Evening star., 1949-01-09
Art
Corcoran Presents
Superb Exhibitions;
National Acquires
Murillo 'Prodigal'
By Florence S. Berrymon

The aesthetic fare now being
spread for Washington is so rich
and varied 1t is almost bewildering,
particularly when compared with
the starvation diet Of Christmas
week. The major offering is the
superb loan exhibition entitled DE
Gustibus" which will open to the
public today at the Corcoran Gal
lery of Art. All art lovers who have
the afternoon free should spend 1t
there, reveling in the shows many
faceted charms.
This exhibition Of SO American
paintings ranging from 1880 to 1880
illustrates a century OF taste and
criticism. 1t was organized by
Eleanor B. Swenson, associate cura-
tor of the gallery, who should feel
well repaid for her year OF time,
thought and effort, in view OF this
admirable achievement. Suggested
by the controversies stirred up by
the Corcoran's 1947 biennial, the De
Gustibus exhibition Ito be followed
by the next bienniaD demonstrates
that variety and controversy are not
novelties in American art. This Is
accomplished by explanatory labels
quoting contemporary and later crit
icism, compiled by Miss SWenson,
who also wrote the 64-page illus
trated catalogue, which includes rep
resentative quotations and an &C
count of the development OF Ameri-
can painting and taste during this
period. i
The show is truly salon OF
celebrities and will be reviewed IN
detail next Sunday. 1t will remain
through February 20.
Prodigal Comes to
Washington
ACQUISITION of Murillo's famous
Return of the Prodigal Son" one
of the most important Spanish mas
terpieces to change hands in recent
years, has just been announced by
David E. Finley, director OF the Ma
tional Gallery Of Art. 1t is q gift
from the Avalon Foundation,
through the generosity Of Mrs. Ailsa
Mellon Bruce.
It is q particularly welcome addl-
tion to the gallery'S collection OF
Spanish paintings, which u distn-
guished but small, with only one
other work by Murillo, "A Girl With
Her Duenna," in the Widener COL
lection. "The Prodigal Son" is a
large painting, 7ax81a feet, which,
with its harmonious colorlng ana
striking composition, will rank
among the gallery's most important
examples from the Baroque PERIOD
according to Mr.. Finley.
John Walker, chief curator OF the
National Gallery, said The Return
of the Prodigal Son. belongs to a
series made for the chapel OF the
Hospital of Saint George in Seville,
and consistently classed by scholars
as Murillo's greatest achievement.
The artist painted these decorations
from 1910 to IA. -Four. including
the "Prodigal," were among so works
by Murillo lost to Spain during the
Napoleonic wars. The Return OF
the Prodigal Son" was bought by the
first Duke of Sutherland and has
remained since with the splendid
collection in Stafford House until
purchased for our National Gallery
of Art.
Hyde Park Paintings
A felicitous choice for the next
three weeks, covering the period OF
the Inauguration, is an exhibition
of Portraits of Interiors by Ruth
Perkins Stafford, to open this after
noon at The Arts Club. Featured
are six painted at Hyde Park.
Since President Truman's election
was not only great personal vic
tory, but also vote of approval for
the New Deal, these authentic
glimpses of the home of Franklin D.
Roosevelt should prove of great in
terest to the many people who
revere his memory.
Mrs. Stafford is superlatively
equipped both technically and tenn
peramentally, to paint interiors
(afnong other subjects). Her keen
observation assesses and brings in
every object and detail; her thor
ough training enables her to indi-
cate them in a beautiful clean-cut
technique, in careful perspective
and with a sense of atmosphere.
Finally, her feeling for old houses
includes a subtle appreciation of
the "lived-in" quality of their
rooms.
Atmosphere Captured
Her ability to bring many small
details into an effective whole. thel