The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-04

tinction of the painting. it is an honor
To paint a portrait OF the President
and have this prominent position as
signed. 1t is a greater honor to have
produced more compelling picture in
art directions.
One, however. must admit three
things. President Roosevelt, in his rid
ing costume, is bluff. hearty, and whole
some, but hardly inspiring 10 an artist.
That Meichers is decorative rather than
literal; that he paints portraits or
success than those Of men. After an,
MelcheTs may not have cared TOR the
subject and pos: he proDaply dld ms
best, but an artist, even at his best, is
sometimes ragged, and does not always
score.
Better Illustration.
As an illustration Of a better scheme
OF Presidential portrait painting, visit
the east side Of the atrium, and about
half way down the liue, note the por-
trait OF President Roosevelt by Joseph
DeCaup. This portrait has been but
recently finished, and for this reason IL
could not be given more prominent
place, as at the end Of one Of the
smaller galleries. But the place does
not matter. for the pictures In the
atrium are ali good, and there has been
nc intention on the part Of the hang
ing committee 10 make uOEgue OF
The aJrium, and feleSate 10 this place IN
dimerent paintings by artists but ltIs
known. Many of the most prominent
painters OF the country are represented
by pictures la the 4trluIu-
The picture of President Roosevelt by
DeCamp is formal. dIguihed, pleasing in
arrangement good IA mOdeHlg, ana req
sonabiy like the distinguished moleL
The pose Is somewhat or the conNSn-
tiOnal order bat one should remember
that the dignity Of the Chief Executive
s better represented 10y pose Jndt
may not be wholly new OF novel fathef
than 90 attempt something out or Keep
ing with a Presidential attitude. Inc
color Of the background IL simple, OUT
possible The table at the LETT, the chdlr
at the right. the helght OF caiisSss --Ilit
It's width. are all features Which merit
consideration. The work rs SuJOtA4y
but not thiuiy done, There IS the seLsd-
ton of solid flesh. blood and bone, JIM
deTneath the clothing, although the gar
ments are smoothly pressed Inc luuC-
uendenCe of the Executive Is not 10 De
exploited by baggy trousers or careless
dress
Face Shows ObstinaCy.
In the face comes the harder test, for
many a painter can perform the act Of
the tailor. ana smooth drapery. The
face shows a trace OF oDsunacy the
degree Of resOluteness seems 10 be car
RED a shade too far Sargent ih his
portrait gave a face showing an aDFre-
citation Of deep problems, ana the
anxiety 20 solve them Judlciously- De-
Camp seems to ind a face OF urmuess
VeTEIEg into stubborn opsuuacy- 1is
Interpretation may be correct bul VIC
would like 20 see one portrait OF FFesl-
dent Roosevelt painted by renowned
portrait painter In which enc may see
more OF the fraterual SIDE OF our tresl-
dent That side made mJ--llc6L when
he meets his classmates or when he
gives the warm hand clasp and says
''dee-IieuIed." That size Of his char
acter has been entirely lost Jy the por-
Rnf TO return To the subject OF the
painting by MelCheTE- IL is only an evil
denCe that talented though he may be,
he is nos a painter Of diEnitaIles. See
No. a by the same artist and note this
exquisite composition in the best OF Mel
cher's somewhat Frencny style This IS
q fun length portrait or a. woman IlCuly
goWned. brilliantly treated, gcoc IN color
and although uuatJraCJiys IA the back
ground, is an example Of Meicner5 al
his best. The point IL this Mclchers
has his limitations, ne can paint women
ECCCptaulgs but not Gieu.
Won Leubach, 10 all Of hts many por-
traits OF Bismarck, never let the critic
forget that whatever the garb or COS
tune, underneath was the great mas
ter mind OF Germany. MelcheTs has not
mace you feel THAI under the shaggy
REFER, the riding trousers, the knee
boots and spurs. the sl0ugHed hat and
the blur, hardy figure. is the President
OF the United States.
But there are other portraits, some
OF them BY portrait painters Of rare
hardly matured 70 may be, is well rep
resented. shannon, another American
portrait painter. who has made his
mark ia London, IS also represented, al
though not as strongly as IN the eX-
ample purchased by the COTCOran Gal
leTy last year. Cecilia BeauX and Mary
Cassatt, with Janet Wheeler, represent
the painters among the Philadelphia
women who paint portraits. Irving
Wiles Is IS ever painter who attempts
the portrait Of a woman TO glOrify her
rather than dissect and analyZe.
Portraits of Women.
William NJ Chase is better represent
ed by portraitU-c than before. Hugh
II. Breckenridge shows his color fond.
ness in his two full length portraits
OF women found IN Gallery B. Robert
Henri, Carroll Beckwith, rank Fowler.
and Ben Ali Haggin also exhibit pOT-
traits OF women The exhibition as a
whole is strong in portrait work.
In landscapes Redneld, SChO6efd {
Ranger, Davis, MetCalf, and Hassan
form a coterie OF the best of the out
of-tOwn landscape painters. Mac.
Even, TarbeN. Benson, and AIiIlet rank /
high in their ClcTerness IN figure paint
ing, combined with attributes of land
scape or interiors IN which the figure !
is a part OF the composition.