Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
ART AND ARTISTS

| 1t is understood that the price paid for this
painting was $4,000. and it Is a worthy ex-
| ample of that artist. who is generally con-
coded to hold the first place among cattle
| painters. The subject. white COW and a
sleepy-looking black mule standing idly in
! the pasture, Is not as Interesting as some
| of Troyon's works, but the handling is up
to his best AS In most of his canvases the
] landscape is subordinated to the figures, so
as to be scarcely noticed, and in this lies
one of the secrets of his greatness He
| never forgot that the animals were the
! most important part OF his picture, and did
| rot allow himself to elaborate the access
series up to the point of distracting atten-
ton. The effect of slanting sunlight on the
COW is especially we'll brought out, and
| both animals stand out strongly against
the landscape
Two pictures formerly in Mr.. Wagga-
mans possession. darkey boy, by Richard
| y. Brooke, and one of Boughtcn's typical
| English figures, are now at Fischer's. There
| is also on exhibition there a large painting
| by Oscar Bjorck, Swedish artist, net very
| well known in this country, showing the
| interior of a smithy, with a group of iron
! workers busy at their trade. The picture
shows careful study of the effects Of
hght' and is quite strong piece of work.
X X
Mr. 5. Jerome Uhl has recently started
portrait of Secretary Herbert. painted for
| the Navy Department, and though still in
an unfinished state. it promises to be excel
| lent. One Of the most interesting things
| that he has done for some time is head
| of Edgar Allan Poe, the face of which
plainly tells the story Of his life of sorrow
and misery. All the facial characteristics
of that most unhappy man, the broad high
1ov lie han
icoseiy, the weary expressive eyes, are
there; in fact, the whole personality of the
| poet has been seized and fixed upon the
canvas. Mr.. Uhl has been mounting in an
artlstic way number of woodland
Sketches. made last summer at Chautau-
qua. which he has now brought out from
,felr hiding places. The artist has also
neen busy with portraits of Mr.. and Mrs.
Washington Cowen.
Inc lecture on the "Upgrowth of Art"
given on Friday at Columbian University
ny the well-known New York sculptor,
William Ordway Partridge is the first of
a series of lectures on that subject AS
Mr. Partridge brings to his hearers practi-
cdl experience as we'll as thorough knowl-
edge, his series will be a most interesting
one.
Mss Clara Hill is working on a large,
full-length figure of her sister in pastel,
but most of her time Is occupied in model
ing. She has been busy with several small
figure sketches in clay and an excellent
has relief of the del:cateiy chseled profile
of a friend.
A portrait of Lady Hamilton. said to be
by the old English master George ROM
ney, is now exhibited with specially ar
ranged lighting at Heitmuller's gallery.
The portrait is the property of DR.. Adams,
and though in fairly good condition. is
somewl at faded, and the paint is taking
off in number of places. Lady Hamilton
is seated. resting her elbows on a dressing
table, family outlined to the left. and
wears picturesque eastern head dress Of
some light filmy material. Her face is
turned directly toward the observer, and
is well drawn and fresh and clear in color,
but there is that in the drawing and mod
eiing OF the hands and arms. graceful as
they are, which shows the artists lack OF
early training and of thorough technical
knowledge, though this in itself is no argu-
ment against its genuineness. Romncy
has often been criticised for those very
faults. Romney's portraits of women are
his best canvases, from certain distinct
i've grace and sweetness found N them, and
it is said that Lady Hamilton inspired
what was most beautiful in his pictures.
Whether authentic or not, this is evidently
an old picture, and is worth an inspection.
x
On Tuesday and Wednesday Mrs. Hearst's
collection of pictures was thrown open for
the benefit of the Decorative Art Society.
The paintings were we'll worth seeing, as
specimens of the Barb!Zon school, the later
French school and examples of German,
Dutch. English and Italian artists are m
cluded in her valuable collection.
Mr.. A. G. Heaton has under way a large
historical painting. showing Baron St4ub,n
drilling the raw recruits at Valley Forge.
The composition of the picture and the
grouping of the figures, no small task
when the number CT people introduced is
considered, is now accomplished, but the
faces Of the military leaders still require
to be studied that accurate liken $ ;es may
be given, and many of the minor details
are wanting. The picture shows Baron
Steuben standing in the snow in front of
the troops ana going through the manual
of srmS himself. ill order to better instruct
the ragged, half-starved recruits, who are
erdeavoring awkwardly to initiate nm
To the right of the canvas stands the house
which Washington occupied at Valley
Forge, painted from a sketch Mr.. fIeaIon
made OF the old building. and in the back
ground rises chain of bleak, snow COY er-
ed hills. Near the door of the house Mar
tina Washington and Gen. and Mrs Greece
form an interested group of spectators
ard Gen. Washington, surrounded by sev-
eral officers, stands in the foreground in
tently watching the drill. The effect of the
valley, grit by the wind-swept hills ard
wearing IN aspect of dreary isolation is
well carried out
The miniature of WeIl-known woman,
which Mrs. s. NJ. Fassett has nearly COM
pleted, promises to be an exceptionally fine
piece of work. 1t is done, as is most of
her work. from life, without the aid of a
photograph, and the flesh tints are particu-
larly delicate and true. and the hair is ad-
miratle. Among her recent work are min
iatures of Mrs George 3. Chittenden Mrs.
Adam Kirkpatrick and Mrs Percy Hills.
and one of the musical publisher Raph1e1
Fassett, the artists son. Mrs. Fassett in.
tends some time in the near future TO
make an oil portrait of Lincoln as a com
panion piece to the one of Gen. Grant that
she painted not long ago. The portrait of
Grant is from a photograph taken on the
Gay he was appointed lieutenant general
showing him with Lincoln at his size.
X
Mr.. E. F. Andrews is putting the finish
ing touches on three-quarter length figure
OF DR.. Mckim. The portrait gives satisfac-
ton In all quarters, both on account of
10 yx-,ic ic