National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-12
MRS. GARFIELD.
HER PORTRAIT BY MISS RANSOM.
A Visit to the Studio Of This Artist-A Talk On
Pictures and Works Of Art - The
Tastes Of the President
elects Family.

the metropolitan journal, observed, as he reached
the corner Four and halfstreet, upon the door
post of the Colonization building is this modest,
unobtrusiye sign Miss Ransom, Portrait Painter"
1t reminded him at once that he had seen in a
Western paper a statement that this artist was
painting picture of Mrs. Garfield, the next mis-
tress of the Executive Mansion. Could he see it?
description of it would be interesting just now,
as, indeed. is everything connected with the fam
lily, which is so-soon to assume in the National
Capital the dispensation of the inequalities of the
Nation. He could but try, and slightly restrained
by that proyerbial diffidence so common to mod
ern Journalists, he mounted the steps in search
of room 5, which was designated as the haven
which now formed his objective point.
He was soon at the door, OF which was modest
card saying: Studio open to visitors from two to
five and seven to nine p on Fridays"
Here was what might have proved an obstacle to
some, but it was nothing to nineteenth century
reporter, who compacently assumes that his visits
are not only always welcome, but are usually
esteemed an honor. Bang, dong" goes the gong,
and the die is cast! The bashful young gent is in
for an interview-and that with a lady, too-a
Travelled artist of the classical persuasion and all
that; but it was too late to back out now.
THE ARTIST AND STUDIO.
Presently there stood before him. palette in
hand, plump medium sized, middle-aged
hOhltiii Will sui DIONu DUO
pale, thoughtful, yet very kindly face. Without
asking, he knew that this must be the artist, and,
giving his name and making known his desire to
see her picture of perhaps the only lady in the
land who had forbidden merchandise to be made
of her photographs, and seeing also at glance
that the room was filled with pictures, quickly
adding, and portraits of other distinguished people
that you have here, the response was
CERTAINLY, SIR. WALK IN"
Advancing into the room his admiration was
challenged by the numerous studies and pictures
that adorned its walls and he felt inStinctively
that although no other person but the artist was
present with him visible to mortal vision, these
bright faces, which seemed to echo her welcome
from all sides must be the material representatives
of invisible immortals, so life-like and animated
did they appear.
"THE PORTRAIT OF MRS. GARFIELD
is not finished and cannot be until have few
sittings from her." she said in sweet, rich voice,
that eyinced great kindlness, delicacy, and Gull
ture. However, will let you see it, although
in its present condition it does neither artist nor
subject justice"
Near the door, upon a large easel, tastefully
draped with an old Union flag, stood the object of
our search, the portrait of Mrs Garfield. 1t is a
three quarter length, ife-size picture, and repre-
sents the lady standing, with her slender hands
in one of which is lace handkerchief resting
npon the back of a chair, over which hangs
shawl with brilliant cOlors in a
black ground, itself wonderful study of color and
careful drawing. The dress is black silk, trimmed
with black lace and velvet, rich black lace scarf
passing over the left shoulder on the shadow side
of the picture, and tied in bow-knot low down
on the right hip, with long ends lost at the bottom
of the canvas. The back ground of the painting
is small section of the parlor in the Generals
house on the corner Of and Thirteenth streets,
in this city, from the western windows of which
may be seen the lower portion of franklin Square,
and bitsof which is happily introduced into this
picture
''What pleasing adjunct to a home pictured"
yourrepresentative remarked
81 Yes" she replied; "but did not want to put
this one into the picture. The park is so near and
shut in that it is impossible to get the distance
requisite for good background This will have
to be toned away great deal and much of the de-
tail lost before it will please me. 1 had beauti
full view from the Soldiers Home showing the
Capitol and the Potomac like thread of silver in
the far distance sketched in the place of this, but
Mrs. Garfield did not like it for the picture. That
will do for Presidents wife who resides at the
Soldiers Home part of each year, she said, but
not for me- argued and pleaded, but all in vain
she would not have it. Il would be pleased, how
ever she said, if you could introduce view of
franklin Park in the pcture-the corner opposite
my window, where 1 have so often watched my
children at play The children and the General
joined heartily in this request and 1 promised to
try it. 1 hope it will please US all when DONE"
PERSONAL APPEARANCE.
With this glimpse into the heart of the woman,
your representative naturally turned his attention
to the face Being familiar with the pictures that
have recently adorned the journals of the country
he was not prepared to see such refined, delicate
and yet strong face.
'Why, Mrs. Garfield is a beautiful woman, " said,
"unless this greatly fatters her"
"Yes, we who know rwell think her beauti-
full, and this portrait does not fatter her"
"Does her husband like it,"
"Yes; think so. He liked il SO well that he
would not let take it to my studio in Cleveland
to finish, lest something might befall it in the
transportation and might not be able to paint
another so like her as this. The picture would
have been finished long ago could have taken it
to Cleveland"
"How long has it been in progreSS?"
st was begun two years ago, but when here Mrs
Garfield is so absorbed in her household and social
duties that it seems impossible for her to find time
to give sittings for painting, and cannot paint
from her photographs, as none of them that have
seen do her justice. did not spend the last win
ter here, but was suffering from extreme nervous
prostration in New York, where 1 had gone to
paint a portrait of Alexander Hamilton for the
Treasury. 1 was obliged TO stay there for treat
ment, and after my recovery to complete that Or
der. The consequence was that l did not reach
Washington in time for a single sitting from Mrs.
Garfield. Of course she went home and the ac-
ton of the Chicago Convention interviewed, and
has kept her there this winter. Hence the incom
plete portrait you see''
"Not long since L saw some notice of several
in lie NJ
tor"
eyes, she has some of mine. The portrait of
the Generals mother was painted by me in 1874,
and the one of her oldest child-'Little Trot,' as
she was always called-was painted after the death
of the child, in 1862
"Hare you, then, known them so long?'
ooh, yes That portrait and one of the General
that painted several months earlier brought us
together great deal, and we have been the best
of friends ever since"
"There was another picture mentioned on the
back of which you had written something to assist
Mrs. Garfield's memory"
"True; that was copy of this painting,
THE HAGAR AND ISHNAEL,
after Baroccio, the friend and companion of Cor
reggie she said, leading me to group of beautiful
copies from the OLD masters and pointing to ex-
quisite representation of this old story.
'WaS this Mrs. Garfeld's unasSisted choice from
this group"
"I do not remember, but think so. She liked
them all very much, and studied them very care
fully before deciding which she would have copied
Although Baroccio is not sowell known as many of
the old masters, yet regard the original of this
painting one of the gems of the Dresden gallery.
It was the first picture copied there, and its
ton opened the way for my making this copy of the
Sistine Madonna" pointing to beautiful painting
of this world renowned masterpiece of Raphael.
After admiring the splendid portraits of Ben
Wade Chief Justice Chase, General Mcpherson,
and Pap Thomas" which have adorned her stu
dio for several years and become historic, asked:
"What is this landscape on the easel?"
al call it the
sBAY OF BAINE'