Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-24
vELAsQUEz.
To Paint Like velasquez is the Aim of
All Students.
From the National Review

From the National Review.l
Velasquez, as we all know, is the
idol of the modern school, the god
before whom all Paris bows down and
worships. "Paint like Valesquez /" is the
final piece of advice in which Carolus-
Duran sums up his teaching and in these
oft-quoted words we have the ultimate aim
and end of the present-day students
aspiration. 1t follows that the collection
of his pictures at Burlington House has
excited as much attention abroad as at
home, and has been watched with as much
interest in Paris as in London The COM
mon saying-that in order to know Wales
quez we must go to Madrid-still holds
true, but all the same it is quite possible
to remain at home and form very good
idea of the Savillian's style. The pictures
brought together at Burlington House
may not have been entirely by his own
hand, but they were all inspired by his
genius. We saw all his marvellous powers
as painter, the amazing facility and
swiftness of his brush, his intimate knowl-
edge of nature and understanding of at
mospheric effects, and we realized, too, his
lack of higher gifts, his want of poetry and
| Imagination, of passion and profound feel
ing. Here and there, too, we were re-
minded of a remark made by the Presi-
| dent in his eloquent address, and recalled
| the fact that Nelasquez was, after all, a
Court official, who had other duties be-
sides the art which demands the whole
man.
| In his capacity as painter to his Catho-
lie Majesty Velasquez was no doubt often
required to deal with distinctly unpromis-
ing material. There was little, for in
| stance, to attract a painter in the dull,
heavy features of Mariana OF Austria,
Philip Tvs second Queen, of whom We
lasquez he's given US so many different
versions. The enormous size of the black
silk skirt which she wears for court
mourning, the dark wig which hides her
fair hair and the topping feathers of her
headdress lend themselves i'll to pictorial
effect, but the magic of the painters brush
of her robe and on the broad white collar
round her throat with admirable result.
! He had at least more promising subject
in the young Prince, Don Baitazar Carlos,
of whom no less than four versions hung
| side by side. Two of these were sketches
| from his famous equestrian portrait at
| Madrid. In both the Heir of the
World" bright, handsome boy, is repre-
sented in black suit, rose-red sash and
white plumed hat mounted on the "little
devil of q PONY" which he rode with Sc
much spirit The background of the Gros-
venor house example derives especial in
terest from the iifelike figures which it
contains--the King and Queen, who are
looking down from balcony in the court.
yard on their sons first trial of horseman-
! ship, and the great Condo Duque himsel
in the act Of taking lance from tbs
Princes riding master In another picture
from HEREFORD House Don Baltazar appear.
as a tiny child in silver-embreidered petit
coats and lace collar, with baton in hi
hand and sword at his side In the Buck
ingham Palace version he is few year
older and wears the same plumed hat ant
| riding suit as in the equestrian portraits
This was the picture sent to Charles /. b,
Philip ". shortly before the melanchol,
| death of the boy on whom so many hope