Evening star., 1941-12-21


ton Of Bill of Rights Day. last Mon
day, the south reading room In the
Library of Congress Annex was
tremendously dedicated to the
memory of Thomas jefferson, and,
at the same time. as likewise COM
memorative, a series OF mural paint
ings by Ezra Winter, commissioned
last year and but lately completed.
1t was Mr.. Winter who, under
commission of Congress, designed
and executed the murals for the
north reading room OF the annex,
which. It will be remembered, pic
trre in cavalcade the Canterbury
Pilgrims. as described by Chaucer
in the Prologue" to his "Canter-
bury Tales" These were finished
in 1889 and acclaimed for merit.
The subject of those for the south
room was at that time carefully
considered, but not chosen until the
drift of national affairs gave the
indication of a theme both timely
and significant. 1t is, in brief,
democracy as jefferson envisioned
il, with his own words quoted from
his writings and their meaning
made clear by pictorial illustrations
of life in his day.
Units in Design
There never has been, In the de-
nartment of painting, so close an
association as here between words
and pictorial decoration. The QUO
JcHnrSnI7'S UrltlnpS
are clearly printed on the paintings
three lines deep. and these lnscrlp-
tions are employed as units IN the
design. The murals are in tour
nanels two very long, running
without interruption almost the
length of the room, with lunette
al the north end over the platform
and rectangular one with CLOCK
as focal point on the south wall.
The lunette shows Jefferson stand
ing against a stone wall at Mon
ticello," the mansion being seen IN
the distance. The panel at the
opposite end has its inscription at
the top rather than at the lower
margin as do those on the side walls,
and is given over to the living gen.
erations priorities and freedom OF
action.
Before describing the side panels
even briefly, something should be
said of color scheme and general
treatment. All the background IS
q deep continental blue which &C
cords admirably with the color OF
the walls. The figures painted
against this background are detin-
itelv in motion and alive, but drawn
rather than highly modelled. A
erayish buff is the prevailing TINT
and the treatment of setting nall
conventional. There is nothing real
tstic about the scenes depicted, but
they are very real Here we see
wall painting perfectly fulfilling IL.
twin purpose of decoration ano
Illustrate The craftsmanship Is
MAGNIFICENT, the unbroken sequence
of design quite extraordinary. Inc
same color scheme, with but trlfllng
variation, is maintained throughout
and with apparent ease. the ma
iority of the f1gures-and there are
many are life-size, but perspective
Is skillfully rendered by occasional
reduction of scale and adjustment
Of subsidiary objects. From first TO
last, the figures, in dress and occu-
patton, are as Of Jeffersons cay
Fundamentally. however, the story
told is universal in significance.
Value of Education
The first quotation has to do with
the ground of liberty and the neces-
sitv of eternally pressing forward to
gain IL. Following are admonltlOnS
to those who labor to keep alive the
sacred fire of virtue, an exposition
Of the value of education and the
declaration that the safety OF the
people rests in their own hands.
Mr.. Winter has illustrated the
life that jefferson lived and believed
In, beginning with the days OF the
settlement of the land and cont'nu-
ing through the buildings and towns
and cities. the founding of univer-
stiles the formation of government
the declaration of independence. tne
raising of the flag and the establish
ment of law and order. 1t is q
dramatic story, well told, easily un-
derstood. but one which never
forces itself upon the observer.
The painter, who, by the way, was
q Fellow of the American Academy
at Rome, we'll taught and expert
enced, has produced not only mos
distinguished work, but one that
while in language essentially modern
revivifies the pasta triumph OF ar
William Calfee Exhibits
1t is not often that an artist is a
one and the same time a sculpto
and a painter, as is William Calfee
an exhibition of whose work ma,
now and until the end of the month
be seen in the Whyte Gallery, ITO
H street NV.
This is al unCommonly interest
ing showing and well arranged
Paintings in oil occupy three walls
drawings made boldly with brusl
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