The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-08
AMERICANS Ar ROYAL ACADEMY.
Review or the Work OF the Portrait
Painters. Led by Sargent.

portraits sent by John Sargent to the
Royal Academy this year, expert opinion
considers one Of MIR. G. McCorquodale to
be decidedly the best, and one OF Lord
Cromer to exhibit the greatest number of
deficiencies. Public opinion, always liable
to be much influenced by such considera-
tlons as the personal identity. or the come
illness or lack Of loneliness, Of an artists
sitter, and taking little note Of technical
or artistic qualities, seems we'll satisfied
with this presentment Of Lord Cromer as a
heavy, quiet, prosperous, red-faced Eng
lishman, clad In light gray suit. sum-
merry frock coat which is exceedingly
cheerful and at the same time highly de-
corous. This raiment is, indeed, almost
as creditable to his Lordships tailor as is
his Lordship to his Lordship's native land.
No rustic, seeing this figure in an English
country lane, but would at once bethnk
him Of the pleasant leisure Of the lilies of
the field, and promptly touch his cap. 1t
happens, however, that Lord Cromer does
both spin and toll, and also rule like Solomon
in all his glory. The characterization Of
this portrait has, in fact, too much in COM
mon with the kind displayed in scores and
scores of others which hang annually upon
the walls of Burlington House. and do not
disappoint that which they largely form.
the public taste in portraiture. What IL
otherwise lacks chiefly is distinction. That
it is well painted, technically, goes without
saving, since it is by Sargent.
Everybody seems to admire his portrait
of Mrs Joe Chamberlain which hangs
conspicuous in the chief gallery, though
you may at any time hear ladies', standing
in front of it, declare loudly that "she
really does not look like that" Some
journalist, in society paper, hath said
this thing Also it is thought possible that
many of these ladies' know what Mrs. Joe
really does look like. almost as well as all
of them know what she really ought to look
like. The mere art critic, seized with re-
spectful amazement, goes into corner to
wonder why they should not thus, but
more appropriately, speculate concerning
Lord Cromer's portrait. And he has to
give it up. Anyhow Mrs. Joe herself as
she stood before her portrait at the private
view, seemed quite pleased to look like that
and certainly what she then gazed upon
is a sprightly and skilfu performance.
Moreover. the color scheme of pearly whites,
pale blue and gray is refined and pleasant
You wish that many others would do as
much.
But the only portrait really good enough
for Sargent is the thTee-quarter length of
Mr.. McCorquodale. He looks wonderfully
alert, very much alive. The painting is
very direct, of mastery simplicity, and the
blacks of the attire are fine in quality.
Although not as good as the Alfred Wer-
theimer last year, it is nevertheless fine
thing.
Saroent's other mort rats are of LADY,
Evelyn Cavendish, Mrs. Philip Agnew and
Mrs julius Wernher. Speaking generally
Of his work as seen in the Academy this
year. it seems a little hasty, tending to
much green. in fesh-tones and elsewhere,
is cert ainlv not less in evidence.
Audi dierdm pdrtem. Concerning this
matter of haste and superficiality in rem
dsring the people of our day, one Max
brilliant brother of that other brilliant
written thus. in the pages of the Saturday
Reren:
Behold them on his canvases, caught ard
fixed there for a brilliant instant in the
midst of their whirling overwork and over
play. swished on in a manner that accords
so brilliantly well to its matter-a manner
that is, moreover, itself justly contemp,u-
GUS criticism, profound in its very superb
ciality. Here are ladies and gentlemen
whose bodies are still vibrating from the
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