New-York tribune., 1906-12-02
WHISTLER IN BROOKLYN.
Il Portrait acquired By the Institute
of Arts and Sciences.

There hangs in the museum of the Brooklyn In
stitute OF Arts and Sciences a recently acquired
painting of unusual interest. 1t is a full length
portrait by Whistler, q work of considerable i'm
portance. charmingly characteristic of his genius
tonast. The sitter was Miss Florence Ley
land. later the wife OF Val Prirsep. the English
painter. a year or so ago il passed into the hands
of ObaCh & Co. the London dealers, and last
April bought from them by Mr.. A. Augustus
Healy, president Of the Brooklyn Museum. The
purchase made with money obtained partly
from The Museum Collection Fund OF 1906. partly
from the Loeser and Hearn funds and partly from
nine private contributors. Professor GOODYEAR
curator OF fine arts at the museum. has hung the
painting at central point in the main picture gal
lery. where II is to admirable advantage.
Whistler had many dealings with the LeyIand
family. II their house iIl London that he
produced the peacock room" about which so
much has been written, and with brush etching
needle he portrayed all IF the members of the
Leyland circle. drypoint, executed in 1873 OF the
Florence LevIand' Of the present portrait, is
of the familiar and interesting OF his etch-
tngs The painted portrait. which dates from a
slightly later period is OF those delicate
ranseGnents Of a few simple tones in which he
peculiarly exeelled. The slender figure stands
sgainst dark background, in a dress that now
seems od fashioned in design. but is still beautiful
with the beauty OF soft color exquisItely rnanip-
lated. The attitude is Of absolute irnobty
The arms hang almost straight down the sides
Dark gloves lace at the wrists and q handkerchief
IN one hand serve TO break the evenness OF tone in
which the whole figure is enveloped. The face
shadowed by a dark hat. Is itself painted in a
very low key. The whole canvas leaves an impress
sion of preoecupation with a chord OF tons. Just
that and nothing more.
This s regrettabe where the treatment of the
face is concerned II never Whister's way to
that the features OF his sitter were sharply 1e
fired upon the canvas but in this instance he
seeT1s tC have been than ordinarily ueslectfu
Of details of modelling. The quality of the flesh is
not revealed, It IS only hinted and, IN fact the
construction OF the head is indrerently searched
into that wonders If the artist did not, per-
haps, intend TO return to his and carry it
much further However that may be- there ere
no qualifications 10 be noted regards the paint
ing OF the figure This is beautiful IN the pure
and subtle gTays with which the canvas is COW
cred. Linpid and silvery with tust the dark bloom
upon them that harmonizes with the deep tones of
the background, they stand for OF Whister's
happiest moments. Tt his gift TO invest q
theme OF the sort with charm transcend,ns it,
self. There is something sweet and engaging no
doubt, in the grlish figure. but the thing that Is
important is the mastery handling of surface the
creation upon the canvas Of a Euave and pro-
foundly refined note Of color. A harmony of grays
and blacks like this may nor possess poignant hu-
interest, but in It's sensuous beauty and In its
distinction OF style illustrates the most en-
chanting phases Of modern art Brooklyn Is to be
congratulated upon the acquisition OF this picture