New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
MRS BUTLER, The PAINTER OF THE
POLITICALLY
From IN, Otfeen

Elizabeth Thompson was born at Lausanne. Der
mother is a lady highly endowed for art her father
the friend OF Charles Dickens ana other ehi
between Italy and England-the winters spent In
the sunshine of the South, the summers in the fields
of Kent. Mr.. Thompson devoted himself to the
education of his two daughters and attended TO
their physical to their mental and artistic tram
ing Elizabeth Thompson and her younger ana
gifted sister were taught to play billiards. CRICKET,
and to be frst-rate markswomen. Inc child VINO
was to be the battle-panter OF her day early
showed the fascination exercised on her iinaglna,
his little girls in the nursery she scrubbed repre-
sentations of horses and soldiers fighting. Tying,
horses and CURES still carefully preserved-show
action and vlgor; the horses run ana the soidiers
fight. -, -. ..o.. ..,,, ~
the South Kensngon Schools of Art, but the wearl-
ness of copying outline designs oyereame her; she
left and soon after RECEIVED nef Tst Lessons IN OF,
to the South Kensington Schools no longer as an
elementary student. but passing on at once &c the
Sketching CLUB. Fellow students still remember
those spirited little pen-and-ink drawings of art-
ery and infantry IN action tom IN nfn Iana fSRGss
the hour allowed at midday for luncheon and recre-
alton Meanwhile Miss Thompson tried her luck
with exhibitions. Her fist water.colors were re-
lowing year the dudley Gallery hang vigorous
sketch Bavarian Artillery, CONG into Action"
At the age of twenty two, Miss Thompson returned
to Florence with her family. There she studied
Under the able guidance Of Signor Bauccl She
divided her time between her masters studio ana
the cloisters of the churches copying the ncompar
able frescoes of Andrea del Sarto and Francia
BIgio The following autumn saw the completion OF
her first subject picture, the VISITATION EShi.
bited at Rome il won an honorable mention. Sent
up for exhibition at the Royal Academy, 1t was re-
jected by the council and returned TO the artist
with hole through the sky. Miss ThOmpsons
second picture, the following wear, was again re-
ected = but this time it returned to her unn-
jured. The third year she was more successful
~ una
represented wide landscape traverscd by soldier
on horseback. leading home the sinking hgure OF a
wounded and missing conrade Inc picture was
HING high but il attracted the attention OF those
who look beyond the line. Critics also noticed
about this time spirited watercolors exhibited
in various galleries.
Miss Thompson now received her first commits
sion 4: it came from gentleman IN the north. The
subject of the picture was left TO the ARTISTS
choice. Miss Thompson chose the calling OF the
roll after an engagement IN the Crimea. The theme
had long haunted her imagination. She set to
work upon with ardor. The fate of this picture is
matter of history. When it came before the select
ing committee. it was received with round OF
cheers then followed the royal speeches. the paean
of applause from the press the gathering crowd
girl told the story OF the Trimmed ranks and the
tragedy of war. Finally, in the height OF the
season came the removal OF the picture TO Wind
sor for the Queens inspection Her Majesty express
ing wish TO possess IT, the owner Loyalty coded his
claim. -
During the hubbub of popularity Miss Thompson
remained quietly at her work. The following year
she exhibited Quatre Brss,"a picture, which MIR.
Rnskin admits in his notes OF that years Academy,
to have approached with "iniquitous prejudice;
first, because the learned professor did not believe
that any woman could paint, and then because be
entirely dstrustcd the fuss > made about it. Mr.
Ruskn convinced before "Quatre Bras"
"This is Amazon work." he writes: 81 the first fine
pre- Raphaelite battle picture we have had" The
next year came Balaklava,D the return of o hand
ful of men after the famous charge up the brow of
hill. 1t painted with that fine sense of all the
opportunities presented by scene which is one of
this artists characteristics. In 1877 Miss ThomD-
son married Major Butler. At the Academy OF 1873
she was unrepresented. In the following year were
shown two OF her finest works. Listed for the
Connaught Rangers" The Remnants Of an Army"
Mrs. Buffers pictures display Iare energy of
dramatic imaglnation-a power OF developing the
scene she illustrates by wellchosen incidents IL is
not only the soldery episodes of war that attract
her but its human and pathetic passages. The
Defence OF ROrke's Drift" painted for the Queen.
was not finished time for last years Academy
but is now, understand, at Windsor. In this
rapid survey of Mrs. Buffers works, we must not
omit her illustrations to her sisters poems, Pre-
ludes" and to some OF Mr. Thackerays ballads.