Evening star., 1942-03-29
Art
Notes
Bv Leila MechHn.

by Lett0 WI eCHtJUs
In commemoration of the 18TH
anniversary Of the founding OF
Howard University a notable COL
lection Of paintings OF Negroes by
artists Of distinction was assembled
and has been on view for the past
fortnight in the large gallery set
aside for such purposes In the hand
some new library building. The
selection, which Is excellent, was
made by James v. Herring, head OF
the universitys department OF art
and largely responsible for its up
building. The paintings have been
lent by art museums, private COL
iectors, artists and art dealers.
Their admirable arrangement may
be credited to Alonzo J. Alden. the
gallery's curator.
There are many angles to this ex-
hibition, which is entitled The
Negro as q Subject in Art" not the
least significant Of which is that
which reflects on both the life and
the art of today as compared with
that of hall a century and more
ago.
The earliest painting in this ex-
hibition is Of two little boys, one
Charles Calvert Of Maryland, the
0ther his black boy page and play
mate; the latter holds drum, the
former the drumsticks. 1t Is the
work of John Hesselius, born at An
napons, Md, In 1928, the son Of the
Swedish painter Gustavus Hesse-
Illus, who came to this country In
the early part of the 18th century
and took no small part in upbuilding
art In young America. This Is a
loan accredited to the Baltimore
Museum.
Perhaps the next in date is "Old
Kentucky Home" large canvas,
SO by IS inches in dimensions, by
Eastman johnson, lent by the New
York Public Library. It is dated
1850, just 10 years after the painter
had earned enough by his crayon
portraits In Boston and Washington
to go abroad for study. In Holland
he was invited to become a court
painter, but he declined and re-
turned home in 1855, thereafter to
give himself to painting what we
would now call the American
Scene" He was one Of the first, we
are told, to give a sympathetic in
terpretation of Negro life. To be
sure his paintings were anecdotal,
but they were sincere and true. How
he handled as well as he did such
compositions as "Old Kentucky
Home" with its numerous figures,
each taking its place and making
contribution, is remarkable.
There are two wen-known works
here by Winslow Homer, The Visit
of the Mistress the Evans
collection, National Collection of
Fine Arts-and Sunday Morning in
Virginia." once owned by Mr.. Evans
but sold by him before his gift to
our national collection was made.
They were painted respectively in
1876 and 1877 at Petersburg, Va,
whence Homer had gone to do a
series Of such subjects OF which he
had gnmpses when in that vicinity
in 1862 serving as artist at the front
for Harper's Weekly. There is both
pathos and humor In these works,
but above al one finds in them evil
dence of sympathetic understanding
of those qualities which endeared
the Negroes to those whom they
loyalty served and to whom they
were bound by affection.
To this exhibition the Corcoran
Gallery of Art has lent THE Pas
toral Visit" by Richard N. Brooke,
for many years President of the
Society Of Washington Artists but
q Vrginian. This fine canvas shows
the interior of a negro cabin, the
family gathered about a table par
taking Of meal at which the par
son is honored guest. The mother is
serving. with one eye on the young
and much awed members of the
family. The father listens with pro-
found attention to what the parson
may have to say. On stool in the
foreground Is q banjo, beside him
stands the youngest child with face
hidden against his knee. It is fine
picture of the home life of the
Negroes at this post-wartime - a
picture which has dignity and the
essence Of godliness.
There are other pictures of the
same order In its exhibition as well
as some fine portrait studies and
figures which give indication of
personality. Special mention In this
connection should be made of the
subtle and mastery portrait Of H.
o. Tanner. the first Negro to attain
international distinction as an art
ist, by his master, Thomas Eakins,
OF q head by Duveneck, Of THE
Bone Plyer" by Mount, and last but
not least Robert Henri's delightful
study Of a little brown-skinned boy
with shining countenance. William
Gee"
Here. too, is a most lovely land
scape by George 1nness Of a red
sunset seen behind or through
grove Of Georgia pines and watched
with quiet admiration by a Negro
woman inconspicuously placed to
the right in the composition. Not
only is 1nness at his best as a paint
er OF landscapes in this picture but
as an Interpreter of the Negroes love
Of beauty-especially that Of the
outdoor world-a strong racial char
acteristic.
In comparison to these paintings
done more than a quarter Of a CEN
tury ago those which are contem-
porary have, 1t would seem, less to
COW that is ur0i.fh tia co 1,i.an Conlis