Evening star., 1944-02-13
Bv Leila MechHn.

OF exceptional interest and unique
character is an exhibition Of paint
ings by three members of the same
family, each representing differ
ent generation, which, sponsored
by the National Collection of Fine
Arts, Smithsonian Institution, COM
pletely fills at the present time the
foyer of the United States National
Museum, Tenth street and Consti-
tuition avenue.
These artists are the late John
Mix Stanley. whose dates were 1914.
1872; his daughter r-in-law, Jane c.
Stanley, 1863-l94O and her daugh-
ter. Alice Stanley, the wife of Dean
Stanley of this city, who is still pro-
duclng, is prominent in local art
circles and is an active influence in
the art of today. Jointly the activi-
ties of the three span something
more than a century. Each is dis
tinctly individual, not by intent
apparently but instinct, quickened
by emotion and the spirit of the
time. Thus three epochs in the his
tory of our country are pictorially
set forth.
The Indian Epoch.
The first of these epochs had to
do with the Indian. This is repre-
sented by the works of John Mix
Stanley, almost all Of which have
to do with Indian life and customs
in the Southwest, New Mexico, Cali
fornia, Oregon and the State of
Washington. These he painted be-
tween 1912 and 1852, travelling tire
lessly, at no little discomfort and
risk, stressing portraiture and striv-
Ing to be veracious.
In the latter year he brought
back to the East 152 canvases, the
majority portraits of celebrated
tribesmen, as well as pictures of
ways of life, and as backgrounds
transcriptions of the magnificent
scenery amid which they lived.
These were offered for sale to the
Government at ridiculously small
sum and temporarily deposited in
the Smithsonian Building.
A very modest rental was paid
the painter for the temporary loan,
but when in 1885 fire took place
and all but few were destroyed
no compensation was made to him.
This must have been q. calamitous
blow. To the few that were saved
and are now in the keeping of the
National Museum others have been
added for the current show, bor-
roWed from museums and libraries
In the West and from the artists
descendants. They are extremely
illustrative subjectively of prime
Importance, and technically we'll
rendered.
Like many another American
painter of early days, John Mix
Stanley began his career as sign
and house painter, from which he
went to portrait painting and from
that to the Indians. Undoubtedly
he owed his success to inherent tai
ent and personal industry, also per-
haps to the subject he chose for
Interpretation.
nOlCllgAOlt lldN OCCll q III dCUSu w UllS
American Indian by George Catlin,
who had practically paved the way
for others like minded by his 600
paintings, which in 1842-the year
that Stanley took OVERHEAD been
exhibited with acclaim in both Lon
don and Paris. Cooper's Leather
Stocking Tales" had earlier met
with utmost success and wide read
ing.
AS time went on the Indian in
art took still larger witness
the popularity of Wards Indian
Hunter" which marked a turning
from the classical to that which was
purely national and contemporary.
We have been told that America has
no national art and does not feel the
want for one, but backward glance
will show a consistent effort in this
direction from Stanley's day to our
own. The trouble all along has been
the substitution of subject matter
for mode of eXpression-the thing
illustrated rather than the language
employed But this is natural.
Obviously Stanley was conscien-
tious painter, his work done to the