Evening star., 1903-07-11

like that at ali. but that the young man
had done the best he could considering he
wasn't there" This same old veteran Is In
many ways an interesting character, guard
courtesy of passing thoughtless sightseers
he exhibits the reverent zeal Of a keeper OF
shrine. and doubtless teaches many a
careless young American q wholesome les
son in patriotism.
Gen. Joe Hooker's Statue.
Just outside of the state house on, the
left is the statue of Gen. Joe Hooker. which
was unveiled on the 25th Of last month.
with elaborate ceremony. 1t Is a gold
bronze equestrian statue. mounted on a
simple, dignified pedestal, and was the
work of Daniel e. French and Edward
Potter. sculptor and architect. Near this
mortal. and across the public gardens. on
the corner OF Arlington and Brykton
streets. Is the recently erected Claiming
memorial. The last is by Herbert Adams.
and consists merely of a portrait statue
OF the leader of Unitarianism set in a
niche made of light colored plain stone.
which can only be seen to advantage from
one point. and as a work of art does not
commend ITSELF
Eargent's Pictures.
Among the transient exhibitions the se-
ries Of portraits executed by John Linger
Sargent during his recent visit to America,
which is being shown in the Boston Mu-
scum OF Fine Arts. Is Of chief interest and
Importance. An entire room the fifth gal
lery, has been given over to this collection.
consisting OF sixteen canvases and four
drawings, all the work, in fact, which Mr..
Sargent executed during his six months
sojourn on this side of the sea. except the
portraits OF the President and Secretary
hay: The canvases shown are portraits
OF Gen. L. A.. Wood. James Whitcomb
Riley painted for the Art Association Of
Indianapolis; Edward Robinson. director
OF the Museum of the Fine Arts, Boston:
Mrs. f1ske Warren and her daughter Ra-
chel: Major Henry Lee Higginson painted
for the Harvard Union: Mrs. William c.
Endicott, 1r-; Mr.. A. J. Cassatt. president
OF the Pennsylvania railroad; Mrs. A. Law
renee Rotch; Judge William c. Loring; DR..
8. Weir Mitchell. painted for the Mutual
Assurance Compeny Of Philadelphia; Mrs
Joseph Widener. Mr.. Peter A. B. Widener.
Mrs. Gardiner G. Hammond, Mrs William
]. White. Mrs. Charles P. Curtis, jr.. and
Mr.. c. M Loeff1er, and the drawings repre-
sent Mrs. F. Gordon Dexter. Mr.. p. b.
Robinson. Miss Ethel Barrymore and
Rabbi Charles Fleischer.
A Great Collection.
Never in this country has such an op-
portunity been given to study the style
and method Of the great. perhaps great
est. OF modern portrait painters. as this
collection affords. not only by its size and
comprehensiveness, but on account Of its
Juxtaposition to works by the foremost old
and modern masters. In the portraits OF
Major Higginson. Mr.. Cassatt, Judge Lo-
ring and DR.. Mitchell the painter has
reached level which dares comparison
with all or any. but In his portraits of
women he seems to have fallen short In
all the canvases Of this collection there is
the stirring evidence Of gigantic crafts
manship-medium manipulated with force
and freedom which Is little less than
miraculous but In some drawing has been
sacrificed by haste and finish for effect.
AS an evidence OF Mr.. Sargent's rudiment-
ary knowledge the charcoal drawings ably
supplement the paintings and are of special
interest. In these. in his paintings, he
shows himself a remarkable analyzer of
character-e portraiturist worthy of the
name.
As an example Of this and the realism of
the artistic work, It Is said that not long
since the Secretary Of State heard two
young women who he passed on the street
exelaim. "Oh. there Is Sargent's portrait Of
Secretary Hay!'
His people are indeed real and vital-not
merely painted people. This quality is
less noticeable in the women's portraits
than the men. Possibly, however. the SUBJ
Jects were In themselves more enfgmantical.
In Mrs. Warren's. Mrs. Endicotts. Mrs.
Rotch's and Mrs Joseph Widener's pOr-
traits there Is predominance Of the pic
turesque and decorative element. The color
scheme Of each Is charming, and at the
length OF the gallery they are immensely
effective, but they lack that personality
lasting value.
A Fine Distinction.
They are clever rather than great The
small portrait Of Mrs. w. J. White does
not belong to this category. for, while less