Evening star., 1940-01-21

points and drawing now on view in
the Corcoran Gallery of Art not
only brings back pleasant memo-
ries Of the time when this artist
was living and constantly exhibiting
here in Washington but patiently
justifies the signal honor which has
lately come to him in election to the
presidency of the National Acad-
emy OF Design. It is modest coll
lection, which at the invitation OF
the Corcoran Gallery Of Art he has
sent on to be shown here at this
time, but every item listed in its
catalogue has both merit and charm.
Most charming are the water COL
ors, broadly rendered, with a FULL,
free brush, rich in color and direct
in treatment. OF these there are
just 13, delightful scenes in many
places, near at hand and far afield,
but in which the painter has found
inherent loveliness, which it has
been his pleasure to manifest.
Two are Of snow scenes, painted
much as the Japanese declare to be
the correct way, not as white blan-
ket but as pause-a complete
quietness which descends from
heaven upon the earth. One,
Camel Back" Is a mountain view
rendered with fine sense of pulk
and form as well as color: another
shows an "Oncoming Storm" across
the water, which has in it q touch
of the dramatic, while others are OF
such commonplace subjects as barns
made extraordinary by the play Of
sunlight on them, the atmosphere Of
place. There is one picture of Flor
ence, painted with restraint but
very effective. These are al paint
ings with which one would delight
to live.
OF much the same character and
import are the drypoint etchings.
In these one sees and becomes aware
of Mr.. Nichols skill in craftsman
ship, the lightness and at the same
time firmness Of his touch, his ex-
cellent understanding of the re-
quirements of composition. Twice he
attains to exceptional height-once
in print entitled Tragedy" q
very dramatic scene, and again in
one entitled Dead Trees" beauti-
fully rendered.
The drawings in this exhibition
are leaves from a sketchbook and
are of boxing bouts-quickly done,
very spirited and very significant.
Hobart Nichols was born in WASH
ington in 1869 and. studied here
under Howard Helmick and at the
old Art Students League. at 80S
Seventeenth street. His career rs
an artist began when he was work.
ing in one of the Government de-
partments and his first one-man
exhibition was held in the Cosmos
Club. For many years after going
to New York he kept up his men,
bership in the Society of Washing
ton Artists and the Washington
Water Color Club. He is repre-
sented by an oil painting in the
Corcoran Gallery Of Art and in
many other public and private COL
lections. In 1900 he was assistant
director Of fine arts, United States
Commission. Paris Exposition. In
1912 he was made an associate men,
Der Of the National Academy, in
1920 advanced to national acade-
mician, and during the past summer
elected president. He Is also direc-
tor of the Tiffany Foundation at
Oyster Bay, Long Island.
The exhibition of his paintings,
dry points and drawings was ar
ranged by the Corcoran Gallery at
this time to coincide with the din
ner to be given by the Washington
Society of the Fine Arts, at the
Mayflower Hotel, next Wednesday
evening, in honor of the National
Academy, at which Mr.. Nichols will
be one of the principal speakers.
The National Academy is the old.
est professional art organization in
this country, having been estab-
hshed in 1826-as the National
Academy Of Design-with s. r. B.
Morse as president. It was, how
ever, the child Of the American
Academy Of Arts, founded in 1902
by group Of citizens Of New York,
headed by the Mayor. Edward Liv-
ingston. De Witt Clinton was the
president, and through his influence
the city allowed this institution to
have the use for exhibition purposes,
ETC., Of the upper part Of . public
building on City Hall Park, for
merly used Is an almshouse. The
earlier organization was actually
merged into the new academy, 80
that its activities may be said to
have been continuous since the very
beginning Of the 10th century. At
any rate, 1t has held annual ex-
hibitions for l13 successive years,
and, beginning with . sketch class
In 1897, has conducted an art school
for almost - long . time.
Junior League Exhibition
The Junior League Of Washing-
ton Is at the present time holding
l = S~A~a A~enV >~,AARAAA>~ - ->a-Aa--