The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
4 SNOW OF PAINTED EYES.
Miniatures Of an Odd Kind on Exhibition
In London.

Miniatures OF an Odd Kind on Exhibition
IN London.
/ LONDON. March Il-People who are
weary Of works Of art would do well TO
avoid the West End Of London al present.
There are shows and sales to be found in
all directions, and Of many kinds A show
Of an unusual kind an exhibition OF eye
miniatures. is to be seen in the Dowdes-
we'll galleries, New Bend street,
According 10 the oatalogue-but one
hopes il is not tnle-there is a revival Of
the old fashion OF having eyes painted
in miniature. Richard Cosvay, r. A.,
Ia said to have first set the fashion when
he painted for the Prince Regent a rep
resentation Of the eye Of Mrs. Fitzherbert,
80 that the first gentleman in Europe
might wear II on his wrist as a bracelet.
Translated from the Regents bracelet
to a safe steel frame, Il fascnates the pub
lie at the Dowdeswel galleries.
Once started, the fashion spread quickly.
and the leading miniature painters Of the
day, especially Engleheart, painted many
eyes for their clients, in some cases depict
ing the eyes Of an entire family.
He did indeed. and In some cases they
are here TO be seen; and nobody who has
not tried can imagine what a disconoert-
ing thing IL is 10 go 10 see an exhibition
and find the exhibition staring hard at
you There il a case full Of eyes Of mem
bers Of the Beauohamp family. painted
by George Englebeart in 1904.
To get an idea Of the facial area shown
in each miniature, place the point Of a
compass in the pupil Of your eye and with
a radius which just includes the eyebrow.
describe a circle. Depict this portion OF
your physignomy with great skill upon a
bit Of ivory, a circle, or an oval whose
greatest measurement shall not exceed
an inch.
Season your work with sentiment. Put
it under glass, and mount il rs a medallion,
a ring. stickpin, brooch or d bracelet,
according 10 your sex. your taste and in
genuity. That Il an eye miniature, a most
annoying thing 70 look upon.
Having been stared at by the unwinldng
optics Of defunct Beauchamps, you may
meet the gaze OF two eyes believed 70 be
those Of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton;
admire the eye Of Lady Blessington as
seen by Anthony Stewart; examine the eye
Of King Edward or speculate as TO the
identity Of "a large fine eye set in a cloud,
attributed 70 Freese,' or OF a large eye
unset attributed 20 Vaslet.'
The eyes Of the seven children Of the late
John Lumsden watch for you, all In one
case, In fact there are eyes all around you.
and you feel that only Argus would be
adequate 20 the situation.
But there are people who do not mind
these eyes, One came in yesterday. II
was handsome woman, dressed in what
appeared 10 masculine perceptions as a hat,
a gray jacket and a rich red skirt with a
brave rustic TO It,
She had the steely blue eyes which defect !
all eXtraneous, unnecessary glances, a |
mouth expressive Of what Baudelaire calls
ia polonte terrace and an imperious, free !
spoken way. The managers voice sank TO |
a depth Of Difference which was hardly 10 |
be heard at all; for this was the Princess |
OF Wales, come Unexpectedly TO SEQ the |
show. To-day that exhibition will be |
crowded.