Evening Star Newspaper, January 11, 1931, Page 91

N Ca]endaf of Exhibitions CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART, Seventeenth street and New York avenue. Twelfth Biennial Ezhibition Contemporary Amer- ican Oil Paintings. November 30 to January 11. PHILLIPS MEMORIAL GALLERY, 1600 Twentiy-first street north- west. Modern Art and Iis Sources. NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, Tenth and B streets northwest. Permanent Collection. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, Tenth and B streets southwest. Etchings by Abbo Ostrowsky. January 5 to February 1. FREER GALLERY OF ART, Twelfth and B streets southwest. Perma- nent Collection. Recent Acqui- sitions. ARTS CLUB OF WASHINGTON, 2017 1 street. Paintings by W. Lester Stevens of Princeton, N. J., and Love Porter of New York. January 11 to 25. TEXTILE MUSEUM, 2330 S street northwest. Rugs, Tapestries and other textiles of the Near and Far East. Admission by card obtainable at the office of G. H. Myers, 1508 H street northwest. PUBLIC LIBRARY, Eighth and K streets northwest. Art Depart- ment. Group of paintings lent by the Phillips Memorial Gallery. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, First and East Capitol streets south- east. Ezhibition of . Historical Prints from the Mabel Brady Garvan Institute of American Arts, Yale University. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MU- SEUM, Arts and Industries Building, Ninth and B sireets southwest. Pictorial Photo- graphs, by Ansel Easton Adams % ian Francisco. January 1 31. ‘WO recent holiday publications con- tain such interesting references to works of art here in Washington that mention may suitably be made in these columns without, it is thought, infringing upon the rights of the book reviewer. These are “Background With Figures, Reminis- cences of a Painter,” by Cecilia Beaux, and «John Elliott, the Story of an Artist,” by Maud Howe Elliott. The former tells - delightfully of the painting of three portraits, those of Car- dinai Mercier, Lord Beatly and Clemenceau, included in the national war portrait collection ‘ndhuncutt.heptuemumemt.heroyero! the National Museum. The latter describes most interestingly the painting of the mural “Diana of the Tides,” by John Elliott, which hubeengivenpummtphmtmoneot the great halls of the same public building. A knowledge of these facts not only adds interest to the works and increases their significance, but leads, it would seem, quite naturally to a better understanding of art as a whole. In the Spring of 1919 a committee was formed of men and women prominent in the social and y, and refuses and seasons such spare—hurried half hours “Even a vivid likeness, snatched at an ar- tist's strongest moment, and having the con- vincing power of a few authoritative strokes, unnhunomedtbe!mpermmt quality of an accident when it attempts to show the full vfightmdehnmrmwnto(omo!nme yare beings who defy ordinary standards. Each of these is 20 men or more, and to give pos- “This is,” she adds, “an apology. Whatever % lacking in the result—which, of course, fell far behind my hopes—I may lay the story of my adventure, a small wreath among the heaped tributes that lie along the pathway of the great.” In all probability few will feel that Miss Beaux has any occasion to apologize for these ernment he consented at once, and when Miss Beaux arrived at the archiepiscopal palace, afmed with letters or introduction, she was mddé most hospitably 'welcome, and every facil- ity afforded her as by one who recognized the dignity and demands of art. Arrangements mt:dh,oneof\beuuz lls ‘of the paface, mous hole in thé Wigh ceiling” hiy pa up with lath, where a German shell had come through. During the process of choosing = THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JANUARY 11, AD N\ % LHLA Cecilia Beaux’s Contributions to the National 1931, 21 AND - ARTI/ T/ MECH =T N W ar Portrait Collection—Notable Exhi- bitions Scheduled for Corcoran Gallery. R Cecilia Beaux, at the National “Show Boat,” by W. Lester Stevens, on exhibition at the Arts Club. interesting. Eiiiggig i | % ] ; B s’ 1 il ig £ i : i Beegi 1] »Ee g by little. Also I must be sparing in demands on him.” To amuse her sitter, Miss Beaux once told him how, when she was a girl at home, she drew and lithographed fossils for scientifie books; at which he threw up his hands, lJaugh= ing like a schoolboy, and exclaimed, “Eet vous continuez encore!” (“You are continuing teo do so!”) If ever a portrait was painted with genuine fervor it was this one. One of the greatest difficulties, Miss Beaux says, was to reconcile what she daily saw in the cardinal with what she knew. Mrs. Vernon Kellogg had called him the “fighting cardinal,” but by this time he had taken off his armor and was busy in The establishment of peace. It is this combination of warrior and peacemaker that Miss Besux endeavored to interpret. CLEMKNCEAU. “Tiger of France,” was painted in his own house, No. 8 Rue Franke lin. Having been approached in the matter by our diplomatic representatives, he consented to an interview. “I will give you a half hour tomorrow and the same on the two following days,” he said to the painter. “That would be no use to me,” she replied, desperately clinge ing to the exact truth, adding that she had already decided on the exact composition when watching him for two hours through a glass reading the treaty in the chamber. Of course, she won her point. Though the pose and the composition were decided, the right lighting had to be secured. “One must remember the destiny of the portrait. It was to be an attempt to give the public of another country some idea of the Frenchman, the patriot, the leader, the denouncer, the supporter. The design was just, I must do what I could, lacking the zest of momentary revelation. Clemencsau must be seen in the tribune, lighted from far above, Color was of little consequence; the great Head and the action alone important. By seeing him as often as he would permit I might continue ally refresh my knowledge of forms, correct mistakes of measurement and proportion, and, above all, get a repeated first-hand view of hig positive yet so intricate personality.” Her contacts with Clemenceau while this gope trait was in process taught. her how simple are the accoutrements of greatness, especially in France. In Clemenceau’s presence she made only studies. The canvas was painted im & studio in the Cherche Midi. “Begone all pere sonal conceits! There was no room here for any ome but Clemenceau.” Ssays Mrs. Elliott, “and to please Villegas M“flflah Madrid, Jack pleased himself and 7 Hi i i ] | ——____ART SCHOOLS. HILL SCHOOL of ART .. Rt heen S EMY~ 1333 F St. N.W. ME. 2883. Abbott ArtSchool Day and Evening Classes. Child 's Sat: Cl 1624 H St. N.W. Corner 17th R A e s e o o o e R = =] Felix Mahony’s