The Portland daily press., 1896-10-10
PORTRAIT PAINTING IN AMERICA.
A Visit to an English Artists Studio i,
Portland.

In the past two years there has beer
an exhibition of women's portraits at the
Academy of Design, New York. to which
the best portraits from all over the coun-
try have bsen sent. In certain point of
view this exhibition has given great en-
couragsment to portrait painters, but
this tendency to patronize cheap foreign
art and fashionable foreign art to the
exclusion of home talent is very much to
be deplored. To this, as much as any
thing else, Is due the lack of progress In
higher art today. Judicious importa ton
has done in years past much for the
country; the miscellaneous importation
of the millionaire parvenu of today Ia
It's temporary ruin. When such men as
John Alexander, Sargent, Whistler, ana
Alexander Harrison are unable to live in
their own country and disinclined even
to visit it, such lack OF appreciation ON
the part of the public, can hardly be
remedied by the occasional importation
of their work with Custom House GER
tificate of it's value. At the exhibition
in New York many works of American
production were Represented + and Lam
proud to say that American artists held
their own with the best foreign talent.
Chase, Abbott. Thayer and Vinton send
work that in solidjty. color. and senti-
ment make the gaudy productions of the
Frenohmeu, painted In many cases for
the A nerioan market, seem vapid and
untrue. The vitality ard vivacity of
the French painters has always taken the
American eye. The solidity of the Eng
iish work is but little known.
Eastman John son has done good service
to his art by his remaining In the coun-
try and has encouraged his public to look
for that solidity and truth in art which
is the glory Of Won Lenback and Herko-
mer in England. 1t is probably not
generally known among our citizens that
We have in our midst a gentleman who
is abreast of the thought and knowledge
OF the world of art, particularly in por-
trait painting an it stands today.
To Mr.. Edwin Barclay, q gentleman
of English birth and person who has
devoted considerable time to travel In
foreign lands, and has also seen and
talked with noted painters and reviewed
their masterpieces, the writer is indebt-
ed for the information impaired relative
to portrait painting in America. Mr..
Barclay has devoted his life to art, and
especially to the branch of portrait
painting. A visit to his studio will con-
vince one that the favorable criticisms
and compliments that he has received
from the newspaper, and art world are
within bounds, and that he is deserving
OF them all. Mr.. Barclay has painted
the portraits Of many persons Of ranown
IN this country mum bering among them
those of Paderewski, Alex Lambert,
Beatrice Cameron, Viola Allen, Adelaide
Prince, William -Brookfeld, General
Horace Porter, Mrs. Paran Stevens,
Emma Calve and many other society
people. During Mr.. Barclays stay In
our city he has executed IN highly
cred1table manner portraits of the Hon.
Charles F. Libby, Clarence Hale, e. @.
Jordan and has recently received instruc-
tions from the Cumberland Club to exc
onte portrait Of the late Hon. Bfon
Bradbury. This picture has been com
pleted and will soon be hung on the wall
of the club house. or the paintin gs exc
cuted by this artist the portrait of Pade-
rewski, completed two years ago this
fall, was we'll received and sold in the al
world at handsome figure. Mr.. Bar
oiay will remain in A merica for some
time and will make tours through the
United States, but this winter during
DeoerD her intends to locate in New York
where he is to paint the portrait of Joseph
Jefferson OF Rip Van Wrinkle fame.