New-York tribune., 1896-06-05
TRANSVAAL SHOWS.
,,N DEFENCE OF THE JAMESON
p.1D-MR CHAMBERLAIN SPuD-
DING THlSTLES.

defence or lNe JdHltSou lGlu mas
attempted by an enterprlsng painter MI
pe' c.,on Woodville He has produced a large
n which represents the final attempt made
-. the Chartered forces to break through the
,,,es Mr. woodvllle WAS not a special
-~.,s, accompanying the expedition, but he has
a'"' ready ear to any trooper who was willing
'.r, '". about the last stand, and from infcrma-
10 Aor,ved from many sources he has pieced
Nv" his battle scene The bright blue sky
10 '.,,a,v panted. with gray clouds near the
~,on. the kopje. with its powders. behind
"''' wv the Beers were concealed. was easily man
central group of four was taken from the
"s '',,o Of fifteen gentlemen raiders on trial in
e"1.~ . c,ras, and each was mounted on a horse OF
- rtght color; and around the four leaders were
'n' .ad the police force. In greenish gray and
mo- ,unics. and felt hats with pugg With
dventitious aid of puffs OF smoke in the dis
u and gunners. seven-pounders wounded
a,d dead horses in the foreground. the battle
,..,,ra was completed and ready for the engraver
~ .ha usual premium for artists proofs.
-. ,hs Intrinsic merits Of this composition as
-.orr ~ art IL is hardly necessary TO say any
,. Tho ukenesses of Jameson. Willoughby,
49, and Coventry are excellent: the police
'..,mes are accurately painted. and ,he scenic
.,,ns of the battlefield is probably well ordered
...oro &c any lack of smoke in the foreground
oartre the explanation is available that the
'N..,0rs are armed with Lee-Metford rifles. which
orlv smokeless powder. Besides II is
-. chat smoke in considerable volume would
.... ,n.erfered with the Photographic process,
~ .sarns 10 be the chief function OF the artist
,.u.son and his associates are having their pict-
80 ,aken on horseback. 1t is a last stand
- camera jameson has on stylish New
80, coat and his companions arcpicturesquey
,~.,ssa two of them displaying their Egyptian
40, r,bbons II is a battle picture. not crowded
-, .oo many figures. and carefully arranged
~. ne nurpose OF photogravure. II lacks what is
.ol m the success Of battle canvas-the
,rs,t Of action. Everybody is on the point OF
.o,rv something but has waited long enough to
"a, into a good position TO be photographed.
DEFENCE. NOT WORK OF ART.
n,.no, as a work Of art bat pictorial de-
.,.. q. the Chartered Company's raid. that this
,,n,,nr now on exhibition at the Graves Gal
.- ~ Pail Mall. is interesting This part Of
a. .how Is managed with good deal of subtlety
,.m.son for example. is portrayed as an unarmed
srre with careworn face and with pair OF
s.a glasses in his hand. This Of course, is not
,,. aggrsssivA Nlibuster. nor the accomplice OF
,,,n,oraire sneculators but the chivalrous knight
.,rr,,s the horizon for glimpse Of helpless
v,msn and children. Equally subtle are the In
,imatons Of desperate valor against oVes"helnh-
,,g numbers One trooper wounded in the leg
has Tied handkerchief around the fractured
pnh and remains in the fight. taking aim with
his rife at tbs unseen enemy. Another. in red
shrt Is a conspicuous combatant although al
ready wounded in the head Men are failing on
sverv side without reference to the meagre lst
n, killed and wounded officially reported one
,,ooner &c loa ding his rife with ammunition taken
tro, the bandolier Of dead companion. Nhat
sn ingenious device for conveying the impression
that the troopers making his last stand We're
running short Of ammunition, So far as he was
able n do II with the limitations q his art MI
Woodyille has depicted a heroic struggle. con-
Quoted with unfinching valor and fortitude under
hopeless conditions.
The environment of this painting in a Pail
Mall gallery also confirms this impression Of
courage and pluck in extremis In the same
room with the picture Is an engraving Of The
Charge Of the Light Brigade" In the adjoining
rooms are battle pictures like Nelson's Last Sig
nal at Trafalgar" in oils and in black and white.
The exploi, OF the hlibusters is associated, with
or without generalization. with some OF the mos
famous deeds Of Anglo-Saxon daring. BY COM
parisons such as these the conduct Of Jameson
and his feow-ra is condoned, dignifed and
exalted Yet fifteen OF these gentlemen filibus-
ters are awaiting trial on a charge Of conspiring
with Colonial officials and Johannesburg specu-
latOrs against a friendly State, and no public
journal considers itself at liberty TO comment
upon the case pending its judicial adjudication.
The artist is a privileged person. He comments
upon the case in his own way, and the exhibitor.
emphasize his verdict by connecting the filibus-
tering expedition with some Of the noblest scenes
Of English history.
BRITISH PRIDE CALLED.
To the Jameson raiders the privilege Of having
Poet Laureate and battle-painter on their
eide ought not. perhaps 10 be denied, for they
seldom receive a good word nowadays from
any other quarter The South African compli-
cations have reached stage of hopelessness
which Is irritating and calling to British pride
and those who were responsible for an ill-advised
and miscalculated invasion of the Transvaal
are suffering from reaction OF public opinion
against them. Mr. Chamberlain Is the proud
spirited Colonial Minister who entered upon Of
fce year ago with an ambition to nake great
name for himself as an imperial administrator
he has been confronted with an irreconcilaDic
feud between hostile races in South Africa ana
has been compelled 10 devote his energies not
70 the development Of creative policies. Dut 10
game Of diplomacy in which his chief an
~eons, has held tn stronger cards from be-
pnhng TO end. He has been outmaiched ana
Vo'naneeuyred by President KRUGER, not
oaroush any lack OF adroitness and presence OF
'ind On his part. but because Nj. CeciI
Hhoaes the Johannesburg millionaires and the
N"arIefed fbus:crs had blundeIed and saddled
upon him the intolerabe burden OF making
'eparation for their mistakes. He has the un-
sn'iable duty Of discussing South African affairs
n and out OF Parliament. and Of confessing
puolcly that the Colonial Office. in dealing with
me Victorious and resentful Beers. - almost
shelpless Jameson and his mer were when