Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-02-08
The Flower Girl and Domestic Felici.

possession Of the highest order of talent.-
A connoisseur remarked that the latter pic
ture cxcelled any other production that haC
appeared in the gallery since its first open
ing Its vigor and freshness were as re
markable as its rich and harmonious color
ing. while the drawing and composition
were pronounced admirable. 1t represen
ted a mother and father bending over thei
sleeping children, and several artists OBJ
served that they knew of no one who could
surpass the painting of the mothers hand
The managers of the Art Union in Phila
delphia were so delighted with this picture
that few of their number privately sub,
scribed to purchase it. the rules not allow
ing directors to expend funds except fol
paintings selected by the prize-holders. Il
was afterwards sold to an association in the
West The Western Art Union purchased
several of Mrs. Spencer's works, and had
one engraved for their annual presentation
plate.
Mrs. Spencer found her kitchen scenes SC
popular, that she adopted that comic, ia.
miliar style in many of her paintings
Shake Hands?' represents girl making
pastry, and holding out her Toured hand
with humorous smile. This manner the
artist has been obliged to adhere to, on ac-
count Of the ready sale of such pictures
while the subjects that better pleased her
own taste have been neglected. Yet she
has contrived to introduce q moral into
every one of her comic pieces. The Con-
trast' embodies a touching story. 1t is in
two pictures: one shOwinga a pampered, pet
ulent little dog, barking at some intruder
from his velvet cushion surrounded by silk
en- draperies; the other, a meagre, skin-and-
bone animal. creeping through the pitiless
snow-storm in search of food for its young
ones. Mrs Spencer excels in her pictures
Of different animals.
Some time ago. Mrs. Spencer made a
series of original designs-twenty or thir
ty-illustrative of scenes in the vOlumns of
The Women Of the American Revolution.
All these have not yet been published
Perhaps more of her paintings have been
engraved than Of any American artist. All
are of her own composition, and most of
them are domestic scenes. One, called
'Patty-eake,' shows young mother, with
her baby on her lap, teaching it to clap its
hands; another, Both at Play, represents
father teasing his little girl by holding
an air-balloon just out of her reach. These
are done in the highly-fnished German
style adopted by Mrs. Spencer. She usu-
ally takcs her own children for models.
The Captive exhibits slave in market,
her master lifting the veil that concealed
her charms. Its touching expression is
admirable Reading the Legend shows
lovely lady listening to a reading within
view of a noble castle; lu: we do not like
the taste Of either the costume or the atti-
tude of the reader.
Mrs. Spencer encountered serious diff
culties in New York before she acquired
the fame she now enjoys. In 1853 she
purchased lovely place in retired part
of Newark, New Jersey, where she now re-
sides with her happy family. Her studio
IS at the foot of her garden, large bull
ding, with its walls covered BY sketches,
casts, etc, where the artist labOrs assidu-
ously. Visitors from distant cities come
here to see her paintings, and she usually
has several in progress at the same time.
The GOssips,' large painting de genre,
with ten figures of women and children, has
attracted much attention. The scene rep
rescnts the yard of tenement building,
where women are engaged in washing, pre-
serving fruit, cooking. and other sorts of
work. They have gathered into a group
to listen to some tale of scandal from
stranger, with basket of bread; and the
children are getting into mischief the while.
A little boy has fallen into the bluing tub
IF clothes, while a younger girl is laughing
at his mishap; a dog has laid hold
Of the meat boy has forgotten to look af- !
.er, and cat in the window is skimming
.he pan of milk. The peaches in basket |
n the foreground look as if they might be
picked out and eaten. SO rich and fresh is
he eolOring The effect of light
N one of the female figures is exquisitely |
beautiful The whole picture is highly
and its merits are enough to make
| reputation for any artist.
Mrs. Spencer's pictures may be seen in
many of the shops where works of art are
or sale, and the prints engraved from them
re very numerous. She has now pros
,ect of Independence and SUCCESS before
ler. and may achieve triumphs greater
han aay she has yet accomplished.
[NoFs Dr THE EDs-Mr. and Mrs.
Iartin, the parents of Mrs. Spencer, have
esided at Braceville. in this County, for
.veral years They have in their posses
ion number of Mrs Spenoer's earlier pro-
uctiOns, which they t-ke pleasure in ex-
ibi ting to their friends.
4 second daughter, Mrs. Stowe, Of Mel
on. has also given evidence of talent for
ainting
In what ship, and in what capacity, do
oung ladies like to engage? In court