New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-02
LONDON NOTES.
Pictures at the Ne1c Gdllery-Fdrce
Taken Seriously at st. James's.

London. April 16.
Mr.. Watts survives at the New Gallery, where
the pale "reminiscences OF Burne-Jones in cam
vases painted by feeble imitators flickering
out. The veterans hand fails at least weak
ems, in draughtsmanship which was his
strongest point, and his color schemes lack the
odtime richness which suggested the inspiration
OF the Venetian school; but his Imagination IS
still potent and his mind revels in symbolism,
allegories and creative power. Whether his
group OF five pictures represents the activities
OF his old age or is made up OF bygone work
touched and completed. It brings the spectator
into touch with the painters mind, and is in
MIGRATING. The symbolic ana decorative pict-
ure. "A Fugue" with the cherubs and winged
spirits rising through fowery spaces into the
deep heavenly blue is full Of Imagination. and
the rosy. flesh tints among the blossoms and
doves have a beautiful decorative effect. The
'Endymion" and the "Prometheus' are less pleas
ing: but Whence. Whittier" with the naked
child bounding out Of the breakers of the nys-
terious blue and looking about in bewilder-
ment with his strange. questioning eyes. IS
picture that stimulates the mind: and Prog
ress." with the shadowy figure mounted on the
winged white horse and soaring above the heads
Of three symbolic witches-Science. Wealth and
Labor, PROSTATE and naked-is n allegory
easily understood that there is leisure for adj
miring the Venetian color scheme with its tones
OF red. orange and brown. Mr.. Watts is not at
his best in any Of these pictures but he is still
great at eighty-seven. and has the imaginative
mind with which 10 conjure and to inspire.
There is varied collection cf portraits with
out any canvas Of dominating superiority. Mr..
Sargent has two-Mr. Henry w Lucy and Mrs
Hugh Smith-and while neither is conspicuous
for reticence, each is painted with restraint.
"Toby's' rudy face and shock 81 brlstnG white
hair are revealed without hint Of the "swag-
GER method of impresslonsm. The likeness Is
perfect, yet the painter has softened the lines
and modelled the face with sympathetic touch.
In the portrait OF the lady. the modelling OF the
head IS firmer and the brush work is Wig
orous, especially in the painting OF the white
hair and dress and the brown furred wrap. The
canvas pusates with vitality; but there are
other portraits which can he looked at in the
same room. Two Of these are Mr.. Blanche's
from Paris. One is Nine Jacques Baugnies,
dressed In black with touches OF blue in the
picture. with most graceful pose and a pensve
face Of exquisite sensibility. The other is Miss
Marie Tempest, with broad brimmed hat and
veil and with tones Of pale blue and pink in the
costume, and with the characteristic complex
expression which is seen in her face when she is
acting Becky Sharp or in "Ktty's Marriage"
with suggestions of piquant sauciness. good
nature, caprice anu SelI-Nlll MI JOnn IHNeTS
has fine portrait of an officer in a blue uni
form with white facings. respondent with gold
braid; and Mr.. J. J. Shannon a vigorous paint
ing Of DR. Mitchell Bruce. Mr.. Mancini has a
portrait OF Baron CaCCamisi, with n hummock OF
white paint for a gloved hand and long ridge
Of It for a rapier, with the theatrical impress
sonism and mechanical effects half concealed
by It's high place on the wall, and with refine
ment Of skill in the painting of the flesh tones
OF the face against n background OF rose pink
Mr.. Richard Jack has stately picture Of a tall |
long necked English lady, and Mr.. George Henry
a charming portrait of Miss Idonia La Primau-
daye; but the canvas which will interest specta-
tors most keenly is the Hon. John Golfers pict-
ure of Mrs. Anthony Hope Hawkins With the
auburn hair the pale complexion and the |
queenly figure. IT might have been named |
Princess Flavia" The costume is exquisite |
pale yellow evening dress-and the white cur |
tain behind It, the yellow wicker chair and the |
brown floor harmonic with It. All these por- |
traits are in the same room with Mr. Sargent's |
brushwork. and not obscured by il.
In the long gallery there are many portraits of
children, among which Mr.. ]. J. Shannon's are |
conspicuously good. one is Joan Radcliffe an |
artless little girl with a doll casped in one arm |
and a hat held in the other hand. with fine use |
OF purple in the costume. and the other is /
Jack" thoughtful little boy with red cheeks |
and bright eyes. painted with retcence and i'm |
low tones Mr.. Llewellyn in his child picture is |
unduly impressed with the fact that he is paint |
Ing Viscount, who win be earl. and leaves |
out the traits and qualities tending to make Mr. |
Shannon's portraits simple and charming. Sir |
George Reid has reproduced with fine realism |
Mr.. Holman Hunts serene face. and has height
ened the effect by painting him in a brown
jacket; and he also has solidly painted por-
trait OF Lord Rayleigh's strong. intellectual face
Miss Grants portrait Of Herbert Spencer is a |
thoughtful work. Among the figure pieces. Mr.
Herbert schmalz has artistic blends OF purple
mac ana blue in the flower seller, whom he
names sweet Lavender" and another excellent |
STUDY from picturesque model in Thoughts"
Mr.. Boughtons 'Lisette' has the sad pensive
race which he likes to paint and also his favor
lie tones OF purple Mr.. George Henry's Pom
settia is brilliant study OF gray and brown.
Lady Alma-Tadema has a dainty bit of genre