New-York tribune., 1901-12-23
WHISTLER AND LENBACH.
NOTABLE PICTURES AT THE PARIS
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.
Paris, December 6.

Paris, December g.
The salient feature Of the Nineteenth Inter
,,sttonal Exhibition of Painters and Sculptors
o,ened Yesterday al the Georges Petit Gallery
-, President Loubet is the contrast presented
-, the works of two masters Won Lenbach
nd Whistler, who have exercised such para
mount influence in their respective countries.
except upon the occasion of the Worlds Fair
n 1900 Won Lenbach has not for many years
Knitted in France-indeed he could have sent
here little else but portraits of Bismarck of
1-on Moltke. which might have led to mis-
Interpretation on the part Of the Partisan pub
lie as 10 the painters intentions The works of
z-on Lenbach and Whistler face each other on
he large central panels of the gallery The
German master exhibits three portraits. That
of Dr. Won Miguel, the former Minister is
superbly modelled, and the resemblance is per-
ssrt. The Portrait of Madame NJ. P in which
Won Lenbach shows his characteristic strength
and virility of drawing. is less pleasing to the
Partisan eye accustomed to greater frankness
and truth. Tie emaciated, almost ghostlike
head OF Ignazo Doilinger is intensely tragic, so
-nuch so that several French crIics regard it
as 8 csricature. Ven Lenbachs method of
rurposely neglecting TO complete his back
grounds and accessory details reminds one of
Rodin's prediction for the unfinished-a trick
hv which both painter and sculptor succeed in
bringing into marked relief the nervous strength
of their outlines Each of these three large por-
traits is in the masters latest style They are
sober in color, and contain nothing which de-
tracts attention from the faces, which stand
forth from confused backgrounds so prominently
as tn act as a sort of spell, riveting the specta
tors interest.
II is q pity that Whistler does not exhibit
works Of greater Importance than the two paint
4aIe rha 1arr a miQla
tures-which hang upon the panel opposite TO
the massive Teutonic portraits of Won Lenbach.
7vbistler's study of female head and shoulders
6rsped in black lace entitled 'Milady Sophie de
Soho" is a small oval picture with a pale, gray
ish pink background. The arms are folded ana
the face wears an expression of dreamy con-
formulation. Notwithstanding its inconsiderable
importance. this study nevertheless possesses
the charms Of Whistler's Incompatible subtle
ness Of refinement and distinction 1t is amber
ana ether as compared with Won Lenbach's
rugged strength and studied virtuosity. whistler
also exhibits a small study in oil-"La Cigale"-
a nude figure of a very young girl In deep gray
+ones like those of fresh sculptor's clay. It Is
dsIicate and graceful. Two drawings. family
frightened by pastel touches entitled LIE Peat
ren1ifi and Note en- Violet: la Lettre, hoth
deliciously outlined, complete Whlstlers panel
four insignificant works which may recah
Nhistler's reply il cross-exanination during the
celebrated lawsuit popularity known as that be-
tween the Baronet and the Butterfly "heh
asked whether il was true, as had been testineo
by Burne-Jones, that the American master 5
..Noc1u-ne" was executed in less than an hours
time Whistler. flushing with excitement ex-
claimed. IAN hours work and the experience
Of a whole lfetime!'
# is unavoidable that the two panels, one
Ex, hn German
ana the other works by the foremost American
r,laced in opposition 20 each other. should elicit
connparisons as 10 the relative merits Of the two
paiuters II is only fair TO the French. critics
10 say that in drawing comparisons they nave
taken into account other pictures besides those
here exhibited The judgment Of Paris is dis
tinctly in favor Of Whistler whose portrait or
his mother in the Luxembourg Gallery ana tha1
of Miss Alexander are considered as Nthe most
delicate. most tender and most profouno por-
traits executed during the past century, am
quoting the art critic Of the Figaro Other
critics say that Won Lenbach, who has never
+beless naiuted the most prominent Germans OF
his time from emperors to dancing girls ano
from bishops TO children. will be known IN
history as the painter Of Bismarck Won Len
bach's easel and palette in his Greco-Nenetlan
studio at Munich are always in readiness Tor
portraits Of all who have obtained celebrity In
the Fatherland. Like Watts in England ike
Sargent or Whistler among Americans and Eng
nsh like Bonnat in France, Won Lenbach is
destined almost exclusively to a career Of por-
traiture. None who has ever visited the stuoio
in The Propylean quarter Of Munich can forget
the collection of fcrty Bismarcks-there are
Esuarcl<s in trock coats, Bismarcks in cavalry
cloaks Bismarcks in leather shooting costume.
bald and nirsute Bismarcks, tragic and comic
Bisuarcls, domestic. convivial Bismarcks, and
frowning scowling, warlike Bismarcks This
gallery of Bisnarcks is indeed wonderful, and.
apart from all other works, will perpetuate the
memory of Won Lenbach.
A painting which attracts marked attention is