New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-08

..-g in modelling and sympathetic in treat
20 The most picturesque and interesting
a..raIt is the lady with white plumed hat and
~ fancy dress drawing a cloak around her
-,,selv as to show the end of a metallic sword
S.oth This is a figure full Of vitality, with a
-. Of arrested motion; and the smiling ~ace
- its expression OF daring defiance and self
session piaues curiosity and. is most fascinat-
- With its arrangement of black against
~ "A vele Comic" is the most subtle of Mr.
e,-1ent's portraits this year laborious and
,s,er as his ceremonial works may be- An ex-
ss1lert likeness Of the French pianist NJ Leon
1l.,sfassa. completes his varied series in the
Academy
II there be a marked change Of style in the
,r.raits Of the two exhibitions 1t is a reversion
=, outdoor backgrounds, with sky and foliage,
e,,b as Reynolds and Gainsborough favored.
AZ ! J. Shannon has a setting OF this kind in
each OF his four Academy pictures; Nora Long.
tainted with childlihe simplicity among rocks
end trees: Lady DicksOn-Poynder and her
laughter Joan, two white figures against
woodland screen and patches of blue sky; Mrs.
Cecil Sebag Montefiore and her two children
graceful group in white, with foliage and glints
n red and pink flowers behind them. and Blue
Row" q charming little girl with a puzzled face.
other painters have abandoned fussy curtains
end interior arrangements Of furniture for the
,,en air: and those who have not done so are
.rsjug more bronze in ornamenting chairs and
-sblas The veterans repeat their own Conven-
tions With diligence. Mr.. Dicksee gives Lady
T5u!ngdon seat on a gold colored couch and
decks ner Romney hat with lilac plumes; Mr..
r-1des paints Mrs. Strueben in white evening
dress with the mid-Victorian consciousness Of
rropriety: Sir Edward Poynter sketches Mrs
sebrlght IN creamy lace and picture hat the
hanks OF a river with a water gate; Sir W. B.
Richmond presents Mrs. Nichols in a medley
of black and white; and MIR. Hugh C. Riviere
focuses the Archbishop of Canterburys head
Ike photographer in order that there may be
the stiffness requisite for carrying off with dig
nitv the black. white and scarlet robes. The
walls Of the Academy are well lined with por-
traits by painters old and young. and there are
not fev, presentation works and potboilers
among them. Mr.. Cope in his portrait Of Lord
Northbrook not only shows his talent for dig
rlhsa portrayal of character and force but also
gives an object lesson in the proper use Of
furniture Barely enough of the chair is shown
10 explain how the sitter is supported, and the
importance Of It is not exaggerated with orna-
r7err as IS one Of the bad customs of the por-
.traiture of the day. Mr.. Hacker has painted
rather subtle likeness Of Mr. NJ. H. Spielmann.
The Hon. John Collier has provided in por-
trait Of Mrs. Lawrence Guillemard with black
against black companion picture for Mr.. sar-
gents "a VeIe Comic; and that IS no slight
thing. for lovers Of true art VIII return when
the rounds Of the galleries are made to the
corner where the fancy lady with the white
feather and fancy dress masquerade is TO be
found. and viii agree that this is the picture Of
the year. I. N F.