New-York tribune., 1880-01-09

self and tLere beinO n crack ia the ice which made
II dangerous to continue their alnusclnen ne lou
MIR. Grant to hold the skirt OF his coat ana iolioW
! him OFF the field. They returned 10 Mr. Stilafts
Inom where It occurred to him 70 PAINT Mt Grant III
the act OF skating with the appeudage oi q Nlhtti
scene in the background. Mr.. Grant consenc c','
and the picture was immediately coniihc'V%cu' %
During the progress OF IT, bare,l' ne it"lam d eAd
cOgrapher called upon Mr.. West one Day anu
coming through mistake into Mr. stuart rooIh
where the portrait was, then nearly hnlshen; lie cA
claimed: What a charming picture! Who hui
the great artist, West could have painted such an
one = Stuart sand nothing, aud as MI W est NtS
not at home BaTetti called again. ana coming llto
the same room. found Stuart at work upon the very
portrait What. young man; does Mr. Nest PER
mt TO touch his pictures = was the SaiuIaIln
ton. 1T is almost as good as Mr.WeS can PANT
This picture was exhibited at Somerset House
! and attracted 50 much notice that Stuart sald ne
was afraid 10 90 to the Academy to meet the looks
and answer the inquiries of the multltuGe' NlI.
Grant went one day 10 the exhibition DRESSED as MS
portrait represented him the original was illh'ui-
| atey recognized. when the crowd followed MN 80
closely that he was compelled TO make his retreat,
! for every one was excalmlDg: lhdl is me- theic
| Is the gentleman!'
In spite of his splendid success in England, stuart
began to grow homesck for his native land, ana III
! 1892 returned TO America. He was most cordially
| received by his cOuntrymen. ii he had lald
! by tenth part of his receipts 1t wouiu
have formed an ample provision for his family. fut
! he could not give up his accustomed fondness ior
| gay comvany and costly entertainments. III was
his delight to tell good story and sing good song
| with his festive companions around the mahogany
tree" Liberal as were his prices he always had an
| empty purse few hours work with the Drusn
would easily wipe away debt and if the wants of
the day were supplied. he took no care for the fu-
turc lie always had pleasant word for those per
sons who were known to him; he played wen
on number of instruments, particularly
on the harpschord his voice flexible, and his
wit ouick and sparl;ling; and if his high temper
came to the surface for n moment it was under bet
ter control than it once was. After temporary resi-
dencc in Philadelphia and Washington, Stuart re-
moved TO Boston in 1903 where be continued To re-
side during the remainder of his life. lie stu re-
tanned his careless and improvident habits In spite
of the increasing abIuptneSs of his manner ne
made many friends If not favOrite in the society
of Boston he was always an object Of curiosity ana
interest. Though he made no pretcnsons to refine
ment or courtesy, be always gained certain degree
of goodwill, perhaps even of affection Many iants
were excused on the score of his peculiar
temperament and his gifted and original nature
Few smoke of him with harshness or accrbity; he
was the object of sympathy rather than aversion
and there were none but treated him with generous
and tolerant kindlness Mr. Stuar's health began
TO fail after he had lived M Boston little more
than twenty years Soon after Le exhibited symp-
toms of paralysis in his left arm. which greatly de-
pressed his spirits; hut his mind was clear and
active to the last; he continued TO pant, and.
though with great difficulty. succeeded III hnlshng
number of heads he would occasionally say
something amusing to a friend but his natural How
of cheerfuness was gone His death took place on
the 9th of July. 1928, at the age OF sevcnty-two
Mr. Stuart left the reputation of original though
cratic powers of rare accomplishments II not
cOnsummate skill as an artist of n man oi exuDer-
ant suggestive and prolific intellect; bat of one
who had been better taught in every lesson than In
the supreme wisdom of the conduct of life.
We must not omit TO speak Of the illustrations
with which the publishers have set OF this hand
some specimen of Mr. Dc Wines workmanship.
The book with its beautiful white paper arpic
page and clear type is adorned with steel engray-
ing, By Burt of the Gibbs" portrait of Washing
ton an etching, by Duthie, after Stuart pen-and-
ink drawing Of himself; fine wood-eneravng, by
Cole of Miss Goodrdges miniature Of Stuart; and
with eleven of Stuart's portraits reproduced from
the originals by the Goupl process of photograyure
here employed for the first time III this country, III
book-illustration. Thus we have worthy begin
ming made in the pious duty of setting before the
American people the lives and works of the fore
runners in art in this country. and we trust 1t may
not be long before the same seIvIco may be rem
dered to the flames of Copey and of Allston. The |
process of photogravure is well introduced TO the
notice of our public by the reproduction OF the
"GibbsD portrait Of Washington, which Is rendered
with all the brancy force, and variety OF me
etching. 1t gives us, of course the original picture
with perfect fidelity and it is no ones fanlt II the
face of the Father Of his Country has weary and
discouraged look, as if the cares of such family
had been too much for him. Mr. Burt's beautiful
engraving, q remarkable combination OF hrlnness
and softness translates this Disappointing portrait
into more humane and genial expression, whhe
dealing with all the facts of the original with
scrupulous accuracy. The photogavure has done
its work well with all the other portraits, though
no one Of them has out 80 brilliantly from the
trial The portraits of Madame Bonaparte have
been so recently engraved in SC7ibneTs Maqdeine |
that It was hardly worth while to present them |
again. unless il were TO show with what accuracy |
and with what painter-like graver tho wooden |
gravcr has performed bis task. We wish that in |
stead Of our perveree countrywoman we could have |
had q reproduction of Stuarts portrait of John |
Adams when he ninety years old. This picture, |
which if it be still in good condition. may safely be
compared for mastery painting and life Of express
sion with any portrait ever painted, would have |
been far more Interesting subject than the Wash |
ington of which some one has truly said it the |
least inspired and the least inspiring portrait ever
painted by stuart Stlll, III was necessary 10 give IL
to the public among the illustrations Of life Of the
artist since his is forever hOnorably and mex
trcably linked with that of the Founder and we
are grateful for these authentic copies of his two
principal attempts to portray the face of Washing
ton the other picture being the well-lnown head in
the possession of the Boston Atheneum, depOs-
tied. with the portrait of Mrs Washington in the
Art Museum of that city, Perhaps in another edi- |
ton OF this valuable book the publishers may not |
only give us the John Adams" but may further |
enrich the volume with copy of the portrait of Mr.
Graut. of COngaton, represented skating a pic
ture which, when exhibited in London in 1873 was |
greeted with cordial praises and the name of the |