Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-12

spring for Harvard University by order
of the class of 1880. 1t is a full-length
and rather pictorial composition.
showing the President standing in d
daintily furnished drawing room with
inlaid oak floor and gray paneled walls
To his right is n table upon which he
rests his hand and to his left chair OF
rather frail construction. On the table
is a blue and white bowl holding pink
lilies, and in the Presidents buttonhole
is pink rose From first to last no
fault is to be found with the painting
technically it is rendered with the ut
most skill and nicety-its surfaces are
good in texture and in tone-its manner
of presentation is reticent and pleasing.
But it isn't the President The man it
sets forth 10 a negative rather than
positive character, neither mentally nor
physically strong. and essentially lack
ing in individuality-a retiring, modest
gentleman in the house of wealthy
friend. To be sure. it is d far pleasanter
version OF the President than many that
have been Transcribed. but it lacks VICE.
fully in force and vlgor
From Atrium to Gallery.
1t is interesting to pass from the
atrium in which this portrait is hung to
Gallery A, the first on the extreme
left, wherein is to be seen the portrait
Of President Roosevelt painted by Carl
MeIchers, about the same time. on order
from MT. Ffeer LOT the Smithsonian
Institute collection. 1t, too, is full
length. but pictures the President in
riding costume. gray clothes. green
waistcoat. red and yellow necktie. black
hat and top boots of brown leather In
his left hand lie holds his gloves and
crop and his right hand he thrusts deep
into his trousers pocket. The pose is
characteristic and good. the painting
strong and authoritative. In places the
utterance is SO brusqpe as to be almost
fol u-h
aggressive rather than alluring. but next
to the portrait by Philip Laszlo 1T is
probably the best that has yet been
painted of the President.
In this same gallery hangs the same
artists charming portrait OF his Wlfe,
moderately we'll known through reproduce
ton. Carl Melchers' brush is always dry
and frank bat it is skillful and cunning.
He delights in cold colors. in broad nat
surfaces. but he composes pleasing har-
monies and knows how to ombue unat-
tractive details with interest. His very
sincerity allures and carries weight
Works by Cecilia Beaux.
To the right and left of the painting Of
Mrs. Melchers, at short distance. hang
two portraits by Cecilia Beaux-one of
Mr.. John F. Lewis. president of the
PENNSYLVANIA Academy of the Fine Arts,
and the other of his wife. both eNtraor
dinarily notable. There is none today
who paints more f1uenty than Miss
Beaux. none whose color is richer or
manner more suave. She is, indeed, a
painter par excellence. and when she
fails it * not through any lack of
craftsmanship. Her portrait of Nh
Lewis is without question mastery
production, daring comparison with the
great portraits Of ali tin1e-being toneful.
vigorous. vital and convincing. The por
trait OF Mrs. Lewis. while less simple,
is at the same time successful there be
ing curious variance in its point of
view. Naturally. in looking at a por
trait one should not be obliged to shift
the sight but here one must turn the
eyes down to see Alright the table upon
which the lady rests her elbow. and up
TO observe her face. In the loCg run this
is a trivial error. hut small things are
sometimes vastly annoying. A third por
trait by Miss BeauN is in gallery E-a
likeness of Mrs. Swift. painted somewhat
in the grandiose style of Lawrence: SPLEEN
did in color and distinctly imposing. but
less worthy than her other contributions.
Sargent. who is, it is said. pre- emf
nently the greatest portrait painter OF the
age. is represented by five canvases in
this exhibition. His portrait of James
Whitcomb Riley is to he found in gallery
A. his portrait of Miss Mathilde Town
send Of this city in gallery b. and his
portraits of Mr.. and Mrs. William G.
Endicott, jr.. and Senator Lodge in gal
-
merit about as they have been hung. the
portrait of the poet being unquestionably
the most notable. and that of the senator
the least. They have all. however. that
cleverness which. amounting almost to
necromancy. fascinates both painter and
layman. aud that imperious self-assertion
that compels respect. Sargent Is great
not only as painter-One who knows
most perfectly how to manipulate his me-
dium-but as an interpreter of character
his PORTRAITS are not only artful pro-
auctions but human documents Possibly
he may not read character Alright. but he
reads il he sees 1t. and leaves others
free to make their own interpretation
And it has been said. he paints perfectly.
dispassionately: the features no more
eagerly than. perhaps. the background or
the clothes.
Difference in Sentiment
There Is Il Wild difference in sentiment
between the James Whitcomb Riley by
Sargent and William NJ. Chases portal,
of his wife which hangs to the right in