Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-01-15

painting so many mere men with their
tiresome sameness of black frock coats),
IIarde painted for exhibition at the
World Fair of 1898 delightful portrait
OF his wife who was daughter of Sen
ator .Culom of Illinois. This lovely cam
vas fifty described by the Chicago Inter
! Ocean as a picture radiant with youth
and beauty represented the lady in an
evening gown of changeable golden silk.
with clouded violet shadows. 1t was as
widely noticed by visitors to the eXhib-
| ition as any portrait of a lady there, and
served to add materially to the reputa
ton of its author ! remember an I'M
finished painting of a lady that Hardie
had in his Dartmouth street studio in the
winter of 1894, which was the most charm
ing thing in point of color that he ever
produced. 1t depicted a lady wearing
broad brmmed hat and a gown Of pale
rose color and lilac which was set against
background of red and blue tapestry
altogether novel color scheme. but one
| that was most successfully brought into
harmony and unity The poise Of the head
was elegant and the work had a vast deal
of style.
In the more recent examples Of Hardies
work ] discern with pleasure an increase
of freedom. of originality and of sympathy,
a broadening out and mellowing of the
striving for more pure beauty Knowl-
edge of life. its hard knocks as well as
| its successes, and knowledge of human
experience and modesty that results from
acquaintance with the best in art. show
themselves in the artists work well
in his conversation. one of the most
| unobtrusive. but one of the best of his
recent portraits is that of a very ia
nous and very learned man. Professor
Simon Newcomb, the astronomer. This
work. which is the property of Johns Hop
kins University in Baltimore. is one of
|
traits. | quote the following admirable
description of this head from an article
| in Time and the Hour:
AT this moment there is a picture of
| Professor Simon Newcomb, painted for
| Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore,
which may challenge comparison with al
most any modern work. The zodiac in
| the corner marks. after the quaint me-
diaeval fashion, the astronomers calling.
! The background, of purplish hue, is
| strongly limned on very coarse cam
| vas. and is full of atmosphere. throwing
| the strong head into remarkable relief. 1t
| is not in itself an inspiring head Nigor-
| Gus and rugged. ii is neither suggestive in
| expression nor in cranial lines of in
| tellect or inspiration The one possible
| ideality, it's purposefulness and persist
ence. Mr. Hardie has seized Admirably
modelled, this head stands for strong,
| genuine mana man not of feeling. but
| of force: "A face enshrining the will to
wrestle and to attain. There is some
thing solemn in this grave. stern can
vas"
1t is because so many of Hardie's sit
| tiers have been similarly strong, genuine,
| rugged types of American character, that
| this account gives so true an impression
! of this way ofbringing to the surface these
| traits OF leadership. not alone in the re-
| nowned astronomer, but in senator, jul
rist, educator, phianthropist and man
| of affairs. Perhaps there is something
vital and distinctive in the American man,
which it has been left to this clear sighted
| painter to preserve for history