Nov. 28th.,1920.

Concord Enterprise

Fine Paintings were Shown

Artists From Art Centers Everywhere Now Glad to Send Masterpieces to Town of Concord.

by Allen French.

The private view of the Fifth Annual exhibition of the Concord Art Association was held on Saturday evening, Nov. 20, in the town hall. The event was well attended by members of the association. The patronesses were Mrs. Harrison J. Barrett, Mrs. Henry B. Bigelow, Mrs. Percy W. Brown, Mrs. Philip A. Davis, Mrs. Smith Owen Dexter, Mrs. Frederick W. Eaton, Mrs. Herbert B. Hosmar, Miss Lily Hurd, Mrs. Pliny Jewell, Miss Alicia M. Keyes, Mrs. George S. Keyes, Mrs. Harry B. Little, Mrs. Loren B. Macdonald, Miss Jane Hosmer, Mrs. B. Stuart Murphy, Mrs. Louis A. Sohier, Mrs. Thomas W. Surette, Mrs. B. Farnham Smith. On Sunday the exhibition was opened to the public, and in spite of bad weather there were many visitors. The hall will be open afternoons from 2 until 6, and the exhibition will run until Saturday, Dec 4. On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays tea will be served.

From small beginnings and through all the difficulties of war time, the annual exhibition of the Concord Art association has steadily grown in importance until it has come to be recognized as an event in the art world, a show which artists compete to enter, and which people come long distances to see. This is entirely because of the high standard originally set and steadily maintained by Miss Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts, its guiding spirit. Artists no longer ask, as at first, “Why send pictures to Concord?” Instead they are willing to send their canvases at their own expense and without guaranteed insurance on the chance of acceptance. The workers in the association take such pains in their selections that the final group of art shown is fully up to the standard of the best exhibitions in Boston, New York, Philadelphia or Pittsburg. Certainly the exhibition is so recognized by the critics of the Boston newspapers.

The work of selection is considerable. The nucleus of the collection is always a group of invited paintings, sculptures and etchings. This year they were chosen by Miss Roberts in Boston, by A. C. Goodwin in New York, and by Edward W. Redfield in Philadelphia. Among the paintings thus invited are the portrait of Kreeisler, the violinist, by Seiffert, the fine landscape by Breckenridge, and the figure study, “Jade,” by Miss Gertrude Fiske. The group of Pennell etchings was also thus invited. Works of art not so chosen were offered by the artists, and it is worth noting that 150 oil paintings were offered, of which only 50 could be accepted. The decision among them was made by a jury of artists of whom none were directly connected with the Concord association: Charles Hopkinson, Philip Little, Cyrus E. Dallin, Margaret Hawley and Marie Danforth Page.

The collection as finally put on exhibition consists of 50 oils, 22 sculptures, 84 etchings, and 20 miniatures. As before, the rather dingy old town hall has been transformed by screens, hangings and evergreens, into a very pleasing salon, which helps to give distinction to the exhibition. The growing popularity and increasing reputation of the show makes it certain that last year’s attendance of 1000 visitors will this year be surpassed. For the fortnight of the duration of the exhibition there can be no more charming or more instructive way of spending an afternoon.

Of special interest to Concord people is the presence in the collection of the work of two Concord painters. The interesting portrait of Mrs. Percy W. Brown, by Alfred E. Smith, gives proof of his rapid advance toward mastery of his difficult art. F. A. Bosley’s study of an interior “Looking at Prints,” shows the artist in a new and most successful genre. The picture received honorable mention in the international exhibition at Pittsburg.

In the belief that these exhibitions offer an opportunity to enlarge the collection at the public library [which is very desirable in view of the projected addition of a gallery to the building] the Library committee is asking for subscriptions, in any amount, however small, for the purpose of buying some work of art from the present show. Money may be left at the door of the hall, at the library, or given to any member of the committee - Dr. Edward W. Emerson, Rev. Loren B. Macdonald, Charles Francis Adams, Edward F. Loughlin and Allen French. Checks should be made payable to Allen French. If the appeal is successful it will be made annually.