The Washington times. [volume], June 11, 1922, SUNDAY MORNING, Image 17

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
SCORE OF SUCCESSFUL WASHINGTON GIRL-BACHELOR ARTISTS
GIVE CITY VIGOROUS ART CENTER WITHOUT "VILLAGE" FRILLS
\''4L - VhiAV ii' '' . 7T 'tA' '?*' ? ? \ ' >y" .A*r'*-< "? -r ?' ' : '. . I .w ^^
HONEST BOHEMIA
IS DEVELOPED BY
SERIOUS WORKERS
Follow Careers Under Great Difficulties, Yet
With Joy Born of Courage?'"Quartler"
Atmosphere More Real Than That ot Over
exploited "Greenwich Village" /
EIB name is legion?these brave bachelor girls
who have chosen Art for a career! Yea, right
here in Washington one may And at least a suc
cessful score of young women artists, stowed away in
alley studios that for pioturesqueness and atmosphere
would rival the "quartier latin*' of Paris, studios far
lnore unique than the almost conventional and over*
exploited Greenwich Village of New York.
:#?
"A book of versus underneath the.bough,
A jug of wine, a loaf of bread?and thou
Beside me singing in the wilderness?
Beside me singing in the wildern
Oh, wilderness were Paradise enow!"
" Some of these painters and -*
aculptors of .Washington are
known abroad, several are quit*
famous throughout America, and
?van the younger set here have
already achieved a local reputa
tion. Yet Washington has never
before* been regarded seriously as
qn art center. It has been some
what of a surprise to many peo
ple to learn recently of the art
activities and interests of the
Capital City, to know that we
kave here more artists per hun
dred to the population than
probably in any other part of the
United States. Many, many
young men and women follow
spider great difficulties their
chosen career, yet with joy that
*ey have had the courage to
have "starved, feasted, despair
aid, been happy!" a la Browning.
WOMEN EMANCIPATED.
When that moet celebrated of
French animal painters, Rosa Bon
bear, adopted the maeoullne knick
erbooker attire in order that ahe
Might work at the stock yarda and
there study her favorite subjects
oloae range, she emancipated
6e woman artiat from a certain
^?veatlonallty which had pre
floualy marked the feminine ca
rper la art. Madame VIgee Le
Brun waa of that earlier type. If
we may gueee from the famous
portrait of heraelf and her beautl
ful daughter, a couple of equally
activating vampe. who look like
Raters. Still earlier in England
the charming Angelica Kauff
nVann, who waa the first woman
member of the Royal Academy,
iaeetnated Its president, Reynolds,
the leading portrait painter, but
?he married Instead an Italian
count, though Sir Joshua may
have been aomewhat conaoled by
Mrs. Slddons, whom he painted
eo wonderfully aa "The Tragto
Muse." -
la Franoe even today the moat
temoua modern French woman
painter and the flrat after Roea
' Bonheur to receive the red ribbon
?f the Legion of Honor, the en
trancing Mile. Helena Dufau who
?last year visited New York and
painted many commlaalons there,
fa her youthful career, years ago,
very greatly shocked the French
public by painting the nude "en
plain air." For the first time, fig
urea of the nude out of doors were
painted In natural scenes, street
gamlna taking a awim In the Seine,
or fanciful subjects In Ideal com
position, like "Spring," a beauti
ful nude playing with the aqulr
rale and birda, which latter pic
ture ahe exhibited In New Tork
last ssaaan. It waa a design for
? fireplace decoration, and one
aould hardly believe today that
twenty years ago her boldneaa had
actually bean reproved by an al
to oet Victorian French public of
that day. Mile. Dufau has many
tamona mural decorations in Paris,
ted she also deoerated the walls
at the poet Rostand's villa with
Intriguing studies, also In the
nude. Tet, at the aama time, thla
artiat'a facile brush produoee very
excellent conventional portraits,
?he notable success being the
' geated three-quarter length of
Mies Anne Morgan, a picture
widely oopled after its exhibition
fci New Tork.
