Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-21
ARTS APOSTLE.

ARTS APOSTLE.
Engiand's Es,hete al the Photograph.
cr's Gallery.
THE TOO-TOO RECEPTION SUIT ACCOMPANIES HIM
AND HE POSES IN A SCORE OF EXQUISITE
STYLES.
From the N. Y Cor Boston Herald.
Oscar Wilde has been on exhibition since his
arrival here at private receptions, and once on
the lecture platform, and, perhaps, the stalwart
but fair aesthetic would himself admit that his
person has been of much more interest than his
philosophy. Of course, an object of so much
feminine curiosty-fOr the mad infatuation OF
the lone, lorn maidens for Bunthorne in Gilbert's
charming opera is only caricature of the real
admiration lavshed on this apostle of the beau
titul-could not escape the photographers. Some
OF them were SO anxious to get sttings from
him, that they began to negotiate with his man.
ayers before the young aesthetics departure from
ENGLAND. SarOny was the lucky one.
The poet has proved very tractable since he
has been in this city. SO, when he was told that
he must go and sit for pictures. he attired him
self in faultless raiment packed up his reception
suit-the 'too-tOo" one. which consists of a
velvet swallow-tail coat, knee-breeches, silk
stockings and pumps-and set out for Sarony's.
those who had the fortune to be there than any
that have taken place since the poet began his
career in this country. Sarony himself when in
good humor, is, as they say, as good as
shaT-with his very short stature and frsky
ways. But first P0sthelwaite's dress on this
occasion. To begin at the top, he wore a seal
skin cap, with the side-fiaps tied across the
crown. cravat of sky-bue "a favorte color
with him) hid from view what of his shirt front
left bare by his wastcoat.
BLACK VELVET JACKET
magnificent pair of brown trousers and
patent leather shoes completed his dress, ex-
cept the fur-lined and fur-trimmed ulster
which envelops his tall form when he goes
out, almost from top to toe.
SarOny was waiting for him in the reception
room, momentarily expecting his arrival his
little figure Che is not much over four and a half
feet hlgh) crowned with red Turkish feZ
When the tall aesthetic entered. the pain looked
like the giant and the dwarf greeting each
other.
''Ah, here is q picturesque subject. indeed
exclaimed the artist, clapping his hands and
dancing around the room.
The poet, who is much given to laughin.
and smiling, laughed and smiled in return.
After dancing around still more, Sarony asked
the apostle OF the beautiful and true if he had
ever seen his (Saronys) nose.
Your nose!" asked Wilde. laughing immOd-
erately.
Then 1t was told that years ago sarony was
caricatured by a rival photographer, who Sc
lected his very prominent nose as a particular
feature to be developed. But the subject of the
caricature was by no means crushed by this in
fact, he went on charging his ma!igned feature
himself until ii assumed enormous proportions
and portraits showing the result of his artistic
endeavOr in this direction are found on the
walls of the gallery everywhere. Sarony went
around, with his peculiar shutting gait, ard point
ca some OF them out. But there is something
that he takes more interest in than in his nose,
and that is his wife. He has taken her picture
in all possible attitudes and in all sorts of cos
tunes; ana these portraits are met with as fire.
quenty in his studio as those Of his own nose
IL visitor manifest especial interest in
HIS wIFE's PICTURES,
he will pull ont still others from drawers and
portfolios. They are without end. But this
was not enough, he must show, some particu-
larry fine studies of the nude He was de-
lighted when they were approved. and in his
good spirits, he fell TO dancing around the room
again.
when these prellmnaries were over the artist
turned his attention to manipulating tie SUBJ
ject. The young apostle of ;rstnaticism has a
great stock of hair that falls down on his
shoulders in folds and rin9iets. That was g
good point, giving picturesque effect 1t was
observed that the ulster possessed beautiful
lines. Therefore it must be kept on-at least
for the first series of sttings. Turning out the
edges OF the ulster, turning back this corner.
smoothing out line here ana line there
turning the subjects hands this way and that
way, putting him at side view full face. three
quarters standing. sitting. his legs disposed so.
and again so. the little man in the red fez. back
ing Off each time to see the effect, finally made
up his mind what was best to do He claimed
his hands in anticipation, and. giving orders that
all visitors should be kept at distance he went
dancing ahead to the gallery. Posthelwate and
the others followed.
The artists manner of conducting the sittings
was much the same as usual. except that he
took extraordinary pains in getting the pastures
to suit him: TO keep the poet in a pleasant
mood and from showing signs Of WEAKNESS he
kept up constant rain of small talk. When the
subject was at last posed Sarony turned his
back, those present doing the same at his bid
ding, and, throwing his head back, looked up
through the windows in the roof at the sky. He
does this, whenever he takes picture like an
automaton. The operator, at this sig6al. re-
moved the screen from the camera turned his
back to the sitter and began to whistle. This
was also part OF the program, and through
much repetition has become as mechanical as
SarOny's
LOOKING Up AT THE SKY.
After few moments the whistlng died away.
and some commonplace remarks were exchanged
between the artist and the matter-oEfact opera
tor These performances from first to last, were
gone through for the purpose of breaking the
silence and to give the subject as much ease as
possible in his strained position. This rigmarole
was repeated eight or ten times. and then the
aesthetic exchanged his ulster and Jacket and
elegant brown trousers for a dress coat, knee
breeches and buckles and silk stockings About
as many more sittings completed the second set,
and the thing was done. But no celebrity gets
out Of Saronys studio without first writing his
autograph in All album. Still other pictures of
Mrs. Sarony We're produced and looked at. after
which the party took its departure, Mr.. Wilde
with some of Mrs Sarony s pictures in his pocket
These photographs Of Oscar Wilde are exceed
ingly interesting to any one who las a curiosity
to know something of his personal appearance
One OF them is panel, and represents the poet
with his ulster on in sitting posture. His hair
is parted in the middle. and falls down at the
sides of his face on his shoulders. The elbow of
his left arm rests on his knee, and his chin leans
ON his left hand; the right hand rests on the
other knee. and clutches pair of gloves. Az
his head is thrown considerably forward his
eyes are turned up, giving his face rapt, costa
tic expression. Another Panel represents him
as standing, holding his gloves ia one hand, and
crumpling the border Of his ulster In the other
The cabinet size shows him at q three-quarter
view, with the ulster buttoned up and HIS seal
skin cap on. His head is inclined somewhat to
one side. The second set is more, poetical, the
most HSthetiCal attitudes hayin6 been taken In