Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-02
Bv Leila MechIin

~
Only short time ago the loan Of
two important paintings by Winslov
Homer to the National Gallery oil
Art was announced. Now a third
has been added by gift. It is en-
titled "Breezing Up" and was pre-
sented by the w. L. and May T.
Mellon Foundation of Pittsburgh
= This is not only a welcome addition
to the National Gallery's collection
but a gratifying indication of con-
tnued interest on the part of the
Mellon family CIV. L. Mellon being
a nephew of the late Andrew w
Mellon) in the Gallery's growth and
service.
In many respects "Breezing Up" is
one Of the most charming of all
Winslow Homer's distinguished
works. Painted at Gloucester, pre-
sumably, it pictures three boys and
a mantle skipper-in a catboat
sailing offshore before the wind,
on a fresh, breezy day. The boat
Is tilted to the left-port side-and
two OF the small boys are perched
high on the uptilted starboard rim,
while one lies at full length on the
narrow deck foreward, in the shadow
OF the well-f1lled sail, the sheet to
which the skipper holds firmly in
his left hand, his right being occu-
pied by the tiller. That they are
making good time is obvious. A
more perfect day for sailing could
not be imagined-a smooth sea and
fair wind At considerable dis
lance, to the right, a two-masted
schooner is seen, while far beyond
on the horizon a tiny sail is sighted.
The sky is mostly obscured by float
ing wind clouds through which here
and there the sun is seen to break.
First Shovn in 1876
This fascinating picture was first
shown in the National Academy of
Designs annual exhibition in 1876,
attracting much favorable comment.
At the time it was painted Homer
was still making drawings for Har-
per's Weekly, which he had repre-
sented at the front IN Civil War
days. The subjects that he chose at
this time were of a popular sort,
and among them were several of
children at play, perhaps most nota-
BILE OF which was his well-known
Snap the Whip" The drawing fin
ished, 1t was engraved on wood, Of
ten of a size to fill a page, after
which the artist was free to render
1t In oils or water colors as he might
wish.
To the same period belong some
OF Homer's paintings of Negro life
In Virginia such as 1.-THE Visit of
the Old Mistress" now in the Will
liam T. Evans collection, of which
the Smithsonian Institution is Gus
todian. "Breezing Up" was pur-
chased-possibly from the Academy
exhibition-by Charles Stewart
Smith of New York and is appreci-
atively described by Strachan in his
art Treasures of America" under
its original title "a Fair Wind"
Then, apparently, 1t was forgotten
as not again did it appear in a
public exhibition until 1867, when,
26 years after his death, 1t was in
cluded in "Winslow Homer Gen.
tenary Exhibition" in the Whitney
Museum, New York, to which it was
lent by Howard Caswell Smith of
New York, son of the original owner.
1t was at that time reproduced in
The Sunday Star with comment.
OF all our American painters, VIM
slow Homer was perhaps least in
fuenced by tradition or his con-
temporaries here or abroad. Claim
Ing that he painted what he saw
and as correctly as he could, it is
quite certain that he was guided
by instinct and aided by technical
facility.
The subjects that he chose were
worthy of Observation-Disclosures
they have beauty as well as strength.
He wasted no time feeling his
spiritual muscles, or in concern as
regard to what others might think
OF his work. His pictures of Ameri-
can life, as he saw it, will always
have a place all their own-a high
place at that-both because of his
ability and his sincerity. It is
gratifying to know that his "Breez-
ing Up" has found permanent place.
ment in our National Gallery of Art.
Ninety Miniatures by
Contemporary Artists.
Ninety little miniatures by con-
temporary artists are now on view
in the National Museum, Tenth
street and Constitution avenue, I'M
der the auspices of the Smithsonian
Institution National Collection of
Fine Arts. They constitute the
Pennsylvania Society of Miniature
Painters AID annual exhibition,
recently held in the Pennsylvania
Academy, Philadelphia, and include
works by some of the leading minia-
turists of today.
OF the 54 artists represented more
than half have been prize winners
in previous notable exhibitions. In
fact, very high standard is upheld
throughout. For the most part, as
Is usual, they are of people-por-
traits-but also included are little
landscapes which are like open
windows through which one looks
upon a world of beauty and charm.
Also there are few exquisitely