New-York tribune., 1901-10-13

| perpetual craving for occupation: and the SEQ
| ond is scarcely less apparent strength OF win
that ena bles him not only to direct his own pro-
| fessonal practice but to control and inspire
with something of his enthusiasm the men with
whom he is associated in his undertakings
| In short. the spirit of the man is alert even
nervous. and thus his work Is never without \
commendable animation. The figures in his
compositions are alive. and the pathos which he
has communicated to many OF his pictures il
thoroughly human and often deeply impressive.
These qualities occupy the foreground. it is true,
somewhat TO the disadvantage of others more
purely artistic. Professor Herkomer is not a
distinguished colOrst. has he a brilliant
technique. In his anecdotc pictures it is es-
sentially the anecdote that counts. the style
But the technique is adequate it is sound and
it is sufficiently fluent. We miss the touch OF
consummate mastery but we recognize the in
telIigent and skilful craftsman The artist es-
pecially commands respect by his freedom. There
Is nothing here of the Grass accuracy on which
the hdebound Academcian prides himself the
kind of accuracy that remains strangely
popular in England at the present day. Profess
sor HerkOmer cannot dazzle his public with
technical triumphs but he can hold it through
an admirable soldity and thoroughness In his
portraits too. he can use with good effect the
Imaginative quality which is part of his nature
That those portraits should be uneven in tech
nical and other relations is surprising for
they have been produced in astounding numbers
When he visited this country in the autumn OF
lSS2 he painted nearly a Dozen and during the
year 1856 he finished fewer than thirty-four.
But in the collection of about four hundred por-
traits which he has thus far executed there are
scores of striking canvases. striking in intel
lectual grasp, in really sympathetic insight into
the characters of the men and women he has
been commissioned to delneate. He has been,
| DeTh mi SfIrI Will
women. their more plastic features seeming to
have spurred him. the whole. to greater in
terest and a more energetic. fOrceful manner OF
execution 1t is a favOrite dogma of his that
"the best work never be done by routine
and there is no hint of formuIse in his portraits
Nevertheless he has. of course some clearly de-
fined principles. witness this fragment from
one of his lectures:
| Now two points frequently cIash-the view of
the face that will lend itself satisfactorily to
artistic treatment and the view that will give
the most comprehensive illustration of the mans
character. One the other has frequently to
De sacrlnced. To get merely the picturesque
| aspect of the sitter is certainly TO satisfy the
artistic craving of the painters nature: but 10
get TINS at the expense OF the likeness or inter
probation of the man is not TO satisfy those who
are to possess the portrait. and who commits
sion you TO do 1t. On the other hand TO leave
out that very quality which makes the work
| live through centuries work of art is TO
deprive the artist of his first right Ii is the
combination of the two qualities that constitutes
the successful work. and satisfies not only the
painters hope of poSthumOuS fame, but the man
who pays for the picture.
The common sense in these remarks only en-
hances their artistic point. Common sense in
fact, is one of Professor Herkomers salient vir-
tues He has been practical man all his life
long. which is one explanation of his having got
through an enormous amount OF work. He has
done much more than paint pictures and por-
traits IN OIL He is water cOlorist and
etcher, prolific designer of works in black and
white. the inventor of a method of engraving. a
worker in enamels. something OF architect
and a little more of decorator, musician and
a composer, ingenious fabricator of scenic
effects for the theatre. and last. but certainly
not least. the founder and guiding spirit of that
art school at Bushey which has been prosperous
for fully twenty years He has lived busy
fruitful life. and he is still feverishly active.
The tribute to him embodied in the p-eeent vol
ume has been we'll earned. 1t has been well
paid Mr. Baldry gives a judiciOus and conc Sc
account of Professor Herkomer's life and works.
and his text is handsomely urinted with numer-