The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-21
Private View OF Sir Frede.ack Leigh
toms Masterpiece for the
Academy.
Sir Everett Millais, Artist, Dapper
Man Of the World,
Baronet.
House and Art of Alma Tadema-Riviero
in the Zoo-Most Important Canvas
Of the Year.

tAO Aubu OUA0oy Al AAd1CAS dA VAo
London fashionable world spends
The afternoon flirting about from one studio
10 another, less perhaps, to gaze on the
pictures they will soon have another op-
portunity of criticising at the academy,
private view, than to pass remarks on each
others garments, see a number of artistic
Or social celebrities and be able to say that
they at least did, Show Sunday. On that
one day in the year every artists house i'll
London is thrown open to a crowd of sight
seers; refreshments, tea, coffee and wine are
some hosts even add to the festi-
val character of the occasion by having a
pianist to play slow music as fitting ac-
to what their guests have
called to see. No caller is turned away,
even those utterly unknown to the painter
are welcomed and shown whatever there is
to be seen. Notwithstanding his late pro-
longed attack of Russian Influenza, Sir
Frederick Leighton has more than usual to
show this year.
The president of the Royal academy
merits word or two of personal descrip-
ton. He is reputed by friends and foes to
be the handsoinest man in London. 1t is
said that when he was young man,
Turner ran after him in the street saying.
"Young sir, let me look at you; you remind
me of Apollo,' which, considering the
natural modesty of Leighton, must have
been rather embarrassing to say the least of
it. Tall, of stately presence with regular
features ana curly grey hair, Sir Frederick
has genial expression and singularly pen
etrating voice. It is probably to this last
gift that he owes the affection of the
Princess of Wales, who sometimes spends
hours in his studio. As is we'll known, her
l., ,oh~ sf1u kIop s.. oha o0
ways hear Sir Frederick Leighton. OF the
three paintings which will represent the
president. ''fhe Bath of Venus'' undoubt-
edly stands first. ''The Goddess of Love"
stands by the step of a sumptuous bath.
She is just in the act of dinging off her last
garments; the water at her feet reflects
the exquisitely graceful form and queenly
head.
His second picture, Solitude shows us
a passive maiden sitting near Scotch
mountain etream-"the sweet, sad lady of
the rill." The artist says that the idea and
last autnuan by the sight Of one Of the
loveliest and most mysterious characteris-
tics of Scottish Highland scenery.
His third picture, 1.-THE Tragic Muse,''
sits in golden chair, brooding moodily,
uncannilv, on some past terrible episode or
future horror deep blue sea behind her
dashed to frenzy. and the lurid sky is
touched here and there with feoks of blood
"a powerful and grues0me work. Every
thing in Sir Frederick Leighton's studio
shows true love for the beautiful, but no
undue straining after artistic effects.
A very different man is Sir Everett Mil
lais, A. r. A. It is difficult to recall those
noble presentments of deep true love, The
Huguenots, The Black Brunswicker, etc.,
when we look at the urbane dapper man of
the world lately blossomed into a baronet.
Even more it is impossible to recognize in
the middle-aged, fashionably attired lady,
who receives her husbands guests on show
did and thrilling Fireman carrying an un-
conscious form through the flames and
smoke. out of the burning house. Sir
Everett no longer paints fancy pictures; he
is given e5, 600. it is said, for every portrait
he completes.
Potboilers, or an occasional Landscape,
are all that now issues from his studio.
This year he has chosen Byron's lines. "The
moon was up, yet it was not night" as his
text, and shows us a lovely landscape, the
moon issuing, and stag in the distance. 1t
will be the first study Of moonlight that has
been exhibited by Sir E. Millais.
The studio, and indeed house of Alma
Tadena is vsritable palace of enchant-
ments, though it must be rather chilly in
winter time, for everything that can be
made of such material is of marble, re-
lieved only by bright-hued eastern mats
and carpets, and old Roman pottery: Mr.
Alma Tadema is a curious mixture, Dutch
by birth, English by adoption, his tastes
lead in the direction of ancient Rome and
Greece. His marvellous paintings reconsti-
tute Tor us the daily life of the Roman citi-
zen and Athenian, as none other has been
able to do with palette and brush. His
latest work is STYLED 1.-The Frigidarium,' g
number of fair Roman damsels robing and
disrobing at the bath. 1t is picture Of
lightness and luxurious ease, needless tc
state that all the accessories are worked il
| with the skill for which Mr.. Tadema il
famous. The most remarkable thing in the
studio of Briton Kiviere, the great British
presented to the artist by some admirel
| many years ago. The Zoo is Mr.. Riviere'l
happy hunting ground, the lions anG
panthers know him almost as we'll as they
do their keepers. Sometimes he has te
wait before some one cage an hour, waiting
necessary for the picture. Mr.. Brito1
Kiviere's studies are all done in charcoal
| and very rapidly. 1t may be an eye, a nose
tail, down they all go on block. ''As fol
anatomy says Mr.. Riviere. ''some people
say-Huxley for instance-that artists
their anatomy. / do not agree with that
| view; say. the deeper the better"
In Mr.. Thadeus's studio, all sorts and con-
! ditions of men anG women jostle each other
| In portralture. Next lovely Spanish
girl, crowned in bright yellow flowers, is
Father Andeledy, the head of the Jesuits
who has keen but not unkindly face: oppo
site life-size portrait of the pope smiles or
Mr.. Thadeus' latest success, Mr.. w. Il.
Stead, the great English journalist, late ed
| itor of the Pail Mall Gazette, portrait
presented to him by the staff of that jour.
nal. Radiant in white lisse and pink silk
stands Mrs. Sam Levin, the wife of the CO
lossally wealthy money lender, we'll known
unit in London life. Listen to MIR. Thad
eus on his sitters: ''Yes. Mr.. Gladstone i!
quite the most delightful sitter l have eve
had. He seems SO keenly interested in al
that is going on, and entertains one with
such charming conversation the whole time
and then he is 30 quiet, never worries wher
| posing. The holy father-ah! he was yer,
kind, called me my child, and seemed quite
pleased to have his portrait painted. but b.
fidgets about too much to make what l call
good sitter"
Mr.. Frank Dicksee has completed vha,
will be perhaps the most importan naintine
| in this years academy. It is ent.tl d ..rh
Redemption of Tannhauser," and will GER
tainiy please all Wagnerites. II is. apar
from that, a strong work and full of pas
sion. The youth of Eisenach having will
inely borne the goke of Venus. finds no for
piveness for his sins till lie has gone throug
q bitter expiation. He il shown fallin
dead BY the bier Of his true love, Just ~ Ii