The Washington herald., 1907-05-27
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.

Visitors invariably pause before the
smallest picture IN the Coreoran Gallery of
Art in Washington. This flower-like min
iature is the head Of a young girl, Marcia
Burns, who was afterward Mrs. James p.
Van Ness of Washington. II was done
by James Peale in 1871. and is a fine ex-
ample of the art that flourished in Amer
lea in colonial days. an art that was neg
lected for almost a century. but which has
recently been revived.
Miniature painting. like the making of
cloissonne. requires infinite patience and
skill, but the fckleness of public taste,
and not a dearth OF capable artists, caused
miniatures to become rare in America aft
or the time Of Malbone and the Peales.
When the miniature was the only portable
likeness it was much in demand. even by
persons with little appreciation Of art.
but when the daguerreotype came into
fashion interest in miniatures waned, and
II was not until some fifteen years ago
that American families turned from the
tinted photograph 20 real art and made a
market for the artists who paint upon
ivory
As all art is a luxury, artists are de-
pendent upon wealth. To the great in
crease in American fortunes and the
wider distribution of comfortable livings
all art owes its rapid advance in this
country. Miniature painting has made
-F -;1 g. ho4
1t is established upon a firm basis, and
viii not again be dropped A new avenue
10 success has been opened TO artists and
they are not slow to take fullest advan-
tage of It.
The vogue of modern American minia-
lures began about ten years ago. although
a demand for such work had previously
aristn among the wealthier and more
highly cultured families. There are now
number Of American artists who have
won a place for themselves in this field
both at home and abroad. and in the
opinion of critics the American school Of
miniature painting is second to none. The
old-fashioned miniatures, beautifully deli
cate as they were in execution, were some
what cramped by formal rules as 10 the
number of sittings required TO paint a
portrait head, and as 10 the number Of
COlOrs allowable upon the palette Mod
ern Americans are unhampered by tradi-
tons and free from conventions in pose
and costume, as we'll as daring in the use
Of color. Their aim is 10 put upon ivory
the same breadth Of feeling that is put
upon canvas by painters in OIL eliminat-
ing detail. yet maintaining dignity and
character In the words Of a prominent
critic, Americans do not believe that
matching eyesight with magnifying
glasses is art. They hold that technique
may become finical when too delicate.
Without running to cheap prettiness, they
seek 10 avoid severity.
An organization that is doing much 20
promote the art Of miniature painting in
Miniature Painters. which was founded
in 1899. with / A. Joseph president;
Laura Coombs Hills. vice president;
William J. Baer. secretary. and Mrs.
Lucia Fuller. treasurer. Among the
members Of the organization at the time
OF its founding were John A. McDougan.
W. J. Whittimore, and Misses Alice Beck
with, Lydia Field Virginia Reynolds, and
Theodore Thayer Miss Thayer died re-
Gently. after having won high honors.
The Philadelphia Society Of Miniature
Painters is another growing organization
which has the same purposes. Misses
Ellen Ahrens and Louisa Woods are
among its prominent members.
William J. Baer turned to miniature
painting al the request Of patron. He
won a bronze medal at Paris in 1900, and
another at the Pan-AmeriCdn Exposition
al Buffalo. L A. Joseph has received
honorable mention at Paris and a silver
medal at the Charleston Exposition. He
works directly from nature. without the
aid of photography, and his miniatures
are remarkable for carrying power" The
likenesses may be seen across an ordinary
room. Miss Hills. who won a prize at the
COrcOran Gallery Of Art, a medal az
Paris in 1900. and one at Buffalo In 1902
is said by critics 10 understand the emo
ton OF color" She is daring in its use,
and has achieved notable results. Mrs.
Lucia Fuller, who won a gold medal at
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and
who has created a reputation of definite
quality, paints both portraits and magma
tive figures.
Miss Alice Beckwith. whose work is
more impressionistic than that of the
other American miniature painters. re-
ceived A bronze medal at ST. Louis and
honorable mention at Buffalo. In her
class are W. j. Whittimore secretary of
the Water Color Society, as well as a
r,ar,,ber or tho gocist,. 90 Rff-;.t,-o
Painters, whose work is devoted chiefly
to children and figure compositions; Miss
Lydia Emmett. who received honorable
mention in Paris; Miss Lillian BayIiss. AMI
Mrs. Sargent Kendall, who received hon
orable mention at Buffalo; Mrs. Kate
Rogers Newell, and Miss Rachael Wor-
rail-.
Edward Green Malbone was prominent
as an early American miniature painter.
lie was the son Oi John Malbone. OF New
port. 4. l.. and was known by his moth
er's name until he secured the passage
Of an act in the legislature allowing him
10 assume that Of his father. Malbone.
who was born in 17U and died in 1907.
first became interested In painting while
watching scene painters in a Providence
theater He studied i'm Boston and New
York and then went to Charleston. and
from there 10 Europe with Washington
Allston. In London he made such an
impression that Benjamin West presi-
dent of the Royal Academy urged him to
remain in England, but he returned to
Charleston and achieved fame through
out this country as a miniature painter.
His close application to work under
mined his health. and he died after max
ing voyage to the West Indies in an
effort to recover.
MalbOne had a talent for elevating
character without destroying likeness.
especially in male heads. His great grace
Of execution was recognized among artists
in Europe and America, and to-day his
miniatures stand alone in comparison
with the work Of his contemporaries and