Our Washington women art
lets are perhaps not ao extreme
as the knickerbockered Roaa Bon
heur, whose splendid "Horse
Fair." in the Metropolitan Qal
\nn of New Tork, would alone
justify almost any unoonventlon
allty. Nor are our Washington
ftacbder girl painters eo addicted
the nude as Mile. Helene Du
feu. who le a moat attractive and
peflaed young French woman,
hat we have women artists as
?harming and aa Industrious, and
It they were more widely recog
nissd who knows, perhape as Ca
ftnar tool Many of them have
achieved a dietincttve style, aad
?
Borne. tv?, 0Ao not wish to be
olassed as belonging to Washing
ton's Bohemia. since they havs
always lived at horn* and utill
have accomplish ad food work.
SCATTERED OVER CITT.
Th* Latin quarter hars la scat
tered all ovar the city, and tB
these studios, hidden away often
In unsuspected places, Victor
Flambeau has found a warm wel
come and the same hospitality for
which tHe Paris "Quartier" is so
noted. The artists will always
share their proverbial last crust.
These successful Bohemian girl
artists are not starving here,
though there are some others In
Washington attempting to follow
the eareer of art by going hun
*ry a good share of the time. And
surely no one would ever espouse
art for financial advancement,
since Ita returns are so unoer
taln. Tet those who do follow
the Ideal by choosing the earoar
they love set a commendable ex
ample. although sometimes their
beat efforts may go unpaid and
unappreciated.
One of the loveliest artist
haunta which Victor Flambeau
has discovered Is the house and
garden of Miss Bertha Noyes and
her sister, at ?14 Nineteenth
street northwest. Thsy rescued a
fine old colonial mansion from
decay, and havs restorsd It In
perfeot styls throughout, the In
terior being adorned with price
less antiques gathered from masj
localities. The Ivy-festoonsd gar
den, entered through a blue-green
gate, la an enchanted spot. Here
they entertained a large party In
honor of Mme. Ante Mouroux, the
brilliant French medalist, who
came to Washington with a com
mission for s portrait medal of
President Harding, ordered by the
French government.
LEADING PATRON.
Miss Noyes is a leading art
patron, besides being such a suc
cessful palntsr that her picture
In the spring artists' ahow at
the Corcoran was almost the first
to attract attention on entering
the gallery. It was a seated por
trait of "Madame Du Pau," the
popular French model, who was
mads up with a chic little cos
tume and fanoy silk parasol, all
in bright color and exceedingly
decorative. Tha picture has since
been exhibited at the Arts Club,
Of which Mies Nbyes was one of
the foundsrs, and there It was
given a place of honor. In all her
portraits Miss Noyss Is exceeding
ly faithful, and shs often Imparts
a certain wistful look th?t is
ths last word of charm in s
feminine portrait. The summers
Miss Noyes and her sister usually
spend at Provincetowir, where
they have a delightful cottage
with the artist colony, but some
times Miss Noyss goes to Europe,
and shs prefers Boandlnavia.
Another artist resort which has
often allured Victor Flambeau Is
St. Matthsws alley, and hers at
No. I Miss Catharine C. CHteher
has her Interesting studio and
school of art. not far away from
the noted sculptor. George Julian
Zolnay. and other artists. This
section, behind the big church,
wae merely a group of old stables
and garages, until the artist group
began to settle there and redeemed
some very attractive, almost
abandoned buildings.
, Miss Crltchsr Is a Washington
girl, born In Westmoreland county.
Vs.. ths birthplace of George
Washington. She lives at ths
Arts Club. MIT I street north
west. of which aha also was one
of ths founders. Hsr seated,
three-quarter length portrait of
"Olean Madison Brown," another
Washington artist and member of
ths Arts Club, rseohrsd first
Prise, the ?lv?r medal. In the
rssoot exhibition of the Washings
too artists at ths Owwme Oal
A FEW (ample* of the art tutfciutln
A artists, with a o}in}P8e.? re 4^ European scenes with
MuS Tf^MikvpiokZ. In tl* center* 'Our Marine,
by Catherine C. Critcher, who is shown at work in her stu
dio. At the bottom are three portrait studies, two by Vir
ginia Hargraves Wood and the other, a portrait of Glenn
Madison Brown, by Miss Critcher \
portant portrait, "Our Marine,"
4 young soldier whom she selected
for a model from a squad of men
returned from oversea*. Her
?tlll llfe studlee?fruit, flower*, 1 or
Mtaln or pottery?are strong In
oolor and well madeled, and often
?how m pleasing cubtstle effect.
