Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-02-25

efn ana New England States.
The return Of the artist, who ir
Of interest to several club groups.
Miss Bean is an active member Of
the Smith College Club here and
also is well known in the League Of
American Penwomen, having
painted the portrait Of q former
president. Mrs. Clarence M. Busch,
q few years ago.
Daughter Of the late DR.. Tariton
H. Bean, leading icthyologist of the
Smithsonian Institution and later
director Of the New York Acqua-
rum, the artist laughingly described
her first attempts at portraiture.
II started to draw when I was S
years DID," she said. MY father
would take me with him to his
office and putting a piece Of wrap
ping paper on the floor, would let
me sit there and amuse myself while
he worked. I had a vivid magma
tion," she continued, land although
I was surrounded by fossils in alco-
hol, I would draw all kinds of things
children going to school, laundry
hanging on the line and angels sail
ing through the air"
Visit Abroad Follows
Recognition Of Talent.
A conviction that their daughter
possessed a talent worth cultivating
decided DR.. and Mrs. Bean to take
the young artist to France where
she might study in the studios and
galleries of Paris.
II loved to copy in the Louvre. +"
Miss Bean said, land frequently saw
many Of the people famous in that
day pass through the galleries where
I studied, including Whistler. the
American artist, and the Empress
Eugene"
While in France, although but IL
years Of age, Miss Bean also started
to write and contributed several
fashion features, illustrated by her
self, to American newspapers.
Clippings of this early newspaper
work are still retained in a fascinat-
ing scrap book Of never failing in
terest to visitors to her home.
In spite of her contacts with Paris
studio life. Miss Bean lost none
OF the characteristics Of an Ameri-
can girl and upon returning to the
United States in her teens, she
entered Smith College where she
was graduated, receiving an A. B.
degree.
After college, Europe again called
her, but this time she went to Eng
land and Holland, where she studied
with English and Dutch masters.
She also studied with John Singer
Sargent, who although an American,
had a London studio. The great
painter invited her to submit her
sketches for criticism, and she re-
called how, greatly excited, she pre-
sented herself at his studio one day
Finds Great Artist
Looking Frightened.
when he opened the door," she
said, "and found himself with a
prospective student, he looked as
frightened as felt. If I were to
paint the scene today" she added
Il would present the great artist
as tall, shy man, with very small
nose, a beard, and eyes that wer,
slightly popped"
During the World War Miss Bea,
made series of drawings of "Nev
York in War Time" It sold all O
Them" she said Bankers wer,
specially interested and j. P. Nor
gan bought three
After living abroad and in variou
parts OF the United States, Mis-
Bean returned to Washington ant
bought a home in Georgetown. Tn,
house was old and dilapidated. bu
she remodeled it into a charmin,
dwelling. She was so successful
with this venture that she contin
ued remodeling as a side interest
and in 1884 was awarded a frs
prize in The Evening Star Bette
Homes contest for undermining al
old home in Georgetown.
Builds rs Well rs
Remedies Houses.
Il have now remodeled fiv,
houses" she said. land love tn,
work.. Miss Bean also has bull
two houses from the ground up
drawing the architectural plans t.
scale and personally getting he1
peGmits from the District Building
I like to hunt for bargains ir
building materials" she continued
and bought over 5000 old iror
bricks for one of my houses"
Miss Beans home on P street was
opened to friends at a tea last week
to show her latest achievement
there in house renovation, as well as
many fine crayon and chalk draw
ingS.
The remarkable vitality which
permits the artist to paint, write
remodel houses and travel is ap.
parent at the first meeting. Tall