Evening star., 1949-01-09

charm of her color, and her accu-
rate representation. combine to
make all these paintings of interiors
beautiful pictures, even though she
does not "latter" her subjects, but
faithfully transcribes what she sees.
The Hyde Park interiors, Of out
standing associational interest, are
dominated by Victorian and later
periods of furniture, and hence In
many opinions. are less attractive
per Sc than the pre-Revolutionary
rooms Of the Lee mansion IN Airing
ton, the library at Kenmore, and
the Derby house in Salem, Mass.
Besides these, the apothecary shops
in Alexandria and Fredericksburg
Va, make a total Of IS paintings in
gouache in Mrs. Safford's exhibition
These are happy" pictures, odd
as that may sound in referring to
rooms. The artist
creates a feeling that someone has
lust left and will return any
moment, by her depletion of little
details, such as President Roose-
velt's dressing gown and slippers
and Falas blanket and harness,
folded on a couch and chair in the
Presidents bedroom at Hyde Park.
In some instances, of course, the
rooms are maintained with these
touches. But If not, Mrs. Stafford
will open a closet door or push a
chair to the fireplace or otherwise
give some intimate and human
touch to the arrangement. Fur
thermore, she paints on days when
a room Is bright with sunshine
coming direct through q window,
or casting reflected radiance
through an open door. Beyond
them, the observer catches glimpses
of gardens. spacious lawns and old
trees, or houses across the way, and
sometimes a panoramic view.
Lee Mansion Revisited
All of these paintings were done
in the past four years, including
the rooms of the Lee mansion in
Arlington, the second time she has
painted them, in order to record
their appearance after an extensive
Job of redecoration.
Mrs. Stafford attended the MaSsa-
chusetts School of Art, where she
received a B. S. in Education; and
also studied under Hugh Breckln-
ridge and Henry B. Smell. She was
supervisor of art in the public
schools of Medford, Mass, before
her marriage. She is the wife of
Capt. Laurance Frye Stafford,
U. S. N.
She is member of the Guild of
Boston Artists, the Grand Central
Galleries and American Water Color
Society, New York City, the Wash
ington Water Color and Arts Clubs.
The current show is ner fourth solo
exhibition at the Arts Club. She
has had others in Boston and else
where, and regularly participates in
group shows. She has received a
number of awards, among them two
at different Metropolitan State Art
Contests.
Along with Mrs. Safford's exhi-
bition, the Arts Club will open a
father-and-son exhibition of pencil
drawings by Frank M. and Norman
Rines. These too are beautifully
done, and constitute an excellent
complementary show to Mrs. SAT-
ford's collection.
X \ X +
Kokoschka Nears Close
1t has just been announced that
Oskar Kokoschka will be in Wash
ington as a houseguest of Mr.. and
Mrs. Duncan Phillips and will
speak informally on his paintings at
the Phillips Memorial Gallery Tues
day between 4 and pm. The pub
lie is invited.
Only one week remains to see the
Oskar Kokoschka exhibition at the
Phillips Memorial Gallery. A fac
tual account of it was given on this
page the day it opened December
81 but it seems advisable to remind
those who may have missed it in