The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-18
Miniature Painting-Mls Q. Steele.

Miniature Painting-Mls. Steele.
We were favored yesterday with inspection OF q col
lection OF beautiful miniatures executed by Mrs Steele
bdy who has acquired considerable reputation In the
of her professional tours through other parts of
the Union but who has only lately been induced by the
which she has received from several in
arenal parties here to take up her resden for brief
period amongst There is perhaps branch Of the
profession in which 1t is difficult TO attain emnenos
than In that which this Lady has chossn her peculiar
walk The minuteness Of treatment and elaborate finish
which these small pictures require to render them vau'
able In the eyes Of sters difficult to reconcile with
those higher principles OF the art which demand freedom
and holiness correct media OF expression There are
few mod artists perhaps with the exception Of
Thorburn Of London, Aulrenn Of Dublin, Hsdelman OF
Paris and one or two OF own painters. who may be
said to have successfully these dicuies and
surprised we'll Is pleased, to 6nd that the
mir iatures of Mrs. Steele belong to this standard Of
cellence In the art
Mrs. steeles professional has not been exempt
from those trials and vioissudes which 70 be the
heritage Of the votaries Of art She has nevertheless
pursued the object Of her ambition with steAdiness and
consistency such few persons would have displayed
der similar crcamstances and 1t ITALY be said of her
that abe has earned the she has attained the
exercise Of greater amount Of patience self denial and
than 1t falls TO the lot Of most be
called upon to exhibit.
Although 1t does not fall within the scope Of oursory
notice like this to enter infinitely into these critical pas
ges Of artists life few details respecting the
Of this talented may not be embarrassing
to the farer portion Of readers Mrs. Steele is tbs
daughter Of Mr. W. RsiHeld OF the village Of Jordan
in Ononcags county Nov York As early eight years
Of age she displayed evdsuces Of the taste that decided
her choice Of she had reached
her fourteen tn year became strong passion with
her. that her father resolved upon a,ng her uuder the
tuition Of Mr. Coffee E gsh sculptor and painter who
happened to settle in the neighborhood This gentleman
was friend Of Mr. Redaslds, and felt strong In
terest in his daughter, Of WHOSE talent he had the
highest opinion, that he took charge Of her sra-
tuously for about two years, and not only gave
instructions in painting but in modelling At the age Of
seventeen che sent to the school OF the Rev Mr. L
man. Of SkeneAteas where she made her frst essay
portrait painting by taking the kencsses in oils Of ell
members Of his family These Portraits althoaSa the
first she had executed considered pro
euctons for so young girl and displayed evidences Of
unqueston sble genius In September 1884, she married
Mr. Daniel Steele portrait painter OF Rochester with
whom she continued her studies and she travelled with
him in his professional tours through Tennessee and
tuoky, until the failure of his health compelled hsr to
10 account tn0S0 talents Wnlon nRd
ercised amusement. Her husband died In New Or
leans in July 1885, leaving her and her child almost
petsy psnniess and then that series Of trials
ard difficulties to which have already alluded and
which have only been surmountsd by the most ceermn
ed perseverance,. At period when she Was without
friend And struggling against the most adverse ercum
stances is right to mention that she met With unsr.
pected sympathy and aid from noble hearted man.
whom she was comparatively unknown, namely Mr.. W
q. Polk cousin to the late President Although nothing
that We can say add to the feelings Of self approval
which his conduct must have afforded to his own mind
such acts those Of Mr. Polk recorded n
rebuke to others, who, with pretended admiration for
art look with codAsss and indifference on the struggles
Of its professors.
From New Orleans Mrs Steele went to Mobile, where
abe remained about year. and then vissi profe sion
ally most o. the principal cities Of the Union In the
course OF this tour she painted amongst number of
other distinguished PERSONS Governor Seward (who sat
for her in the chair and the same spot in which
he had previously sat for Harding and IumAu Mrs Gen
era Gaines Mr. Kendall, Of tae New Orleans Picayuse,
the Hungarian Count Zondose Mr. and Mrs. Wade, OF
Chicago Richard Henry Wild Ma Csittenden, Miss Les
ie the autho'ess Professor Longfelow, Count Pasky,
Theodore Parker DR. Stone tae Rev DR. Cox OF Brooklyn
and Mr. Sherwood Of Otowa Tae miniature Of the last
PANIED gentleman sen. to the exhibition Of the Roy
Academy and obtained . highly complimentary notice
from the London Morning Herald
In lS46 Mrs. Steele visited Non real and Toronto
she met with great kindness and encouragement from
many Of the leading families Of those cities. Amongst
those whom she had the honor o. painting Mr.
Bolton, the Mayor Of Toront, the Bishop Of Montreal
the Hon. Robert Sullivan the Hon. Peter McGilI. the
Hon. Mr.. Price, Mr.. Stewart Derbyshirs, and Col. John
Simpson. She found her visit to Canada and
profitable that she remained considerable time thers
Since that period she has become less migratory her
habits her growing reputation rendering longer soourn
in our large cities advisable 1t to be hoped that the
suits Of her present visit to New York will prove salts
factory to induce her to take ABODE
amongst On her arrival here last she pre-
seAted for exhibition at the Crystal Palace several pieces
Of her work. but from not known the
managers OF that Establishment thought proper
put than in exhibition although her claims . native
Of New York, talented artist and woman Of great
ural genius naturally be supposed to influence the
minds of those who have made many pretensions
the managers of that nstltu lion have DONE Mrs Sesle
reputation artist depends not few speoulators
but generous and Discerning public She is at pres
emit 1t the st. Nicholas Hotel and will remain there few
days longer previous TO visit she nteads to make to
Washington.