New-York tribune., 1905-12-25

.or Haunts her saucy charm as Sir Henry
ms ms IN white hat and dress with red cloak;
WIZ. VIZ. rzenoble poses before Phillips Tanner
- and John Fawcett before Shee; there is
iAne, :, zofany portraits and theatrical pieces
eel Foote in blue coat and pink waistcoat;
= Mood, as Father Foigart. Mrs. Garriek in
j. j. silk gown and lace cap. Thomas King in
sc. 60 5-landestine Marriage" Garrick and Mrs,
- =, Venice Preserved" and Garrick
80. ,r, the presence OF the Ghost: there are
- t-lints with Edmund Kean. as Sir Giles
o.-,-raarh and Richard III. snd old William Far
= oe the most interesting pieces: Charles KEN
- holds the marks q tragedy and comedy. and
z,..hter broods Hamlet; there are portraits
:. .be elder Mathews. Jack Bannister and other
lars ry De Wide: and there IS a "Reminiscences
= .be Old fashioned play. The Stranger in
Sro-rys sketch n Young as Mr. Haller- Jeffer-
=, ne Rip Van Wrinkle Is painted by himself,
I'D the <amous cast in Much Ado About Moth
.." Al the LyCeum Is reproduced in Mr..
Z,.-bes Robertson's drawing ot the church
Gene Miss Ellen Terry appears at Christies
:. ophella Cordelia Portia and Lady Macbeth.
bnt the last IS the great part. because Mr.. Sar-
.snt IS the painter. Irving himself appears in
:-.nv parts-Cardinai Wolsey. Charles L Lear,
psvensvood. BenedicE. Citizen Landry. Le
s,,-gues and Mephistopheles; but he will receive
,ha heartest gree EHS from the spectators at
.he auction room as Philip of Spain, for this is
sre OF Whistier's well known pictures with the
actor q full length. with black doublet, hose
snd short coat, long. white trunks and shoes,
and white feathers in the black hat and the dull
r,ssua Of gold embroideries
1.ts e full dress rehearsal Of the English stage
.ba+ Is 70 be witnessed ct Christie's on these
anil December mornings: and scenic effects are
m, lacking Here are the designs for many of
tbe great productions at the Dyceum: Alma
rradsn7as Antium and Rome for "Coriolanus,
Tu-ne-Jones's sketches for King Arthur Ford
MADDOX Browns illustrations for king Lear,
s.vn,o7Ir Lucas's drawings for "Ravenswood,"
rsnuieIs designs for Shylocks and Othello's cos
Times Telbin's Brocken for the witches sab
hsth and Hawes Craven's studies for many
nlavs among them ''Becket" in which Irving's
isst stage words were heard Every detail of
scenic art decoration was studied by this mas
ger artist and no effort was spared in fitting
himself into the inpersonation Of character.
The heads Of Dante Napoleon, Robespierre and
Charles ] stand out among these scenic designs
10 remind one OF Irvings habit Of hrooding 81
lsntlv over the characters which he was to i'm
rersonate: and when the engravings are exam
med in folio or in frame there is Overwhelming
evidence that genius like his consisted in TAX
ing an infinite deal of pains in little things,
Here are engravings. Autographs and aqua tints
Illustrating the costumes. incidents and life Of
France al the time Of the great revolution, so
that The Death Cast ''Robespierre" and other
plsvs might have the color and movement of the
period Here are Garrick. the Keans. the KEN
bles Macready. Mrs. Siddons. Mrs. Oldheld
Mrs Cibber. Peg Wellington. Mrs Pritchard
and Nine Testris in their greatest stage per
forrlances. where their costumes and poses could
be studied and the inspiration Of their stagecraft
caught All these worthless. who have given the
cues 70 the chief English actor in the retirement
Of his library. are now rehearsing their parts
with srnirk o. floyvn for few natinees at Chris
tes. and when the last curio or drawing is rat
tied off down will come the curtain with final
tan from the most mechanical Of sceneshiTters'
the suctioneer The ghosts haunting Irving s
rooms will not be seen again, but the playhouses
viIl still be open. and on the stage there will be
fun range for affectations foibles. mannerisms
and brilliant talents Of the actors Of the past who
will live again in the art Of their successors.
But there will be no Irving with unique per
soDalitv on any stage. As Dobson IN his imag-
ir7atfve tour OF Hyde Park could meet all the
familiar figures of Horace's satires. but not the
master himself. so also the playgoers who have
loved and honored Irving VIII continue to think
Of him as unmatched, unrivalled and ever to
be missed from the theatre. / N F.