The New York herald., 1871-12-03
STUDIO NOTES.

1t has ever been q matter Of sincere regret with
the lovers OF Shakespeare that nothing approaching
q trustworthy likeness had come down TO us. The
conventional bust which forms the only sculptured
likeness does not deserve the name OF art and Is
evidently the production OF some provincial stone
mason; and while the engraving from the portrait
ascribed ndiYerently to Taylor or Burrage displays
higher artistic power fails to convey TO our minds
an adequate idea Of the power and richness OF
thought that dwelt In the master mind As result
are disappointed for though face full OF in
telligence something wanting that might indicate
The marvellous insight into life and sympathy with
human passions that breathes through every line OF
the great poets WORKS. About 1887 o German vir-
tuoso purchased an old painting OF the deathbed Of
william Shakespeare and being struck with the fact
that the face had been painted from O mask was in
duced TO MAKE inquiries which led to the dis
covery OF O mask which 1t is claimed was
taEen from the poet after death. This mask
was brought to England and offered to the British
Museum for a sum Of $25.OOo by the German pos.
SCISSOR, but after some years was carried back to
Germany, as the authorities OF the Museum did
not consider there was sufficient proof OF its au-
thenticty, the curious feature about 1t Is that
1t presents the main lines Of the nkenesses we
already possess, while giving US head of
unparalleled force and development We have the
large eyes and arched brows with indications OF the
scar he was known TO have over the right eyebrow,
while the peculiar natness OF the face IN the STRAIT
ford bust s also found in the mask. peculiar for
nation OF the mouth, which Is indicated both In the
bust and In the picture exists also In the mask 1t
is known whether or not the authorities of the
Brush Museum consulted experts as to whether
there was sufficient internal evidence to justify the
belief that the mask was really Shakspeare's Mr..
Page, whose large experience as portrait painter
and consequent habit of analyzing features entities
his opinion to much consideration, has no doubt
that the German mask was really taken from the
deceased poet In this belief he has devoted nearly
q year TO the modelling IN plaster Of head which
shall present all the features found in the mask
result Will oner strong contrast TO The inane and
unsatisfactory hKenesseS with which we have
hitherto been compelled to content ourselves Every
one must have felt LII looking at the conventional
portraits how weak and inadequate they were, how
little they reflected the great soul which We know
10 have Inhabited the mortal tenement. But In the
head as copied from this curiously discovered mask
We nave evidence OF power almost superhuman.
1orcibly and SO trutniully every human pas
sl0n analyZing mems motives and characters
genulneness OF the German mask can be estao-
iished, the curious specuations as TO che race
to Which belongs put forward y re-
speare," published some years ago In Eoinburg
will have received strong continuation the
sls and analysis declared that Shakespeare was not
q Saxon but Celt, aud II the claims OF the German
WORK can be established satisfactorily the correc-
ness OF this deduction win be placed beyond doubt
Mr.. Page deserves the highest credit for eo orts
10 place before US worthy portrait OF the great
N. ]. Heade has just finished very pleasing
picture OF 'An Apple Orchard,n with some figures
delicate colors lend charming enect to the trees
wnlch are carefully studied good deal or atten.
the grass and liste field flowers painted with pre-
Raphaee minuteness OF detail. The shadows
thrown on the grass are handled with nice judg-
ment and mpart o pleasing tenderness to the
scene. In the color treatment there evidence OF
delcacy and feeling The artist has in progress
other work OF the same character and some pleasing
Mr.. M Wilson has Just finished portrait of Mrs.
HUTCHINSON, OF the BrooKlyn orphan Asylum, which
JARVIS McEntee mas come home from the Catskill |
Mountains with quite q number OF late autumn |
In which this artist delights. lie remained
at MS post watching the everchanging beauties OF
the dying leaves until the bitter wind announc-
Tenth street. Some OF these sketches which hap |
pened to be unpacked, are delightful, and Will no
doubt rapidly grow into effective pictures unoer Mr.
Z. II. Perry IS at work upon one Of those familiar
thug Of malice the artist calls his picture whicn
represents two children, one OF wnom Is cutting
away at 2 pumpkin, "Tne Young sculptor" It's
simple little genre piece, with q good deal OF the
feeling OF childhood naturally comp0sed and solid
in color Mr.. Perry possesses much sympathy with
and many OF mis- paintings represent what
migut be termed the poetry OF labor, which he
treats naturally and without any attempt at sensa-
indeed, the fault seems 10 TO lie rather
the other way, and the introduction OF little more
idealism INTO those subjects would we have no |
doubt, lend 10 them an increased interest
van Elten has set TO work vigorously and Is far |
on q very pleasant Landscape. near
1t Is wen composed, and promises TO
DE most interesting. water-colored scene OF
Lake henderson, In the Adlrondacks," displays
remarkable poetlc feeling. We have in IL some
thing beyond the mere transcript or nature, with
winch so many artists content themselves. In the
composition OF the picture groups OF trees, water
and mountains have been worked INTO something of
a fairy scene, IN which We see the Imagination Of
the artist lending to nature an additlOnal charm
Harvest Time" landscape In Ulster county, with
group OF women in the fe Id, Is decidedly pictur-
esque. No matter how much we may object TO see
women laboring In the fields 1t cannot be denied
that their presence lends charm TO the
harvest work 1t would not otherwise possess, at
least from art point OF vtew The artist has a.
mirably caught the sentiment OF the scene which
Is at the same time peaceful and joyous, with a
me0wness in the tone OF the picture which accords
admirably with the ripeness and fulneSs OF nature
NncINAT REVrEW