New-York tribune., 1901-11-26
LONDON ART.
nTCHESS'S CHARITY BALL AT
AGNEwS-PORTRAITS AT THE
NEW GALLERY
NEW GALLERY.
London. NoyAmher Il

,-;,,7s interest to her temperance to-day at
.cnew Galleries. The obscurity and neg
- from which this beautiful work suffered
.7 t-s purchase at the Wynn-Ellis sale in
r-s for I0JG0 guineas: the controversies to
.;,, il gave rise respecting the identity both
.ne subject and of the painter; the adroitly
s,sEed burglary at the Agnew Galleries; the
-.o,-erv OF the work in Chicago after the lapse
"a quarter Of q century. and the revival OF
.-v malicious stories respecting the theft and
-. authenticity Of the picture as Gains
s,-opgh. have piqued public curiosity and rem
..-ed the exhibition of the Duchess most in
..-ee+f1g event. Neither Mr.. Morgan nor the
.-,ews have been willing TO avoid the chal-
,.9ea for a public exhibition. which some Ill
----a6 art dealers and critics have Informally
,,es. and what may he described charity
~ has been arranged for the Duchess's reap
.e-ance 4 collection OF twenty old English
,r-,7res of the highest quality has been made
so- the benefit Of the Artists General Benev-
o,snt Institution. and the Duchess, in the centre
~ brilliant company Of Gainsboroughs' Rom
-svs. Reynoldses Hoppners and Raeburns, re-
.sives her friends in state
The most critical and suspicious spectators
-, hardly fail to be fascinated and deeply in
crested for the Duchess is a rudy, handsome
roman apparently about five and twenty. with
snarkling eyes a wealth OF powdered hair, a
s.nsitive. aouiline nose. pretty mouth with lips
messed together. and an expression OF content
With herself and all the world. She is shown At
-b-ee-ouarters length. naturally II not grace
+snv posed with arms lightly folded and the
LEFT hand playing with the sleeve: and she is
dressed il the most bewitching way The scheme
- coIor IS pale blue and silver, with greenish
reh+s and contrasts with blacks. The skirt IS
rs+bered up under the arms; at the breast is
vor. q delicate pink rose, and big Gains
bo-ough hat with dark plunles and silver rib
bon. crowns and orershadows the pretty SEN
suous face Behind is a vaguely suggested.
dmly lighted woodland landscape, which does
,ot serve 20 divert attention from the fascina--
ing LADY, briuaTnins over with vitality ana
marking with vivacIty and charm II does
,ot matter whether OF not the title belongs 10
ae- Whoever she was she was lovely Great
ere and a model after Gainsborough's heart:
and the critics are virtually united this morn
fne IN The judgment that only he could nave
,ain-ed the nicture The scheme Of color was
2 <avo-ite one with him; jhe background was
Characteristic OF his work; the broad hat with
the ribbon in high light was one which he con-
stantiv painted; and the masters handiwork
vas disclosed in the technique of the finely
modelled hand. the turn Of the chin. the powder
ing of the hair anc the solid painting OF the
blue dress without any manner Of doubt II is
3 genuine Gainsborough and a great one. wheth-
e. the subject was a model who pleased him,
or either the first the second Duchess or
Devonshire. Mr. Morgan can be congratulated
upon owning one Of the most charming and
artistic works Of English porrraiture-
The Duchess must be at her best, for a brill
iant company has gathered around her. AT the
end Of the gallery Is Gainsborough's noble and
stately portrait Of viscountess Ligonier, one Of
the masterpieces Of portrait painting, and 10
right and TO left are his grim Sir William
Blackstone. his e1quisitely painted Dr. Isaac
Henrioue Seaueria and one Of his lovely pas
toral landscapes. From Benheirn has been lent
oae Of Sir Joshua Reynoidss Incompatible
works the Duchess Of Marlborough and child.
and further along on the wall is another por
trait by the same hand, boy holding bunch
Of grapes There are two Hoppners, brilliant
portrait OF Mary Stuart Wortley and an even
more noteworthy one Of the Hon Miss Emma
Crewe which reveal all the splendors and
subtleties OF his method OF painting. The sec
ond Hoppner would be a prize for any ATTeTi-
can collection. There are three exquisite Rom
neysthe restfuI Mrs. Canning and child, the
familiar Mrs Robert Trotter. Of Bush, and the
vivacious Mrs. Jordan. the actress There are
three works by Sir Henry Raeburn-Miss VII
and William Adam. Of Blair-Adarn; and there
is Sir ". Beecheys excellent portrait OF him
self To the portraits are added tranquil,
sunny coast scene by Bennington. fine study
Of light On the Midway. by Miller, Constable's
perfect balance Of values in The Lock" and
Turner's highly imaginative, II somewhat
faded Eve Of the Deluge," Only three Of
sisised. The estimated value of y unique col
lection is 10000. How large a proportion OF
this sum the Duchess represents. only the
Agnews and Mr Morgan know; but specta-
Tor CT any degree of sensibility is prepared to
dor his hat TO her before leaving the gallery
and 70 admit that she worth anything that
paid for her even if a good part Of her
beautiful blue gown has been cut of, and her
lite an erratic fiction like one Of Ophelia's
drsans
Faen VISIT is paid 10 the New Gallery after
delightful hour with the Agnew collection, the
Tesou-ces OF the Society Of Portrait Painters
are subjected TO a severe test. In place Of
twenty works OF high quality by great masters,
there is mixed lot Of 145 portraits Of varying
merit by the painters Of the day; and there Is
group Of Sargents an offset 10 the Gains
'roughs, Reynoldses, Eoppners, Romneys ana
Eseburns There is, however, Whistler. and 1t
= one OF exceptional charm Violet and Blue
1ae Red Feather is the characteristic title
tnd il IS key TO the simple but lovely color
Scheme. 4 girIish face. pallid and wistful, is
frightened by the touch Of red in the headdress
While the soft blends OF violet and blue in the
e0let costume are in harmony with the gentle
ness and tenderness Of the expression. no force
wasted On accessories The luminous face
shines ont from dark background. and there
Is nothing 10 divert attention from it II IS a
mastery little work without arectations or