Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-27
AT
Notes
Annual Miniature
Exhibition Has
Nationwide Scope
By Florence S. Berrv,nan.

ature Painters 4lst annual exhibit
ton, which opened in the galleries
OF the National Collection of Fine
Arts, Natural History Building, on
December II, is an engaging display
OF flne craftsmanship and appealing
subject matter.
This exhibition came to Wash.
ington from the Pennsylvania Acad-
eany O. Fine Arts, where 1t was
shown last month. This Is the second
oldest miniature society in the
United States and its annual exhibit
ton is open to all miniature paint
ers. The national character of the
present show can be gagged by the
fact that the 46 exhibiting artists
represent more than 80 cities in IA
States, ranging from New England
to California. Two Washington min
iaturists are included: Hattie E
Burdette with an enchanting little
figure in a delicate high key, en-
titled "Will-o'-the-Wisp," and Jay
Trueworthy, who shows two works,
Sisters" a double portrait, and a
study Of an elderly woman in a
violet gown.
The smarI size of miniatures, the
eXacting technique, and the fact that
most contemporary miniature paint
ings are portraits give exhibitions
of this work more nearly homog-
eneous appearance than any other
type Of show. Nevertheless, study
OF the present display will reveal
no little variety in handling, as well
as subject matter.
Some of the works are on ivory,
In the traditional stippled technique,
others are on paper and painted
broadly as aquarelles; still others are
little oil paintings on canvas. There
are landscapes, still lifes, marines,
studies Of trees and houses, as we'll
as portraits; and there is case Of
illuminated pages by Viola Oakley
of a hymn by Mary Baker Eddy.
Hieh Technical Level.
The technical level is so high that
1t seems invidious to select few
works for mention from so large a
group (nearly 1000. Nevertheless,
one should not overlook MY Moth
err" by Virginia Hendrickson Irwin,
quite marvellous in its handling on
so small a scale, Of the woman her
self. lovingly painted, flowers in a
copper cup beside her, and mirror
behind her. rejecting an unseen
open window. Betsy Flagg Melcher's
portrait Of her daughter, Ursula, one
Of the prize winners, does full justice
to an exquisite child.
Elinor c. Zimmerman, who had a
little exhibition Of her work here a
few weeks ago at the clubrooms of
the Washington Society for the Hard
of Hearing, shows three of her por-
traits, skillfully rendered and rich In
coloring: A girl in maroon velvet
jacket, a naval officer, and an old
woman wearing quaint bonnet.
Some of the painters subjects are
80 ensnaring that one is apt to over
look the artistry with which they are
presented. Such is the case with
Elsie Dodge Pattee,s friendly little
girl holding a doll; Mary McMillan's
beautiful blond Joan" in blue
dress against pale orange back
ground; the arrestingly lovely face
Of Miss Sally p" by Anna Hirsig
Bliss, and Ruby Usher's fresh young
Suzanne"
Turning to landscapes and ma
rines, one should not miss Walter
e do fNoAI 1yyor
Town" which received an honorable
mention; a little beach scene, "A
Bit of Jekyll Island" by Nathalie
L'Hommedieu Jackson; John Dull's
aauarelle, Apartment House. and
1.-THE Three Chimneys,' by A.
Margaretta Archambault. "Camels
Hump, Bethlehem by Ann Taube
Goodman, is a broad, modern, snowy
landscape. Harriet Wentworth's lie
Port de Cannes" is a little oil on
canvas of harbor scene, while
Apple Picker" by Catharine Morris
Wright Is done in gouache.
This exhibition will remain until
January II.
Washington Artists
For Victory
Immediately after the outbreak OF
war last year, artists all over the
country formed into groups to offer
their services to the armed forces
and the Government. The Artists
Guild OF Washington was one OF
them. In New York City, 81 artists
groups combined to form two large
rival organizations, which finally
emalgamated under the name Ar
fists for Victory" and early in the
year announced that comprehen-
sive exhibition open to all American
artists would be held this month at
the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
which would bestow the sum OF
$4,000 in AZ prizes.
The exhibition opened on Decem-
Der 7 to remain through February
22) and the overworked word "colo5-
sal" seems to be the only proper
description with respect to size. More
than 400 works. $50 paintings in oil
and water color, 305 sculptures and
5sl prints, occupy all but one room
of the museums entire paintings
section. It is one of the most gigan-
tic shows ever put on in the United
States.
OF approximately l,100 different
artists represented, II are Washing
tonians by residence. birth or long
association. A more painstaking
perusal of the catalogue might aug
ment this number. for artists are
listed according to the present home
addresses, which are sometimes
across the Potomac.
Washington artists represented
with oil paintings include Edward
Bruce, head Of the section Of fine
arts. with klamath River; Nicolai
Cikovsky (who lived here for sew
eral years and taught at the Cor
coran School Of Art). Midsummer;
Richard Lahey, director of the Cor
coran School. Flowers From Our
Garden; Andrea Pietro Zerega,
"The End Of the Final; Peggy
Bacon, . New Yorker. but now
instructor at the Corcoran, two
yak