Evening star., 1943-06-20
BY Leila MechHn.

The landscape paintings by Walter
King Stone which are now on eX-
hibition under the auspices of the
National Collection of Fine Arts in
the Natural History Building of the
United States National Museum are
unusual in character, being primarily
decorative in design and at the same
time essentially subtle in expression.
The scenes that he sets forth are
original transcriptions, taken di-
rectly from nature, but in no wise
copies, very simple in design and
very direct in treatment. To great
extent. despite their literalness,
these paintings have to do with the
moods of nature rather than its
varied aspects.
Here are the elements of his de-
sign-trees. fields, hills, water. sky,
sunlight and shadow-woven into a
pattern. simple enough in itself, yet
fully Si2niflcant-nature expressed
in the terms of art. indicative of
the painters viewpoint and personal
reaction.
That the painter is lover of ma
ture. none who sees these paintings
could doubt and the way in which
he introduces wild life into some of
his compositions shows the trend of
his sympathies. In one of the
paintings now on view path
through a forest is shown by half
light, and on the path standing very
still, but keenly alert, one discerns
group of young deer. The feeling of
momentary suspension is admirably
given. Instantly the deer will move
away. stepping daintily, softly war
ily-and the trees will begin WhiSp-
ering as night comes down-all is
we'll
Quite commonplace in comparison
Is canvas which pictures a plain
white barn on hill, but in its SIM
plicity and manner of rendering
likewise takes on meaning. which,
under ordinary circumstances. would
variety in themes. Milking Time"
shows a farm boy taking the COWS
home through a rocky bit of pasture
land, which extends, in the SEM
blance of waves of the sea. as far as
the eye can reach, to the distant
horizon. The sky is cloud-scattered.
The time-late afternoon. In al
most all Mr.. Stones paintings the
hour of the day is indicated.
Variations on a Theme
Four paintings listed as variations
on single theme, give indication of
one of this artists ways of working
The chief note in this theme is
group Of tall trees in full foliage up
to which winds a roadway Other
elements are hills and sky chiefly
These in each rendition remain
practically the same, but the aspect
changes with the light-completely
This is a very interesting demon
stration of the use of design even
In connection with what, at glance,
would seem to be naturalistic treat
ment. In a measure it reflects the
theories of Arthur Dow, of whom
Mr.. Stone was at one time a pupil
but the application is entirely his
own.
There is great variety in the paint
ings shown. One of the most i'm
pressive is undoubtedly large
canvas entitled White Birches
subject which to those who know the
birch woods of our northernmost
States will certainly make appeal
On the whole, although very in
;x,ir, 1icfi Mr Sfn,n'S Noif1t c
have novelty and variety. 1t is in
teresting to know that one of his
first exhibitions was held here in
this city in the studio of Mr.. and
Mrs. E. F. Andrews on Sixteenth
street, at the time he was keeper of
birds in our National Geological
Park, and his friend and CO.
exhibitor, Charles Livingston Bull,
was working in the National Mu-
scum.
Flaming School.
This exhibition of landscape
paintings in oil by Mr.. Stone calls
attention to the fact that the school
of American landscape painting has
IN recent years almost dropped out
of existence. Whereas landscapes
painted in this country for years
held important place in all current
exhibitions, and many artists de-
voted themselves almost exclusively
to such subjects, they are today few
and far between. Why this should
be is hard to say. Possibly because
been quickened. The automobile
which was supposed to take city
people to the country unquestion-
ably did away with liking for
quiet contemplation. The camera,
too, may have had something to do
with it. But whatever it was-the
art is no more what it was when
Inness and his colleagues opened,
with their gifts and genius, the way
tn notable achievement in this field