Absent Ivan

Last week artistic Manhattan primped and prinked for a distinguished guest. Ivan Mestrovic was expected to appear in person at an exhibition of his recent sculptures. Then he cabled from Paris where he now has a studio; he could not come; next autumn he would bring sketches for two new doors for St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.

In his show are many wood-panels of nymphs and Nationalistic God-heads. Moses appears in two forms: a bust and a full-length bronze of seething, impassioned aspect. In an era when it is fashionable to divorce art from religion and other such influences, Ivan Mestrovio, bred close to Croatian soil, retains much of the peasants' religious awe; infuses his sculpture with that spirit.

Recently Sculptor Mestrovio said to a friend who was discussing U. S. art with him:

"An American school of sculpture? No. There is no such thing. Centuries must elapse before the civilization of Europe and of America can be called really distinct. In reality you [the U. S.] will always be learning from us, just as, reversing the picture, we shall always be learning from you."

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