The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-18
MRS. CAAFFEE'S LECTURE.
"landseeT,' The Subject Of Her Dis
course at the Trocadero.
Best Defenders Of His Genius, She De.
clared, Are His Dogs Themselves.

The third In Mrs. Chaffee's course OF
lectures on Modern English Painters
was given in the Empire room OF the
Trocadero this afternoon before an au-
dience composed of the best portion of
the art loving people. as well as art
critics; together with many others who
appreciate the exceptionally high char
acter of Mrs Chaffee's work.
The subject was Sir Edwin Landseer
Mrs. Chaffee said I'm part Perhaps ST.,
Edwin Landseer's popularity today /,
owing i'm great measure to the nu-
merous engravings OF his works, while a
have spread their subject far and wide.
this engraving being done by his broth
er Thomas Landseer. lie engraved a
bull in 1911 and Landseer then was but
nine years old. Thus Edwin's paintings
were spread abroad and their popular
ity increased. His brother. Thomas
therefore was a gifted colleague.
Besides the many engravngs scat
tered far and wide, there are fourteen
of Landseer's paintings in the Nation
al Gallery. which are attractive to the
many thousands who live In London
and have rendered this artist a popu-
lar painter OF dogs"
Landseer did not go to school. did
not write until long after the ordinary
time. As Pope lisped in numbers, Land
seer may be said to have scribbled in
designs. \ Fox Hound" drawn from
life at the age of five was quite mar
vellous for the thorough conception of
form and appreciation of character.
Such a genius as his needed little urg-
ing or instruction. IL required to be left
alone In the fields with pen and pencil,
and alone with the nature in him and
outside him, to be the instructor. His
earliest sketches show a facility in
drawing. a gift OF design and appre-
citation OF character, which no educa-
ton could give.
The early life of Landseer presents a
bright picture. What he liked best was
his task; the open fields were his play
room. and the menagerie his lecture
hail. and he had no rivals with whom
10 contend. He made the most of his
advantages. At the age of sixteen
years he had no equal in the drawing
of animals, unless we except the Eng
lish Artist Ward, who was thirty-two
years older than he. During the time
of his study at the British institution,
that institution awarded him in 1913, at
the age of eleven years, a silver palette.
In 1914 silver Isis medal for excel
lence in drawing; in 1915 another silver
medal. While studying at the Royal
Academy we can picture him a bright
frank young boy with curling hair and
a quick step.
Landseer did not finish in Italy as
- nnlI
been said that Landseer's style was
developed not from the shrines of great
masters, but from a healthy love of
Scotch terriers.
Leonardo de Vinci is known TO have
been a wonderful painter of animals,
horses and dogs. Titan. too though his
fame rests upon his portraits and ideal
subjects yet he Is known to have paint
ed animals wonderfully but Landseer
has painted animals in their relation 10
man. His dogs all seem TO have some
idea in their minds even If they are
quiet. He gave them human express
sion, and Ii was to this trick. much
more than to the soundness and real
excellence of his art that his prodg-
ious success and enormous fortune are
owing.
Mrs. Chaffee described al consider
able length and with great minuteness,
the various Landseer paintings in the
National gallery, relating various incl
dents which caused the painting OF sew
eral OF them, and completed her sur
vey of the pictures by referring 10 the
two life-size studies of a lion in the
National gallery. frim which were made
the' bronze lions which are placed at
the base of the Nelson monument i'm
Trafalgar square.
Continuing, Mrs. Chaffee referred to
the fact of Landseer being knighted
by the queen in 1850 for his excellence in
painting. though he declined being
president of the Royal academy, and
noted also the fact that the last years
OF Landseers life were clouded with
fits of depression, when IL was some
times thought he would go insane
Concluding. Mrs. Chaffee said that
"Landseer did not have the subtlety
of Durer or the profund mystery OF
Leonardo, and yet the age of Landseer
was very distinct one in the history
OF English art. In the ability of vision
and the manner OF presentation. by no
means To be ignored. IL has won itself
memorable merits. He cleverly imitat-
ed the glossy coat of a well-groomed
horse. the hairy texture OF dogs, the
wool of sheep, the plumage OF birds,
and these were done with close ap-
proach TO the truth of nature and a
thorough and disciplined knowledge of
tho capabilities OF his brush. and origi-
nal methods of using his coors and
vehicles, that seemed 10 be intultively
perfect. and are worthy the closest ex-
animation by students OF light handed
and beautiful execution.
Critics may write volumes Of con-
troversy about Turner. bnt Landseer's
merits were SO obvious TO every one
that he stood I'm no need of critical ex-
plantations. The best commentators on
Landseer. the best defenders Of his ge-
MUS, are his dogs themselves. and so
long as there exist terriers. deer hounds
and blood hounds. his face will need
little assistance from writer's upon art.
lie was graphic and suggestive; he was
dexterous. painting with rapldity and
precision. but hc was not creative"
Each of Mrs Chaffee's lectures Is
nicely illustrated by a large collection
OF exceptionally fine photographs and
engraVings
The next lecture I'm the course will be
given at The Trocsdero on Saturday
afternoon. March T. The subject be-
inc ssSfr Tobn Everett MiiIafa and II a.