Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-08

ia a more intimate one. MOI iohs aeo
Edwin Austin Abbey was adinillea "
membership in the sacred circle. inis
e. regarded as a victory by American
artists. as Mr.. Abbey Is purely ANT
can and his admission promises 10 pe
a stepping-stone for his feiiow,co""'
mon TO gain a similar distinction.
Tbe office of president OF the Royal
Academy "a a peculiar one. NOT ohly
,nust the president be an artist OF com
mandinc note and capable OF protectiis
IN every way the artistic body OF which
bs ia the head, but he must De
man Of social distinction. diplomat
man of wealth, tact, and GOOD cohiraue-
ship. 49,. .,o nreae-
.ossor ~ Lord Leighton, died seventeen
.,o 900, Sir John Millais would pro-
bahlv have been elected to the position
r,ore n not for the interference OF the
Oneen. 1t has always been the custom
for English royalty to be on Terms y,
intimacy with the president OF the i'oyei
Academy. and Of necessity with ms
family. The Queens preJudice against
divorced people is wen known Mliiais
had married the divorced wife OF 1onn
Ruskin. The great writer had secured
a divorce on statutory grounds, hence
nrobabiy softened her prejudices III
This respect, for there was no hint OF
ROYAL displeasure when Millais was again
nronosed. on the death OF Lord Leigh
ton. ,y
POPULAR MAN.
The new president Is an artist OF uis.
tinction; and, while all schoois vi a..
40 not favor him, he Is more popular
,Non most men who have won fame ana
fortune in their chosen calling. or splen-
Ala build. strength. and health, an en-
aging talker, a strong and virile per-
eonality. handsome Of face, and charm
inc az manner, bearing, his 81 years
easily. Millais more nearly approx
mates the late Lord Leighton as the ideal
head of Burlington House and the CHER
executive OF Great Britain's official art
institutions than any OF his colleagues.
His early career Is unique. He was born
~ SOUTHAMPTON in 1899. and almost from
bis bahvhood he showed signs OF the fu-
ture artist. At 10 years he drew astonish-
ingly well. and at II he would compose
Intricate arrangements OF hgures ana
horses that would have been crecitaoie
suggestions for a man OF 30. Az ne won
the silver medal OF the society OF ARTS
With drawing from the antique. and
dent in the Royal Academy. where. at IA.
he took the silver medal. Four years later
no received the distinction OF the gold
medal the greatest honor that the school
can bestow.
TJs was an exhibitor at the Royal Acad-
a,nv bafore he was out of his teens, and
40 a lad in connection with Dante G.
Rossetti. Holman Hunt, and others-there
were seven In all-he helped to found the
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. curious OF
ganization, whose motto was Truth
and whose aim was to generaiize nothing'
hut paint the detail OF everything. plan.
nv the way. that resulted In anything but
the truth. for giving the same Importance
10 everything and painting distant OBJ
iects with the same fidelity that was be-
slowed upon those In the immediate fore
ground. the pictures lost entirely the
qualities of air, perspective, and relation,
ending In a confused mass OF little things,
and having none Of the larger attributes
OF great art.
II was during this period that Millais
his Christ IN the House Of His
Parents" q picture that attracted much
attention. and which was shown thirty
years later, in 1891. at an exhibition of his
work held in London. In quick succession
followed his "Huguenots," "Ophelia." and
"Order Of Release" the last enjoying the
distinction Of being protected at the Royal
Academy by q rail to keep back the
crowds of people that thronged about It.
After various and numerous portraits
and compositions. In 1870 there came the
famous landscape. 'Chill October"
splendid performance. and wonderfully
accurate study Of English scenery. that
added materially to the mans fame. The
next year brought forth ''Yes or No."
single figure OF woman standing before
the IRE, thoushtfully studying q letter.
and which became instantly popular; In
1874 ''The Northwest Passage" with the
motto: 1T can be done, and England
nhali do r."
xhout fha on1y ccmpIsluk that SOM