New-York tribune., 1902-05-14
THE NEW SARGENTS.
WITH SOME OF THE MORE NOTICEABLE
PICTURES TO BE SEEN AT
THE ACADEMY.
THE ACADEMY.
London, Nav 4

and versa tility of Mr.. Sargent dominate the an
nual exhibitions completely that interest in
them centres in his work For purposes of
classification the present exhibition. which is
above the average in artistic merit, may be
divided into eight Sargents and LIS misceI-
laneous works including the State portrait of
the King by Mr.. Fildes. This is rough way Of
estimating the relation of one resourceful
painter Of extraordinary force and energy to
Academicans, associates and general exhibitors
Mr.. Sargent does not repeat himself from year
year. but is constantly arranging new color
schemes and trying fresh experiments in group
bg and method He is not only master of
lolor. draughtsmanship and composition but he
slso paints with unceasing variety. that his
sork contains few "reminiscences of what he has
lone before, and is always fresh, original and
sowerful. His eight portraits at the Academy
shis year, with the three works at the New Gal
lery, are q remarkable revelation of untiring and
resourceful energy. There is a great din in
these times over Mr.. Morgan and his ring of
American capitalists, who are directing the in
dustrial and commercial destinies of this tight
little island. The ascendancy of Mr.. Sargent,
with his American blood. is even more master
ful and absolute in English art.
Among Mr.. Sargents groups of threes the
Wertheimer children in the schoolroom exhibited
at the New Gallery is the greatest in technique
and composition. The painters art like that of
Velasquez, is concealed. and his own skill as a
Snowman and stage manager is not faunted in
the spectators face with overpowering effect.
The schoolboy and his sisters. with their dogs.
are in their own places pulsating with vitality
and every accessory of the color scheme and
composition is kept we'll within the picture. The
two Academy groups are more brilliant, but per-
haps not equally convincing and natural. The
White Ladies'" Mr.. Sargent's portrait of the
Ladies Alexandra, Mary and Theo Acheson is
known among artists. is picturesque compost
ton suggesting comparisons with two or three
well known masterpieces of English portraiture
It is an out of door portrait. with an edge of
green turf. bit of blue and gray sky. and with
the three ladies in white grouped about a tree
with golden fruit. One Of them is reaching for
the branches, another is seated with golden fruit
in her lap. and the other stands on one side. In
the foreground is a basket of fruit The three
ladies are gracefully posed and everything is
done 10 impart interest TO them. but they are
not Three Graces. lack the charm Of beauty.
and are less vital and more theatrical than Mr..
Sargent's figures ordinarily are. The second
group Of three is the portrait of the Misses
Hunter. two in black and one in white with a
white dog curled up in the folds Of Of the
black skirts The ladies are sitting AT ease. and
are differentiated in character and tastes by
subtle touches 1t is a restful and charming
composition, full of vitality and power. and it
mira bly, hung between Mr.. Fildes's portrait of
Lord Pirbright and Mr.. II. Won Herkomer's Earl
Egerton Of Tatton, its masses Of dark color he
ing lighted up by the glowing reds either side.
Among Mr.. Sargent's single figures the most
brilliant Is the portrait Of the Duchess Of Port
land. She is splendidly costumed in red and
white, and is the embodiment not only of stately
dignity, but also of grace in movement. She is
intensely alive, but has been caught in suspend
sd movement. so that 1t fairly seems as though
the frame would not mold her back. but that
she would step down and out sweeping through
the gallery with 1.-THE and graceful tread. Mr..
Carolus Duran's portrait of Mrs. Charles S. Hen
y 5 4 companion piece rather than foil for
this wonderful work. Mr.. Sargent's remaining
ladies' are Mrs. Endicott, with high bred,
thoughtful face and exquisitey painted hands.
and a prim black gown, the pose Of the figure
suggesting characteristic formaty and reserve:
Mrs. Leopold Hrsch. with charming sense Of
being at and not exposed to the storm and
stress Of active life. and Lady Megrey Thomp
son. with a more restless nature and a more
disturbing environment. Mr.. Sargent. like We
lasquez, is a close observer. and paints what
he sees: and he never idealizes his sitter as
Romney must invariably have done. His por-
traits Of Mr.. Alfred Wertheimer and Lord Rib
blesdale complete the list; and there is mastery
technique in each. The hands painted with
such vigor and subtlety to have almost as
much character as the faces Every figure lives,
for vital power has been impaired by the won
derful brushwork, with its broad but sure
stroke. Every color scheme is distinctive and
harmonious vet it is kept in subordination to
the main motive OF the work-the denotement
Of character With all Mr.. Sargent's versatility,
there is steady gain in strength Of composition
and in inventive byplay.
After the eight Sargents royalty must have
its due. Mr.. Fildes's State portrait of the King
occupies the place of honor held last year by NJ.
Constants portrait of the Queen. 1t is a cere-
rnonial work brilliant in wealth of scarlet and
crimson in the robes and stately in the pomp of
circumstance and power. The likeness is excel
lent, and the painter has succeeded in repro
ducing characteristic pose of the sovereign. A
artistic picture is the smaller and less pre-
tentious work by Mr.. Seymour Lucas. repre-
senting the reception of the Moorish mission at
most picturesque functions of the reign. and the
painter has reproduced the scene with anima-
ton and brilliancy Of color. Mr.. F. d. Milet has
a less successful work, entitled "Proclaiming the
King; Mr. John Carlton revives memories of
the Victorian Jubilee in a memorial work. and
there minor studies of a similar character.
Among these royal functions there is a char
acter!stic republican scene. Mr. Andrew c. Cow.
taking up his parable from Thackeray's "Vir-
ginians," has a spirited painting Of Washing
tons Farewell to the Army" The barge is
waiting at Whitehall ferry to take the General
over the Hudson. and a thin line of infantry
is presenting arms. Sixteen or twenty officers
are pressing about their chief who with quiet
dignity is saying goodby to them. This fine
little idyl Of the American Revolution is in the
same room with Mr.. Fildes's portrait of the
Alhs armed with the sceptre of power.
"hen the Sargents and this group Of cere