"I hay* always tried to profit
toy criticism," Miss Critcher tells
us, "and I feel that an artist
should be willing to listen to anJ
accept criticism. If I have made
progress, I believe It has been
dua to that effort." Miss,Critcher
studied with the noted American
artist, Richard Miller, and in Paris
with Charles Hoffbausr. She his
a valuable collection of antique*,
with rare old hits of mahogany.
Her studio and art school la it
other dan on* may usually find
her busy herself with a modal,
for she is always painting. .Her
work is dominant and positive,
with nothing negatlvs or esntl
mental, though she is herself very
feminine.
WORK TOOK HONORS.
Miss Sarah Munroe, at the *e
cent Washington artists' show,
displayed two Provlncetown pic
tures that received muoh atten
tion, and one of which had the
place of honor In the Coroorar
hemlcyele. They were portrait
groups, strong In color and orlf.
nal in composition. Miss Mun
roe's style Is decidedly modern,
though she doss not consider her
self futuristic. Her "Ssmme - *
Day" bad the place of honor In
the Provtnoseowa exhibition lav
"I have worked for light, color,
and atmosphere." aaya Mtaa Mun
roe, who haa a charming home at
1101 N street northwaat, with an
attlo atudlo. She also la lntereefcud
In architecture, and haa redeemed
several fine old houaea, including
tba one next door, 1106 N street.
Brilliant aummerjr effect* are evi
dent In Mlaa Munroe's recent
work. "Under th? Pergola," "To
morrow'* llat," and "Modela Rest
in?," interesting atudiea of glrlinh
figures, the laat with something
of tha primitive About it, palntod
at Provincetown, where aha h<?
All adorable ititnmer houae, with
? rlaaa-irtcloaed atudlo.
MIm Munroe, wbo studied In
New Tork and Paria, and with
noted Aaralm art let a, Jf?w ?
theme, Richard Miller aad Child*
and tempera. Only her Province
town Portuguese subjects w?i e
rather aomber, In hoping with
the temperament of the alttara.
A Washington girl who received
honorable mention In the recent
artiste' exhibition, which waa open
to out-of-town palntera aa well, waa
Mlaa Hattle E. Burdette. for a care
fully executed composition of atll!
Ufa. And Mlaa Burdette, who re
aldea at 1140 N street northweat,
with a atudlo at the Nanaemond,
waa also one of the fortunate few
who aold a picture during the exhi
bition?a flower study Tory deli
cately painted. Her own one-man
ahow at the Arta Club later re
ceived much praise and displayed
a variety of etylea, the plaee of
honor being given to a pact el por
trait 9t a gtrtlah figure called
nlng." Her work baa a poetic
Quality, and In th? portraits ah*
center* the Interest In the eye*,
where ahe catche* the effect of
soul, whloh waa always the aim of
th? old master*, but 1* too often
forgotten In this later day. Another
portrait, "The Mantilla," also at
tracted attention, as did the pic
ture of the "Man With the Viola/
STUDIOS FORM CENTER.
One of the best-known and most
active of Washington women artists
Is Mis* Oara Saunders, w^oae
studio Is at the Art Center, 11 OS
Connecticut avenue northwest. This
Is another of the now artist local
(ties, made available through the
foresight of Mrs. William Hits, wife
of Justice Hits. Th* upper flosr*
of this building have boan ro
ulilil into swwnhat *tudi?
exhibition* have bssn carried on
during the put season. Leading
Artists have been attsaoted here, in
eluding Pierre Neytsns. the eteher;
Miss Juliet Thompson. who was a
Washington girt, but had Uved
many year, in Now York, with a
studio la Qrssnwtefc Village, aad
the ooulptor. Da rid Edstrom. who
has been spending the winter hero
whQo computing the modal tor hi*
eoloasal monument. "Man fun
Phaat" Miss Saunders, whose work
rigorous aad full of oolor be*
not boon exhibiting of late, kut It
Is hoped that wo shall soOii
more of her pleturea. Her sum
mots she usual?? spends ta Prov
inc?town. UlM Saunders Is a highly
euoceosful art teaoher.
