Evening star., 1948-09-05

book while Rome BurnsD: THE
most beautiful thing ever fashioned
by the hand of man on this con-
tinent." Hidden from other plots
by an evergreen grove, the figure Is
noble and impressive, with closed
eyes, tranquil face, classic drapery.
For many Of us, it expresses eternity
Praise and Witticisms.
In the four decades of his career,
Saint -Gaudens modelled lat figures,
busts and bas-reliefs, some of which
are not only an important part of
the Nations art heritage but have
gotten into the life of the people
to the extent of calling forth folk
sayings and Witticism (e.g., the
equestrian statue of Gen. Sherman
preceded by the figure of Victory
Just like Yankee, to let the lady
walk.')
In addition to his remarkable pro-
ductivity, Saint -Gaudens taught at
the Art Students League; Travelled
to Washington at intervals to do his
part for the Federal Art Commission
Of which he was a member; helped
to organize the American Academy
in Rome; aided young sculptors and
assisted many other people.
| The Corcoran Gallery of Art re-
ceived eight years ago bronze low
relief double portrait plaque of
Wayne MacVeigh "a former attorney
generaD and his wife, one of Saint
Gaudens later works, given by their
daughter. 1t had been modelled here
in Washington in 1902 in his studio
at BOB Seventeenth street. The Cor
coran also has his marble bust of
DR.. David j. Hill, as we'll as the
above mentioned full size plaster
cast of "The Puritan" commemor-
ating Deacon Chaplin, a founder of
Springfield. Mass.
washington is fortunate to have
even a few sculptures by Augustus
Saint-Gaudens in whose conviction
(his son said) IAN artist was an in
terpreter of beauty in the world"
X y n
Progressive Work Shown
The American Universitys art
faculty's exhibition of paintings at
the Pan American Union, prelim-
mary notice of which was given here
last Sunday, is definitely expert
mental, as one would expect it to be,
from previous knowledge of the
artists represented. One may hope
| that some effort will be made to
get (besides official expressions of |
appreciation reliable public reac-
tions in the various cities in Latin |
America which this collection is
going to visit after the current |
showing.
Since the Pan American Unions
| Department of Cultural Affairs is
undertaking new program for
closer cooperation with other cul-
tural institutions throughout the
continent, it would be interesting
to know whether the efforts, not
to mention expenses involved, are
getting results sufficiently satisfac-
tory to justify them. Of course, the
Pan American Union will not be
under any such pressure as the
State Department was, in connec-
ton with its art tours broken up
early In 1947 after intensive public |
and press campaigns against them. |
although the evidence was that the |
Europeans and Latin Americans had |
showed marked interest in them.
Descriptions of Some Works.
Sarah Bakers head of a clown
and two still life paintings, with
their fresh colors and agreeable sub
iects, approach nearest to the sort
of work that wins popular approval
Her Still Life With Grapes" has
the subtlest color scheme, domi-
mated by several blues. Her Blue
Salt Box" is particularly we'll COM
posed.
Joe Summerford also shows still
life arrangements, more abstract
than Miss Bakers and more sub
dued in color, running to grays,
browns. black, etc. They are severe
ly simplified, although one can al
ways recognize the point of de-
partrre. The same is true of Jack
Tworkov's two paintings, which,
while not resembling Mr.. Summer
ford's, do run to sombre colors and
simpliflcation.
Leo Steppat has gotten away. to
some extent, from his Indian-type
distractions, or perhaps it merely
seems so because two works in the
current show are in a higher key
and more deftly composed. But it
is hard to see how Mr.. Steppat, an