New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-15
LONDON NOTES.
ROYAL ACADEMY GEMs-OLD-TIME prcyr-
UREs AT THE ST. JAMEs's THEATRE
London, April q

The most brilliantly painted picture at tia
Royal Academy Is In the place OF honor in thu
large gallery 1t is Mr.. Alma-Tademas Baths
| Of Caracalla"-a sumptuous interior with splen.
doris OF marble surfaces mural decorations ana
Roman costumes Three ladies are exchanging
gossip in the foreground. their draperies beiny
exquisitey painted in harmonious pale shade,
of yellow. blue and mauve. Behind them IA
marble column. which fills nearly third OF tina
breadth of the canvas yet is rich in it's yart..
gated beauty OF surface and tinting and con-
trasts strongly with the simple mosaic pays.
ment. In the open space is the great basin
where bathers dlsporting themselves and
| further back there similar groups in other
compartments OF the baths. until the dull red
| frescoes Of the remotest wall complete the In.
closure 1t is a work OF antiquarian learning
and classical refinement. The painting OF the
marble surfaces and draperIes is mastery IN
technique and the color scheme is one OF sos,
yet radiant beauty. Mr. Alma Tadema painta
flowers and marbles with the same sympathetic
touch. One of the Roman ladies holds In her
hand bouquet which Is exquistely painted.
Mr. Sargent's four portraits may be grouped
as illustrations OF the feminine art OF smiling
The subjects are Lady Faudel- Phillips who has
the reserved and stately smile OF official dignity
as Lady Mayoress; Miss Jane Evans IN somhre
Of interest lighting up her strong. refined face;
Miss Octavia Hill. with nobility Of character
and practical benevolence beaming from her
keen eyes and gracious lips; and Mrs Charles
Hunter. radiant in youthful happiness and
| charm and possibly revealing in the conscious
| ness Of having a costume which precisely suits
her face and figure. Each smiles in her own
way and reveals her character as we'll as her
transitory mood: and there is distinct and
! definite motive in each instance Youthful grace
offers the largest scope for the full display Of
Mr.. Sargents resources, and consequently the
portrait of Mrs. Charles Hunter must be
counted his chief. most copspicuous triumph this
season, strong and noble as are the portraits Of
Miss Octava Hill and Miss Jane Evans. II Is
| one of the most daring yet most charming and
successful Of his portraits; and the touch OF life
which ilumines IL is a smile with the CLEAN OF
white teeth.
The lady is finely posed against black back
ground Her face is half in shadow, since she
has a broad-brmmed hat OF black. with tan
colored feathers, and while the eyes are softened
| the light is centred upon the lower half Of the
face. with the lips parting in a bewitching smile.
The bodice is white. with a waist ribbon OF red.
below which fall the folds Of black skirt.
wonderfully painted mantle OF tan-colored gauze
|
figure out of the black background. rendering
| the same service as the feathers Of the dark
hat. There is bold and rapid brushwork in the
| costume, and there is extraordinary sense Of
vitality In the bright face. beaming with happl-
ness and gayety OF spirits. The technical din
| cuties OF half-ghts in the face are mastered
with amazing skill. The hand toying with a
J ribbon at the shoulder is fairly quverng with
movement. The portrait is pulsatng with that
| Joy In life which finds perfect expression in Q
radiant smile Only Mr.. Sargent can work mar.
wells like these
MR. wATTs's PORTRAIT. ~--
Mr.. Watts's portrait of Mr.. Gerald Balfour is
| another gem Of the Academy. There no
artistic devices; the background is quietly toned
and the method is simple. strong and direct.
| Character is IN every line and curve Of the
| thoughtful. reserved face and the portrait Is q
| perfect likeness of the Chief Secretary for Ire
1 land Another fine work is Sir f. J. Poynter's
stately portrait Of the Hon Violet Monckton In
, an iyory-white gown with a leafy background
J and with a yellow cushion and black dog as
| accessories OF the color scheme. Mr.. Shannon's
| portraits are unequal to those exhibited in the
New Gallery but there is fine decorative get
| ting for Lady Ulrica Duncombe, with her red
rose. black lace and open book. and there is a
dignity Of style in the portrait Of Lady Mathew.
| Sir W B. Richmond has a superb subject In
Miss Murel Wilson, but does not make full use
Of his opportunity Mr.. Frederick Goodall has
dealized Mr. Gladstone he was passing out
of the House of Commons after his last word
in 1894; but the portrait is not one of the gems
Of the Academy. The broad, stiff collar and
tumbed shirt there: the rose is in the but
ton-hole. and the noble face seems TO express
ala halt
he was unconquered still; but 1t is not the Grand
Old Man of the last decade.
Among the most brilliant works OF the exhlbl.
ton are NJ. La Thangue's harvest scenes. Ths
best is Love in the Harvest-held" with two
tolers walking through the stubbe. the man
with his scythe over his shoulder and the woman
carrying her sheaves with her under pale white
moon They are awkward, prosaic lovers with
the pathos Of toll in their sunburned faces, but
there is something deeper than a sense OF COM
radeship that brings these shy lovers together
when their work IS done Another picture,
Narrowing" reveals two toilers with faces
shining in freight, while heaps OF stubble are
smoking behind them; another puts intensity
into the dull labor OF cutting bracken; and
cider Apples is an autumnal orchard scene.
with a boy and a woman emptying and flling
baskets OF ripe fruit. These are simple scenes,
but they are filled not only with the atmosphere
of rural life, but also with sympathy for tollers
in the field. Mr.. George Clausen has several
excellent works OF the same class. bu' Mr.. IA
Thangue deserves the distinction OF being the
greatest painter OF rural scenes in England.
THREE JUBILEE PICTURES.
There are three Jubilee pictures by Mr.. An
drew c. Cow. Mr.. John Charlton and NJ
D'Amato, representing the Thanksgiving service
in front OF ST. Pauls Cathedral: but while they
are accurate in detail and brilliant in color they
cannot Justly be regarded as great works OK ART
interesting they may be as souvenirs OF
memorable historical scene. Mr.. Edwin A. Ao-
hey, while not able to complete his most mpor'
tant nlcture for the Academy has two fine e1-