The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-08
ART MATTERS.
Miss G. L.. Ransom and Her Life-Sixe
Portrait OF General Thomas.

Miss e. Il. Ransom and Her Life-SfZe
Portrait OF General Thomas.
The discerning reader may possibly remember
that during the last few months we have had oc-
casion to praise not lew oil paintings, but Ii tS
not our fault If an almost inappreciaoly small pro-
portion Of these by women. With every dis
position to say al! that the most lenient Judgment
could sancton--nay. with tendency even to sacri-
flee criticism to gailantry-We have found very little
TO remark about female artists which we imagine
they would be delighted TO hear. Now, however,
Miss Caroline L. Ransom provides us with an op-
portunity for both JUSTICE and eulogy, and we
hasten to seize the occasion. though purchased at
the price OF ascending to the sixth floor Of tho
knickerbocker Life Insurance Company, No.
go Broadway. In short, Miss Ransom, who
comes from Cleveland, ONO, who has studied in.
Rome and Dresden, and who has worked for twenty
years at her profession occupies room 80 in the
building we have mentioned, and has on view there
ie-sze portrait OF the late Major General George
ii. Thomas. which may be seen by ascending on the
elevator. No. PARK place. and VIII well repay that
Slight trouble. The canvas Is seven feet by nine,
ana represents the General on the field OF Chicka-
manga, III the vicinity OF Lookout Mountain and
Mission Ridge. The date supposed be that
Sunday afternoon in september when, disaster
hclnming him in thick AZ the smoke clouds in the
gap between those mountains, General Thomas,
10y u remarkable union Oh courage and sagaCity,
preserved his forces from Generalization and
earned for himself the soprqnet OF ''rhe Rock Of
Chckanauga.' That sobriquet his career amply
justified, while the personals affection with which
he Inspired his troops secured him the not less
popular nickname OF pap ihomas.p
We believe it was Charles the First VINO remarked
OF the Dutch portrait painter, David Beck, tnat he
believed he could paint riding post, so great was
Iris rapidlty. Evidently Miss Hanson has had no
ambition 10 make haste otherwise than slowly,
having been engaged or the present picture for
many months. amt having put the finishing touches
to IL only daring the last day or two, preparatory
to packing her a and wngns g hsr way
Thomas Is not only excellent and exceedingly wen
drawn, but the artist has been under no necessity
to compensate for deficiency i'll expression by ex-
cessive elaboration ana beauty In accessories Fit
ting accessories nave not been forgotten. They
all there, introduced in proper relation, and
painted with hand at once strong and cunning;
but no other portion OF the work has been al
age IN it. The figure General Thomas not only
stands WE'LL but stands wei out. Hair the full
length portraits thar are painted look as
though they could be h0wled down ike q nlnepn
blown over with a breath. IN the painting
under consideration the General stands firmly and
naturally on nat rock at the brink of Chcka-
manga Greek, having the appearance neither OF
treaaing on eggs nor OF roofing himself TO with
perfectly easy, the right arm pendent and holding
his har, the left hand resting upon his sword hilL
and holding his dela glass. The face OF General
woman artist who had read Carlyle and believed
in hero worship, 70 paint: and we can readily sus
pect that Miss Ransom threw into her labors an
enthusiasm extraneous to mere art. General
Thomas features were capable, at, times, OF
Or General General Winfield Scott; but their
characteristic expression had softer element,
which we believe ScOtt's had not and which was
the exponent OF those benign aud lOvable qualities
that endcared him to his troops and caused HIM to
carry INTO the camp something Q! the affections OF
the residG.
II Is these bengnant qualities which Miss Ran
som Gas caught and confessed, mellowing With
them the soldlerly severity that rendered him an
enemy none dare ,lcspisc and a commander all
must rcspecl. she evlnces the true test OF all
who deserve to rank as portrait painters III depict
ing, not nectng woods aud temporary shad-
ows. but the real substance. the temper
mental! essence OF the man-oi man, too,
in The discharge OF nigh trusts and dan
gcrous responsibilities u moment when
great issues hung upon an instantaneous decision
and corresp0ndingly prompt action. 1t IL the
power and suhtlety with which this part Of.the
work is accomplished that give the picture an OK
cepilonal ana abiding value and cntitlc MISS RAN
som 70 be Judged, not lenenty because she is a
woman. but ;mpartlally because she Is an accom-
plishcd artist. II 1t he any qualification to her to
learn thai General Hooker and other friends Of the
late General Thomas have recognized ana warmly
conIplimented the fidelity OF the pOrtralture the
qualification Is one which Miss Ransom douby
deserves, and we know OF no other public building
which her labor would 80 well become az tnal OF
the Union League, upon whose walls portTat ike
~ cSDecially eliCltOuS.