The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-29

", Gainsborough did paint two; but an
/ other story is that ne vas himself dis
appointed with the first and. or its being
exhibited at the ROYAL Academy n las
( and declared by Walpole TO be VERY bad
and washy." he smeared the mouth with
a wet brush. refused to deliver the ror.
trait. destroyed il. and set to work at a
second-Aiessrs. Agnew's.
According to the tale OF last spring
/ the first had not been destroyed by any
I one. but had been presented by the
Duchess 10 a nameless son. His heirs
had carried it TO the colonies and it had
turned up in London again. just at The
moment when interest was at fever heat.
I saw the picture. but it was 50 decidedly
the worse for wear that 1 should hesitate
10 pronounce an opinion. Neither do [
vouch for the stories. repeat them
merely for what they are worth And
now after an this excitement the stolen
Duchess is once more on public exhibit
tion in London. 1t seems almost useless
TO describe the picture. SO well is il
known. It is half lensth and the
Duchess. with her towering black hat
ard feathers overshadovfng the elaborate
co.ffure of the day. her oftan-copicd fichu.
her erms crossed. the rieht hand unseen.
holding up her drapsrlcs. the Ieft PLAYING
sith rosehud. is as familiar perso.
age to us all as the Philip Of Nei3a7rez.
'he Charles of Van Dvce or tie Rem
llanar ey himself The ribbons are oiue
and the vhite sovn is shot through with
blue the color Gainsborough loved TO
paint. there is a romantic background Of
has the agreeable tone that comes with
aee But 10 be honest il is % disappoilt-
mont. At its best. it could never have
been one of The masterpieces az Gains
borough who could paint character as
well rs nrettiness. This is the reason.
probably why doubts have been thrown
upon its authentlciiv though J am as
sared that one Of the authorities ready 10
nrorounce against IL before De had seen
ihe portrait. Isl no wthat he has seen it.
about 70 make q public recantauon.
But II is too pretty, that is the trouble.
'The face has the sert Of charm W. assoc
cate with Books Of Beauty and o.d-tash-
toned keepsa kes. And il looks TO ne as
though il had been repainted. 50 much
fresher is IL than the bust and the crossed
arms. I know that Gainsborough relied
largely upon lines fer his modelling. He
cid not give you the planes of the face
in the manncr. OF Naiesquez. or. Tor that
matter. If Raeburn his contemporary and
fellow Briton. II you Jock az the AIrs
Sidlons In the National gallery. you VIII
fnd 81 IL too fatness-an unWiilngness.
IS il we're t. admit that "a woman's ilssia
can De anything bur smooth and soft
tree Of ssgresslve modelling But THE
face Of the Duchess has a sickness the
cheeks p rosiness. the lips a redress
90 nor think 81 typical ~ Gainsloroueh.
Il this case. unquestiona hly. had The
picture gone throush only the usual sale
room and gallery adventures. il Mould
scarcely have won its present fame. Fer
my part. should gladly exchange It for
GaiEsoornugh less famous -ylscounfess
Lieouier. now in ;he same salery or
even his modest littie Sir William Biaes-
stone with genuine character iu ths l4ee
and a most luseuius arr4aseisl,l oi tie
judicial. flr-triumea red raues Eut
utagher az these rictures Naua hsve
drawn the crowds lhat are daiiS aoeking