Evening star., 1947-11-30

drawings Dy Mdruee OndplrO, ueI
first exhibition in this medium, al
though she has previously exhibited
as a sculptor in New York and Chi
cago. She studied with Alexander
Archipenko and Rudolph Weisen-
born in Chicago and later with Will
liam Calfee and Pietro Lazzari of
American University's art faculty.
Vermeer Forgeries Lecture
A daring, thrilling art mystery is
the subject of the lecture to be given
at o'clock this afternoon in the
auditorium of the Corcoran Gallery
of Art by P. E. Coremans, laboratory
director, the Belgian State Museums.
This is the first of the lectures to be
given free for members of the As
sociation of Corcoran Gallery. There
will be an admission charge of 81
plus tax, for nonmembers.
/ Mr.. Coremans will report on the
trial of Hans Van Meergeren, no
torious Dutch forger of Vermeer
and other masters. So sklllful was
he in initiating Vermeer. that his
paintings were received with general
acclaim by the art world Ten
years ago his Christ at Emmaus
was called "the finest Vermeer in
existence" Van Meergeren made a
fortune selling his counterfeit mas
terpieces, some of which were ac-
quired by Goering and other Nazi
leaders Not until he was in dan
ger of being tried for collaboration
did Van Meergeren confess his
amazing trickery. So well were his
paintings regarded that his confess
sion was received with suspicion,
until a group of experts, including
Mr. Coremans, uncovered suf1clent
evidence to prove that they were
really modern.
Mr.. Coremans, main witness at
the trial. is highly qualified to speak
on how these fraudulent "old mas
tiers" were made and marketed. how
the evidence was gathered and the
case settled.
The second lecture for members
will be given next Friday evening
at $50 in the Corcoran auditorium
by A. Hyatt Mayor, curator OF
prints. the Metropolitan Museum of
Art. New York City. He will speak
on american Painters In Georgian
London" This lecture also will
carry an admission charge for the
general public of ST plus tax.
At Catholic University
Clare Fontanini, Washington
sculptor, has been appointed heao
of the art department at Catholic
University of America. In addition
to administrative work she Is teach
ing courses in sculpture and design
on both the college and graduate
levels. Andrea Zerega is instructing
classes in painting and drawing.
Rufus Jacoby Is teaching metal
crafts. Two lecturers offer courses
in the history of art. In connection
with the art department is small
gallery in which 1t is planned to ex-
hibit work by local artists and trav-
cling exhibitions.
Miss Fontanini has been teaching
art in washington since the end of
the '30s. She began at Eliot Junior
High School; taught at Eastern
High in 1912 and was chairman
of the art department at Calvin
Coolidge High for the ensuing five
years. During the same period she
gave an in-service course in sculp-
ture for District of Columbia art
teachers one year, taught ceramics
class at USO and in 1945 instructed
an American University credit
course for the Phillips Memorial
Gallery. She began teaching at
Catholic University with a course
in ceramics in 1946 and last summer
taught ceramics and sculpture
Miss Fontanini obtained her MA.
at Columbia University in 1899. She
studied sculpture in New York un-
der 'Oronzio Maldarelli, and took
course in advanced creative design
under joseph Albers of the Bauhaus,
Germany, at the Museum of Modern
Art, New York. She Is affiliated
with seven national and local edu-
cational and art organizations. in
Guiding the Society of Washington
Artists, of which she is correspond
ing secretary; the washington
Sculpture Group, being a member
Of its Executive Committee, and the
Education Association of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, of whose journal
she has been art editor for two
years.
She exhibits regularly with the