Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-28

produced the celebrated "Nuns at Prayer"
which Is one Of the most remarkable Of his
tours de force In color, and might be char
acterlzed In Whstleran phraseology as a
sonata" In white,
Since then, perhapa. his most charming
bit Of color work Is q pce called simply
Miss ~, and 1t Is a portrait that set the
Munich critics by the car llttle while ago.
4, Is a vision Of color and laughter de-
lightml blonde head peoping out chquet-
tshly from under a big poke bonnet OF ine
times OF the Directorate, a big silt bow Us
tied under the chin. and the nuuy green
silk puns Of a Directoiro froek pun up in
charming cutencss on the shoulder She
laughs. she speaks AZ one from the canvas;
she simply breathos with life, 10 Is a plum
Of picture. overlooking with sympathy,
sweetness and abandon. II Is a portrait, too
aud those who recognize the face will undcf-
stand how 70 came about THAI the ariis, put
20 much love into the picture For that
charming blonde, whose face so baEutled the
art lovers OF Munich, ls none other than
Mas Neal. the artists own daughter Mr..
Neal lives IN Paris-ihat ls, he Is supposed
TO live there ard have his family there,
though he really lives anywhere that is eon-
ycnlent.
Before his departure for Munich Mr. Neal
met come Of his old New York friends. and
among other things be told a good story OF
gethsr at Munich. Alakart was a very re-
served man. and would sit for hours with
friends thinking and dreaming and taldng
no notice 81 his surroundings One evening
he escorted famous s1ubrette 10 a banquet
In Munich Every ono talked and told
stories with tine exception OF Makart. After
two hours Of merrlmont had passed and tha
gllcnce OF the artist remained unbroken his
cav communion turned 20 him with a merry
tglnkle IN h3r eye and said; Herr Maknrt,
pardon me. but would you object TO chang
ing tho subject on which you have been
speaking 80 cloquenuyY
Neal Is not a great talker, nor does he
profess to be a master at discussing AIT and
It's merits.
"don't talk art we make It. People who are
continually talking pictures are seldom able
10 paint them Some Of the greatest writer's
ON art know little Of the actual work Of
painting a picture That is the reaEon why
CRITICISMS from the pens OF theorists are 80
amusing to practical men"
OF courge, as Mr.. Neal went on to explain,
there are men who are able to paint plcturos
and also successfully write about them.
As an instance he cited the celebrated.
though eceent u. ]. Mcneil Whistler who
with his pen otfeciually attacked ana de-
feated John Ruskln ana numerous lesser
lights among England's coterle e. literafi
who love TO dwell upon the merits and de-
merits OF an annual exhibition Of the Royal
Academy. oscar wilde, IN his remarkable
essay on THE Decay Of Lying" In which
he discusses the superiority Of art over
nature. appeals very strongly to Mr. Neal.
There II a good deal In that" said n,
artist "and Il takes a man like Wilde
Who Is saturated With artistic instincts a.
Well as the literary gift, TO successfully plao,
Tho lntrlcaclcs Of AT 80 manner inteli
Pine 10 the uninitlated public"
on the subject Of portrait painting, Mr.
Neal had much to say that was interesting
aud valuable.
stride al nrogrezs IN this county during re-
cent years. there Is Etill tendency Smoni
Inc people here toward an ovor-luish II
pictures," be remarked, There IS a de
inand that everything In portraits be traate,
with equal care. This, on It's face, Ia es
eentlaIly inarhsuc. When ! paint a por
trait. | concentrate my attention and ski
upon the eyes. OF course, the other f0aturei
N he face demand careful treatment. bu
al hest they are secondary II Is Impossible
N prnperly see more than one Thing az
! time When yon look straight al the fac;
| IN person or portrait, the eyeA are IA,
center OF gravity. They are, or ehpuld be
ne magneta which riyet the vision. Th,
entire face necessarily comes into proml
nence. but the body, In general, ID inElg
nIneant for the time being. In portrait
| where the hands are shown, people otter
| demand that their exact tinis, veins ant
n,uscles should be accurately reproduced
This ia my opinion. is ridiculous and thor