Evening star., 1945-12-16
By Florence s. Berryman

Both the Phillips Memorial Gal
lery and the Whyte Gallery hae
Christmas in mind when the!
opened their group exhibitions
which will remain on view until De.
cemher 27 and 81, respectively. Tht
two shows are composed of home
sized paintings, ranging from can
vases large enough to hold then
own in a mansion, down to those
which would not crowd a one-roon
apartment. =,
There is sufficient variety to suit
many different tastes. But in giving
an original painting for a Christ
mas gift (or indeed any picture) 1t
would seem prudent to invite the
prospective recipient to participate
in the selection. Pictures in the
home ought to be loved and en-
loved, not just regarded as rec
tangles that break the monotony OF
the wall.
In a symposium on art criticism
held in New York City, several
speeches from which are published
In this months Magazine of Art
Oliver Larkin said,
"One sometimes wonders whether
critics really like art. And what
kind of art do they like?"
With regard to exhibitions OF art
held with the idea of Christmas
sales, liking is a major factor. This
reviewer found a number OF paint
ings definitely likeable in these two
Washington group exhibitions and is
happy to go on record as liking
them.
Modern American Artists
The Whyte Gallery's exhibition
comprises nearly 30 works by ma.
tionally known painters. Those
which we feel would look particu'
larly good under a Christmas tree
include Joe Jones large farm scene
winter in Duchess County" de-
picting golden wheat being stored ir
a silo, under a beautiful turquois
sky, with snow and patient white
mule; Peter Hurd's Ranch neal
Encino," a far-reaching New Mexi'
can landscape conveying the crys'
talline clarity of that regions at.
mosphere, and Bruce Mitchell''
gouache, Boats at Cherry Grove,
with its good range of blue, greer
and white, reminding one of al
happy summers at beaches.
We could love Lily Harmon:
"Child and Flowers" because thu
little girl, although greatly over.
shadowed by the large and colorfu
bouquet, looks up at it with an ex'
preston that seems to epitomize
truly childlike response to beauty
and Arbit Blatas' painting of hi
little daughter, "Dorothea Braidint
Her Hair" small work full of deer
warm colors and subject appeal
Georg Grosz's Nude at Beach
may not be as "important" as th'
large tragic paintings which repre-
sented him in the Corcoran biennia
last spring, and the Encyclopaedia
Britannica collection here twt
months ago, but this current paint
ing is a beautiful thing, in which
the woman's body reflects brillian
sunlight, the subtle shadows tina
model it appear to be exactly righ
and the color scheme of pale peacl
and warm light blue is fresh ant
happy.
We would enjoy living with Johr
Steuart Curry's unpretentiou
"Roses in a Copper Pot" and woult
find Frederic Taubes' Still Life will
Blackbird" of lasting interest fo
its decorative quality and sophisti
Gated color scheme.
In addition to the above persona
favorites of the reviewer, there ar
others, of course, we'll done an
likable to other people. Federic
Castelon's Seated Women" for ex
ample, two nudes of heroic proper
tions, skillfully fitted into a tin
space, has been acquired by youn
naval officer for his own collection
Some technically good painting
depict subjects not calculated t
arouse any happy emotion in
home owner: George Biddle's "Hoo
verville by Day." d group of miser
able dwellings painted in a clos
harmony of soft, grayed red-brown
and Ernest Fiene's Lancaster Cour
ty Barn." to mention but tw'
Raphael Soyer's "Dishevelled Cir
is beautiful in color, but one
likely to ache in sympathy wit
the bone tired young subject.
Washineton and Baltimore
A.x:.x. CL..n. o< DL:IJ:Ae