New-York tribune., 1875-01-12
4 PORTRAIT BY MRS. SPARE4iLS1ILLMAN

RARE MERIT OF kEPOSE IN a flClOiNE-h-N NJ
PEAL To THE SPIRITUAL SENSE.
To me Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR. 7 desire to speak of some pictures at
Dolls chiefly for The purpose of advancing few re
marks upon portrait or Mrs. spartal-Stman' Dy her-
self which has for time stood In the r0om-the
most worthy pictorial object there, though not awarded
its due Of admiration by the public. The hrst mpres-
sion this portrait IS one OF profound repose' Vi
reverence and of involuntary sadness. conceive That
this melancholy influence proceeds from It's concen-
raed highly sensitive and unObtrusive character for
the painting exhaes spirit of its own. THIS say py
no means phOr but TO cal attention to the ract
that there found here that vital quality and ac
tive influence upon the behOlder 80 often alluded 10 as
by paintings Of merit ian idea frequently
embodied in ctlon) but 30 seldom really met Win III
the pictures of our time
The pose is very simple. but at the same time
it is peculiar; the head is Placed little nearer
10 the right side than 10 the Ieft, Dut is not
so distinctly inclined direction as TO Impress that
direction upon the beholder although devoid OF anything
Ike perpeudcuarity primness. This, to begin wlth
is very sIalfu disposition. The background Is com
nosed of rich hanging tapestry stretching per
haps twothrds the space, and glimpse OF cold gray
wall with three three-quarter columns IN cluster Inc
arms rest on a baustrade in 'front.' which Is partially
covered by Eastern OF suOdued but 0puent Color
ug they extend OF in opposite directions thus
incosinq the figure on level with the waist; and on
the right side the left raised on the elbow, brings
nto iuxtapositon with the long exquisitey outlined
cheek Japanese fan full of deep crimson and marine
blue and dingy gold. The tapestry behind shows erim
son spots and deep green or breish lines on citron
field; the harmony induced upon all these unts is co
plete and soothing. In the dark brown halr again.
there is employed the general effect of brownness,
surprisng scale Of huescrimsOn and green threading
their ov through the darker parts and soft tones of
velow and brown glimmerlng out Of the lighted p0r-
tons The hair luxurantly braided and coied Mt the
back of the head, plainly but hOwngly brushed away
from the forehead, and allowed to fall out OF sight be-
hind the shoulder Some OF droops In soft separate
abers upon the brow touching it so lightly and with
sucb relief az strangely to impress with sense Of
its vital warmth The dress should be partcuarized
in self thoroughly artistic IL Is OF usteress pink
stuf: the sleeves coming little below the elbow, full
and of flowing folds, and tied with large black ribbon
below the shoulder All around the opening which dis
closes neck and breast narrow black ribbon
agured with golden scrolls. Textures are not dstln-
er,sbed and indeed throughout the piece, no surface
except that of the skin especially characterized
so much space must be gwen in description 10 the
mere design. But in the marvellous technical and
spr1tual power with which the face and form are mas
tered and reproduced lies the great merit
OF the painting. One cannot describe the
delicate and strong modelling of throat and neck
and the gentle heaving OF the breast downward
70 the edging Of white below nor is It possible z Pint
the deep and vibrant tenderness those quiet pure
and peuetrative blue gray eyes 1t would be difficult TO
recal apy painting of eyes sensitive. 30 strangely
bov except in Raaelle Dante Rossetti And here In
fact s manifest the Distinguishing trait OF this work It's
eminent sacredness It contains far more than one
a ~ -S-s sss--
safely undertake 70 describe; and above ALL II con veys
the saeredness of the than earthly beauty OF
BODY only of the eartb after all 1t reminds us of that
reverence Novas for tue human FORM which Carlyle
ouoes IN mis- Hero-Worshp But this Is quality which
does not meet with ready and general Appreciation ae-
eordney you hear people speak OF this portrait in
Appant observations its "peculiarty" and quaint
composition Also 1t is condemned as ovcrsensitive,
and in that way unhealthy. Those who hnd nothing
hetter 10 think OF than this seeing IT, may well con
slider their purity taste certainly their catholcy and
no,ver OF aspiration in danger would view the matter
nv po means AS An advocate but only suggeser OF
srsin deen and delicate truth involved which would
me 0eeher wrong to lose sight Of Something OF th!s
ma he conveyed by saying that there Is knowledge
,r,ore worthy tnan knowngness, an unassumlng SIM
TI1cftv in ART which better than chtc Ia the same
Yhtio room with Mr.. StiIDaD there wac au ancient
,1cfure lv one Maltesi almost unknown Italian OF
GOOD neriod some hundreds or years since IL repre-
nted an eKpensive rug and pieces or outlandlHn
frnir with dingy background There was also tlefe
a RENTED Teniers, with men smoking a brown Jug,
a besrfh fire and so forth Such pieces find numerous
sdmIrers They are objects or envy 10 Deh0lder VINO
do moi possess them they are pendants OF VIII nj
dningr Mrs. StillmaD has hef SHORTCOMINGS ntlIe
IA IVA eoud be Indicated in this very portrait else-
where she has failed 10 be dramatic When she should
have been ~ has even struck faise notes VI coer.