The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-05
Fine ART.
A VISIT TO MATTuEws's STUDIO.

A VISIT TO MATTTEws's STUDIO.
The studio Of Mr. George 3. Matthews,
on Franklin street near Fourth street. Is
well worthy oi a visit, and will afford the
/ lover OF art an hour fun OF pleasure and
profit. In both completed work and stu
I dies Mr.. Matthews exhibits a number OF
examples which testify 10 careful and ap-
preciltive study and artistic genus on bis
part. aud faithful teaching on the part OF
his master. Carolus Duran. 4 most ciicc-
tive picture. and one which would attract
attention anywhere, is a Brittany Interior
/ Church Scene. The composition represents
several peasants Of both sexes seated in 4
church. in the attitude OF listening tO the
/ service. Their dress indicates that they
/ have lust come out Of the fields, and each
face Is q study in itself. The general tone
of the picture is sombrc but strong, and the
drawing is bold and confident. In the
treatment OF the drapery Mr.. Matthews has
| been also strikingly successful.
In marked contrast TO this picture Is a
sea-shore scene Mr.. Matthews terms
..Dieppc Fishcr-Girls." 1t represents two
girls on 4 long stretch Of beach. They are
/ coming from the sea and are about the mid
| die distance. Here we have n full light
/ with bright cGoring. and no accessories to
relieve defects in drawing and light and
! shade: vet the entire treatment VIII pass
/ detailed criticSm-a fact, viewing the tech
nical difficulties OF the composition, which
can hardly be presented too strongly. II
| i iull OF genuine feeling, ard is 4 charm
! ing bit OF art.
Three other pictures in the same general
tone are 4 Tr0ubadOur, and the Exterior
and ITS companion the Interior OF a
Caf9 on the Seine. In the latter we have
an especially fine opportunity for studying
Mr. Naftbews's management OF perspective
and feel Immediately his mastery OF II,
while in all three there is happy. poetic
conceit and exceptional delicacy OF touch.
In = marine sccne-a Fishing Smack Going
Out OF Dieppe-which is the replica OF
ono ~ his piciures now in New York, Is
nresented another evidence OF the paint
er's versatility.
In nortraitIIre we have several heads that
attest in the various essentials OF art Mr..
Matthews's success in this department, Dut
ncrbaps his strongest recent enort Is his
nortrait OF the late Or. \. VI. PolndeXter,
naintcd for the authorities OF Richmond
| COLLEGE. OF which institution Dr. PoindeX-
fer was the agent for years. Ihose who
remember this celebrated Baptist dialecti-
cian sneak OF it as perfect likeness, and
certainly as work OF art il conforms to
what no less critical authority than Pal
rave n m has erected as the criterion. The
face is that OF sallow, blue-eyed
man, thin almost TO emaclatloh; Du' every
feature in II, os well ~ every line IN the
moJelIinD 81 the head, is instinct with
character, mental force, and aggressive 7
would glow under excitement; an, and , dis
sociated from any know,ledge oil the char
acter Of the subject, the impression pro,
duced is that OF power al resi-, In the
matter OF fiesh-like teNt.ne un1 son.ia
finish, the work also ranks win Mr.. Mat
thews's best portraits.
The examples mentioned are but repre-
.on,ative at ~ Wr Matthew's artistic meth.
ods. The whole collection illustrates i dill
cence @ and art intuition, and is full Of bril-
liant promise.