The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-21
PAINTER HONORED
SIR JOHN T.. MILLAIs ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF ROYAL ACADEMY.
An Infant Phenomenon I'm Art Who
Rose 10 N High Place I'm the Esq
fimation of EnsIishmen.

LONDON, Feb. 20.-Sir John T.. Millais.
Bart. has been elected president OF the
royal Academy in succession 10 the late
Lord Leighton.
1t is a remarkable career OF success. that
OF the painter Sir John Everett Millais,
Bart. An infant phenomenon in art, he
passed unscarhed through the perils of a
strange precocity. A seeker after truth, he
entered the shadow and the valley of pre-
Raphaelitism. and came forth not only un-
harmed. but stronger for his wanderings.
Born in the leafy month OF June, at South
ampton. England. in 1923. his pencil draw
ings at the age OF eight were sufficiently
striking to greatly astonish the president
of the Royal Academy of that day. At
nine he won a silver medal of the Society
OF Arts. and at sixteen he was the author
OF a historical painting. THE Capture Of
the Inca by Pizarro., which was hung with
distinction on the walls of the Royal Acad-
envy. At twenty he joined the ''pre-
Raphaelite Brotherhood" which until his
accession consisted prominently of Dante
Gabriel Rossetti. the poet; Holman Hunt.
rhe painter: Woolner. the sculptor; Coven-
try Patmore, the poet and essayist. A pro-
test against the conventionalism in art,
this school split upon the YER. rock which
It started to avoid. Nothing more con-
'ventional ever saw the light in the history
OF art than the works of the pre-Raphael-
ties. Their motto was TRUTH" and tine
details of their pictures came out as If the
spectator had viewed them through a micro
scope. Their motto was Truth" and yet
they saw no beauty in man nor woman.
Under their inspiration Millais painted a
sentimental picture entitled The Wood
mans Daughter.'' and the village maiden
was positively ugly. 1t Is not necessary to
dwell upon these anomalies of a school
which had a foundation of good, and which
undoubtedly proved a useful training for
the conscientious brush of young Miliais;
but IT is fortunate for English art that
eventually Millais flung from him the
style and color. and turned his back upon
Christ in the House of His Parents,''
with It's realistic shavings and its %ascetic
The Northwest Passage" Chill October"
and "The Cuckoo"-examples of a healthy
of treatment as they are perfect in tech
nique and true TO nature. THE Cuckoo Is
a poets dream of English childhood; Chill
October" a dirge for dead summer time.
sung in gusty meanings by swaying reeds
that shiver In the autumn winds.
In his house. on the edge of Old Kensing-
carded every affectation of art and knowl-
edge. Neither the shadow of the pre-Ra-
phaette nor the intensity OF the so-ca,led
aesthetic disturbs the general air of unpre-
tentious prosperity that characterizes his
handsome house at Palace Gate. 1t might
be the residence of an opulent merchant
OF good taste, SO far as any special idiosyn-
crasies Of style or appearance go. with the
exception or that tall northermost window
that looks out upon the K~ensington high
road, and that great ''roomy'' studio which
II lights within A magnificent apartment
is this same studio, worthy of the man and
his art-a lofty, spacious, impressive room.
its dull red walls literally covered with
tapestry. The mantelpiece is a block of
carved marble. Above IL hangs a portrait
BY Murillc. A polished floor amply covered
with soft carpets and rugs, a few cabinets,
a platform for models. a majolica pedestal
for vases or flowers. a b.azing fire on the
hearth, the light of which dwells lovingly
upon a rich rug-and this is the famous
painters workshop. How the painters ap-
pearance and manner were characteristic
OF his work would have struck the most
careless oserver. A frank. robust. fresh
looking English gentleman, above the me-
dunn height, sturdy Of build. broad OF shoul-
ders, a complexion suggestive of breezy
downs and hills. a rich mellow voice and a
manner that OF a county lord. master CT
foxhounds and owner of a thousand acres
in the Midlands.
Millais first exhibited at the Royal Acad-
envy In 1886. He received a baronetcy in
mentioned are The Widows Mite"
Keats Isabella mariana in Moated
Grange s"Opheiia.' Souvenir of Velas-
quez." "A Dream at Dawn and Scotch
FRS Since 1874 he has painted portraits
OF Gladstone. Lord Salisbury, Mr.. Bright
and Lord Beaconsfieid, and many other
nIhlfe man