbery just back Of her. The
companion, whose blond beauty is
IN relief with the background OF
feathery green, and the light filter
ing through the foliage Of the trees
Il enchanting. The usual statue at
the back and a man and woman
seemingly following the musicians
score; a summer sky and landscape
complete the setting.
The Baltimore Museum Of Art
has for some time been interested
In the movement Of directors Of
galleries and museums to make
them a living semblance Of the Pc
riod which some particular exhibi-
ton represents. So in dramatizing
the opening on Friday night the
Summer Cooperative Ballet-a w.
p. A. project, perhaps-gave the
third Of its programs in the audi
torium OF the museum. "A Lesson
In Love" had as its sympathetic set
ting q suite Of dances suggesting
the Watteau period, which Miss
Carol Lynn, director Of the ballet,
arranged under the title of "Fetes
Champetres." Other works OF art
which were exhibited also had a
complimentary atmosphere OF mu-
sic and dancing.
Born at Vincennes,
Son Of Coppersmith.
A Fleming by birth, born at Vim
cennes some seven years after II
was acquired by the French, the
son OF 4 coppersmith or plumber,
Watteau early showed love for
drawing and color. In his native
town he was enabled to copy the
works OF Rubens. Van Dyck, Ten
iers and other genre painters. After
some time in Paris and a short ana
unhappy residence in England,
where he went primarily for med
ical treatment, through an inter-
ested patron, he was enabled to IRE
ouent the Luxembourg at will and
to mingle in the court life OF Paris.
In TIT he was invited to become
a member OF the academy and was
given the title of 'Peintre des Fetes
Galantes," perhaps due to the ro-
mantle subjects so often depicted
by him.
vatican is said to have painted
more than $500 items" 1t is said,
but five examples of his work had
come to this country before this
last picture, "A Lesson in Love.
With the exception OF one in a pri-
vate collection, the others are in
the Jules Bache Gallery in New
York, in the Metropolitan Museum
and in the art museums Of Cleve-
land and Boston.
Watteau Given by the
Late Mrs. Julian James.
there is in the National Museum
In washington a Watteau, The
Rustic Dance" which was presented
to the museum by the late Mrs.
Julian James. This canvas Is about
81 by Is inches and has recently
been revarnished We did not md
anywhere a mention of The Rus
tic Dance" as owned by Mrs. James,
except in the museum, While this
picture has the warmth OF color,
the outdoor atmosphere and the life
and romantic qualities Vatican
loved so well, there is something
disappointing about it. Most OF the
Watteaus were small canvases.
The great genre painter did not
think it beneath his art to decorate
panels for carriage doors, snuff
boxes, fans and other fripperles
more or less of daily use.
Germany has wealth OF Wat
teaus; there are l0-or were-at
Potsdam, S in Berlin and several
privately owned. Buckingham Pal
ace has six; the Dulwich Gallery
owns THE Ball Under Colon