And now why not take the rroV
ley ear whloh passes the Art Tee.
tor and run over to Mm Do.thy
Dent's Oriental Studio. at ton a
?treat southeast.
"I oannot explain why I
such a deep Interest la Chla -?
Japaneee and Bast Indian * ? -
oonfeoses Miss Dent. "It wcu <
?ssm that I should tool the -o
manoo of Amerlcaa history, but. I
do not reaot that way. Tot at any
photograph of an Oriental art ob
ject or picturesquely dad native,
slnos my earliest reooUeotlon. my
mind has kindled, and I felt my
desires drawn as If to my own "
DESIGNED JEWELED ARCB.
Possibly Miss Dent's exotic tssts
developed from an exceedingly
youthful visit to the World's Fhlr
In Chicago, to which her parent*
took her as an infant, and Wnleh
event sesumed large proport"mi
in her baby thought and always
remained with her as an Influence.
It was Miss Dent who made the
very beautiful designs for the Pan
American Jeweled arches 1^ the
Armistice Day celebration last No
vember at the opening of the dis
armament conference. More re
cently she has exhibited various
examples of Illumination and handi
craft designs at the Art Center,
aad Dr. Das Gupta, who held the
Important Hindu exhibit there, told
Victor Flambeau that Mlao Dent's
illumination of Valentine IQrbys
theme, "What Art Means to Me,"
was one of the| most beautiful he
had ever seen anywhere, even is
the Orient. Mlee Dent has a rare
collection of Oriental curios. One
of these objects is a handsome red
laoqusred chair, used exclusively
In Japan by the priests of ths tem
ple, and brought to this country
aa loot, so Miss Dent says, adding,
that there Is only one other like
It. and that Is In the Natlonel Mu
seum. A Japaneee brtde'e kimono,
of showy silk, is another curloelty.
Miss Dent etudied at the Sohool of
Industrial Art In Philadelphia and
at the Parsons School of Pine and
Applied Art In New Tork. Mr.
Daoud, of Washington, taught her
the Persian script, in which she
signs her signature to many at
her designs.
Another Washington artist,
with oriental leanings. Is Miss
Lesley Jackson, whose lovely Jap
anese soenee, shown at the Arts
Club this spring, oaptlvated all
who saw them. There were sev
enty pictures, landscapes, figure
and architectural subjects, mostly
In water oolor, and their beauty
reminded one that Miss Jackson
was for several years secretary
of the Washington Water Color
Club, and Is an exosptlonally suo
osasful water oolcrlst. She has
alao painted much In Nsw Eng
land and elsewhere.
WORK IS REMEMBERED.
And one, oannot forget today.
In any review of Washington
women painters. Miss Bertha Per
rle, who Just a year ago was con
cluding a busy and prosperous
year of art work In Washington,
to go to Olouoester for summsr
study, from whenoe shs never re
turned to us. Shs painted there'
'With great success during ths sea
son. landscapes, marines. Qlou
coster fishing smacks, ths en
vironment shs loved so much.
Soms evsn thought her work ths
very best shs had over dona
Then a sudden Illness, unlooked
for results, a bravs light suddsnly
srtlngulshed.
Miss Psrris was widely known
as an artist and teachsr, In
structor in the Corcoran School,
a founder of the Arts Club, and
with a studio snd private claasss
which kept her well occupied
here. She had a wide acquaint
ance and was popular with all.
Her pictures are possibly In more
Washington homes than any
other of our artists, exespt, per
haps. Luclen Powell, who has
had almost phsnomensl suoesss.
An exhibition of Miss Perrie's
work hsld In ths fall at ths Cor
coran, brought many purchagsrs.
and showed a wlds range of
stylss and periods In hsr pic
tures, some of which hsd been
painted during her study snd
travel In Europe. The Arts Club.,
too. hold an sxhlblt of hsr work,
and one of h?r best paintings was
bought by them and hangs on ths
waU there. Even la the biennial
exhibition of odatemporary Amer
ican artists, held at the fTtsoiaa
during the winter, Mtse Perils