Evening star., 1941-11-16

of Velasquez 1t is about the same
size as the large Corot, and shows
a group of figures surrounding an
old violiniSt, as seen out OF doors in
a rather dreary open country. 1t is
essentially a studio work built up
from various known sources, but it
hangs together admirably and once
seen, can never be fore ct'e'' $500
through Manet that the break with
Italian tradition took place, S,l4..-
ish influence gaining supremacy.
Manet was also influenced by the
works of Frans Halls. the Dutch
painter. but he was of an extremely
independent nature, sure Of him.
self, determined to take his own
way, to paint what he saw with
naturalness and strength. OF all
the painters OF his generation. he
undoubtedly made the largest con-
tribution.
With Manet are always associated
the names of Degas and Renoir, also
great masters and lndividualists.
There are five Degas works here,
and also five of Renoirs, the num-
ber in each instance representing
the painter in different stages of
development or mood. The -Four
Dancers" by Degas. is large cam
vas with a distinctly theatrical at
mosphere, painted in oil but with a
stroke which suggests that employed
for pastels. The lighting is artificial,
the background a landscape, the
effect very imposing. Three of the
remaining four canvases are por-
traits of relatives painted very
soberly and realistically, or lightly,
with a very subtle and sympathetic
touch. The double portrait of his
sister and her husband. the Duke
Of Morbilli, is thought to be
study fC' the larger one now in the
Museum of Fine Arts. Boston. but
the arrangement is totally different.
Loved Light and Color.
The paintings by Renoir are
varied. and show the painters
versatility as we'll as skill None
ever loved light and color, youth
and beauty, more than he. His
"Odalisque" undoubtedly shows the
influence of the Romanticists, the
Diana" which must have been
done for exhibition purposes. evi-
dences his knowledge of the nude
and ability to render flesh, but
"Bather Arranging Her Hair Is
much more characteristic and far
more pleasing in color, as is the
Little Girl With a Watering Cam
But even more significant is his
portrait of Mile. Sicot, the actress.
painted with grave dignity and
artistic charm.
One would linger. if one could
over the superb portrait of Young
Girl" by Courbet. which might well
take it's place with the foremost OF
the old masters; over the lovely
and sensitively rendered picture by
Berthe Morisot of her mother and
sister; or over the exquisite still
life by Fantin-Latour, in which the
painter, it has been truly said
through texture. line and color
gives poetry to purely visual facts
All three are paintings to be loveo
as we'll as admired.
Then. too. there is an engaging
/ o-"Boulevard Montmarte"
one of several versions, impression
istic, bat delightful. full Of actor
and life; a "Prodigal Son. by Puvi'
de Chavannes, shown at the salon
but probably purposed as a study
for a mural, and portrait by Mon
ticelli, quite out of the ordinary
These are not paintings to see once
but many times-Works which, thu
more often seen, will be found tn
more significant.
The loan from the Chester Dali
Collection has been hung in tw,