The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-25

ANE OF the most interesting OF the
American exhibits I'm the art de-
partment at the Paris exposition is
the display of miniatures. This display
is notable for the fact that the greater
part of the work has been done by wo-
men and that this work is distinguished
for It's high quality The majority OF
the exhibitors, In fact, are members OF
the American Miniature society. organ
ized about a year ago in New York city.
The object OF this. society IL TO encour-
age miniature painting OF the highest
class. It's members are all artists OF
reputation and ability i'm the general
sense as well as successful painters OF
miniatures.
Miniature painting may be mere char
latanism or may be a serious art. Many
miniatures are only copies from photo
graphs and have no merit and no orig
inality, emitting the maker to rank as
nothing more than copyist Real art
lists i'm this work, however, make their
studies from life and into their little
paintings put the result OF years of
study. Such as these II Is the Intention
OF the American Society of Miniature
Painters TO encourage. Ii was organ
lied by a number OF leading miniature
artists. representing different cities,
with the Intention of giving annual ex-
hibitions and otherwise fostering "A Sc
rious interest In the best miniature art.
The president OF this society In I. A. Jo-
sephi of New York. Miss Laura G.
Hills OF Boston is vice president. VIII
liam j. Baer OF New York secretary.
and Mrs Lucia Fairchild Fuller OF
Windsor, VT, treasurer.
IL
FOR the exhibit of representative works
OF art at the Paris exposition. a COM
mittee, including Miss Hills. Mr.. Baer
and Mr.. Josephi was appointed by the
United States commissioners to select
representative work Of American min
iature artists. This selection Is a fine
one; I'm fact. America has reason TO be
distinctly proud OF the collection. for IL
shows that her miniature artists are
superior I'm their line To any in the
world. That exhibitors are the majority
OF them women is n subject OF congrat-
ulation to all those interested In the
progress OF women.
Among the women miniature painters
Of America one OF the most distinguish
ed is Miss Laura c. Hills OF Boston.
Her work has within the last few years
received high praise from critics as
having those qualities which distin-
guished the work of Isabey and Cosway.
one of her most recent portraits
entitled Fire Opal" made quite a
sensation at a recent exhibition OF
miniatures i'm New York. About
six years ago some one suggest
ed. To her that she might make capital
out OF her skill I'm painting heads by
turning her hand to miniatures. She
already had studied art and only needed
10 learn to apply her knowledge OF coll
ors to ivory. She made q few minia-
lures for friends. and ct their advice
exhibited them. So much were they ad-
mired that she at once received % or
ders for portraits. This success en-
couraged her to study the miniatures
OF the masters OF the portrait art. All
her studies are from life. Her work has
received favorable mention In the Paris
salon and at the annual exhibitions Of
American artists in New York. She is
one Of the members of the Society of
American Artists.
Miss Alice Beckington combines In an
nnusuaf degree the artistic tempera-
ment with an ability for intelligent ap-
plication and self criticism which al
ways brings reward. She's has lived
abroad and studied under such mas
ters as Constant, Lefevre and Charles