Evening star., 1941-03-23

Of Ducks at Dawn" by Frank w.
Benson, who, despite increasing
years, has held fast to his enthusiasm
for wild life and lost none of his
power to interpret, through his
paintings, the subtle beauty of
Nature in her happiest moods.
Mr.. Benson studied in Paris when
French impressionism was in its
ascendency, but while profting by
the discoveries of Monet and his
associates. retained steadfast his
own individuality. AS etcher as well
as painter he has made a great con-
tribution to art in our country.
Interesting Portraits.
Here in this gallery are some out
standing portraitS-one of Fritz
Kreisler by Leopold Seyffert, very
simple and direct-no less so, in
fact, although without stylization,
than the portrait of Mr.. Phillips
by Knaths, which the visitor will
find in an opposite gallery. John
C. Johansen and Charles Hopkins
are both here with portraits-at
their straightforward and
personal-the former presenting the
Hon. Edward T. Taylor, the latter
DR.. George r. Minot.
At one end of the north wall is a
charming child portrait by Douglas
Geraldine, little Johnnie" in over
alls and with toys at hand, while at
the other is a very sympathetic and
beautifully painted portrait by Ma
thilde Mueden Leisenring of the
Rev. DR.. Charles B. Foelsch, in SUR
plice and stole, seated against a light
red background. Wayman Adams
portrait of Bedrich Vaska is distinct
ly a tour de force, whereas Luigi
Lucioni's of John La Fargo is point
ed with the conSummate craftsman
ship, the keen appreciation of tex
ture and the beautiful drawing seen
SO impressively in the works of the
early italian masters. Technically
there could not be greater diversity
in technique than in the works of
these two painters-but each COM
mands his medium and is convincing
in results attained. William M.
Paxton, who has twice won the pop
ular prize in the Corcoran biennials,
Is represented here by a simple head
Of a young woman-"Elsa"- (which
also follows closely in manner the
methods of those who in the great
past were master technicians. Mrs.
Paxton, by the way, is delightfully."-
represented by still life, "a Neglect
ed Corner" which will be found in
the atrium hanging not far from
a charming study by Marjorie Phil
lips of Blue Hyacinths," in a pot
seen against a reddish background
very lovingly rendered and color
full.
There is characteristic work by
Richard E. Miller in this gallery
a Young girl seated by a light
flooded window-as well as a strong
but reticent winter picture by Aldro
Hibbard - today one of our best
American landscape painters. ,John
c. Young shows a fine marine, '"The
Powerful Sea-" which shows excep-
tional knowledge of wave forms and
the ability to indicate action
without the implication of pause
or arrest. In this goodly company
are also found Sidney Dickinson in
a boldly painted portrait of a man
stanGing-and Hugo Ballin in
dramatic picture Of The Cruel
fxion.' rendered reverently and
with power.
Religious Subjects Exhibited.
More paintings of religious themes
are found in this exhibition than
has been usual. Eugen Higgins,
who has always been concerned
with the lot Of the toiler, and
strong painter, has sent a Last
Supper" which, while possessing no
new implication, is deeply touching
and profoundly reverent. There
are an Alteration" by Jean Chariot
and an ''Ecco Homo" by Donald
Robertson, which, while sacred in
theme, leave the observer a little in
doubt as to intent, because of
vulgar note, possibly inadvertent,
which seems to have crept in
through the type of those repre-
sented as bystanders.
Scattered through the other gall
leries are works which lend distinc-
ton and at the same time give as
surance of continuity between the
art of yesterday and that of today.
Soundly painted and decorative in
effect is a painting by Leon Kroll
of a group of three-"Marie Claude's
Birthday" which is perhaps a little
stiff and posed, but charming in
spirit as well as pleasing in color
the work of one who is essentially
an artist. For somewhat the same
quality, but utterly different in ex-
ecution, is the figure of anna" by
Eugene Speicher. Waldo Peirce of
Bangor, who has had tendency to-
ward coarseness and flippancy in
the past, is seen to excellent advan-
tage In q large, well-painted canvas