The Minneapolis journal., 1901-01-16
A PORTRAIT EXHIBIT
First Adequate Showing of Miss
Emily McMillan's Pictures.
SCORE OF MINNEAPOLIS FACES
Her Sitters Have Been Among the
Best known PeOple-Mrs. Van
Cleve's Gracious Likeness.

An art event of Importance and interest
was the exhibition OF portraits by Miss Emily
Mcmillan yesterday at the residence of Mr..
and Mrs. Charles J. Martin on Tenth street
S. There were about twenty canvases shown
and they exhibited the artists work quite
fully, both in it's various stages Of develop
ment and in the variety OF subjects and treat
ment
Miss Mcmillan belongs to one of the old
families of Minneapolis which is very well
known. Her art training was received in
New York and Paris, where she studied un
der George De Forrest Brush Kenyon Cox,
James Mcneil Whistler and others. Quite re-
Gently Miss Mcmillan has had some criticisms
from William Chase which were very COM
plimentary. She has spent much time in
study under masters and by herself and has
enjoyed exceptional opportunities in training.
These she has used conscientiously, diligently
and intelligently. AS a result she has ac-
quired a irmness and finish of workmanship
that IS admirable. Her portraits are full of
character, which is expressed in many subtle
ways, as in the treatment Of color and the
pose as well as in the drawing of the features
and the expression of the face. Generally
speaking, her portraits are simple and direct,
without many or striking accessories or con
spicuous costuming. She has expended her
whole art upon seeking to express the charac-
ter Of the sitter and subordinatIng everything
else to that. She has a delicate sense of
color and her pictures are harmonious and
attractive, with delightful and effective con-
trasrs that are never harsh or theatrical
Miss Mcmillan has had among her sitters
some of the best-known people OF the CITY,
and nearly all Of the faces looking out from
the canvases were familiar ones to the guests
invited to see them to-day. This is unfortu-
nate in one way, for it emphasizes unduly
the question OF the likeness and this is not to
be lightly decided upon casual view. The
picture that at first has an element of unfa-
miliarity to those who knew the sitter well
may express the strongest characteristic of
the individual. However, this may never
have impressed the observation of the aver
age friend, and It takes an acquaintance with
the picture to bring the truth Of the portrait
within his recognition.
Miss Mcmillan has usually caught the like
ness so fully and genuinely that there is no
disappointment on this score, and her por-
traits bear the harder test Of frequent obser-
walton by those having the most intimate
knowledge OF the sitters. She has combined
we'll satisfactory technique, the likeness. and
the finer qualities of artistic Interpretation of
individuality. 1t is noticeable that her great
est success has been in the portrayal Of the
strong, intellectual face rather than the beau
tiful one, and her portraits of people to whom
whole more interesting than her childrep's
portraits.
Among her more recent pictures are the
portraits Of Mrs. Martin, Mrs. e. j. Phelps
and J. T. Wyman. The contrast OF these with
her earlier work is interesting and encoura-
ging, for they reveal noticeable gains in
drawing, color and thought Mrs Martin is
represented in standing three-quarters-
length picture Of digniied pose and careful
drawing. The plain pink gown hangs in
simple folds and is softened by a lace bertha
about the shoulders with long ends in front.
Mrs. Phelps picture shows a seated figure
enveloped in large, loose black satin coat
whose soft gray fur collar and lining partly
frame the face becomingly. The color scheme
is very subdued but attractive.
Chronologically the portraits of Mrs. @. o.
Van Cleve and Professor and Mrs. Folwel
fall into group of comparatively recent
work. Mrs. Van Cleve, with her beautiful
snowy hair in the characteristic curls that
get on her beaming and benignant face, is an
admirable subject and her portrait has been
painted with much skill and sympathy. The
portrait is worthy OF place in some public
collection, where all the friends OF the lovely
pioneer woman might enjoy it. Judge Flan-
creau of the State Historical Society attended
the exhibition with view OF seeing whether
this Minnesota artist could be employed on