The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-01

editions, describing the miniatures Of J.
Pierp0nt Morgan. Copies have been re-
ceived at the Library OF Congress, and
perUsaI shows that talent and originality
Of the highest order We're employed In
their production.
The volumes are bound in vellum,
with the inside Of the cover faced with
morocco. The books are of folio size,
the paper of the best quality, and the
press work from the Chiswick Press,
Of London.
While the material and the work
manship represent the best Of their
kind. volumes depending wholly on
the value OF materials would have but
a restricted value. These works are
OF interest, chiefly on account of the
care with which they have been COM
piled, and the mass of information
upon the general subject of NINA
lures, as examples OF the paintings of
the most celebrated miniature paint
ers Of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and
eighteenth centuries. the period dur
ing which the greatest interest in
portraits OF convenient size was mani
Tested. Photography was then un-
known. Royalty with its expensive
tastes was the patron, and the NINA
ture painter was person of lmpor-
lance, and prices were good
Describe Miniatures
The catalogues not only contain de-
scriptions, carefully prepared, Of the
different miniatures in this large col
lection, together with such historical
information as 10 the former owner
ship Of the work. and biographical In
formation concerning the subject of
the picture. but by far the most at
tractiye quality Of these expensive
volumes Is the large number OF paint
ings and eugTavings OF celebrated
miniatures In this collection.
There Is conveyed, IN this manner, a
far better conception Of the important
specimens OF miniature painting than
would be possible by the most carefully
prepared verbal description
The larger number Of the illustrations
are In phOtuErayure. Some Of the
larger engraElugs occupy iIll page,
but the majority are evidently Of the
original size Of the miniature copied.
The Illustrations not only convey ado
quately a comprehensive idea "t the
subject. but OF the case in which the
miniature IS mounted. The cases IN
any instances prove that DO the craft
OF he goldsmith. as well as in the art
OF the painter. the best Of the period
was required
The paintings. or illustrations In color,
some forty in number In each volume,
are such excellent examples ef artistic
expression that while il is apparent
from the intent Of these books that they
are but copies OF celebrated miniatures.
the work has been done in such a mas
JeTly manner that their beauty C1mpeis
the observer TO forget the fact that they
are. copies, and that the work IN which
they are given place IS but an art cata-
logue.
Has Artistic Quality.
While it is true that the material
upon which these illustrators were
obliged To work is lacking the quality
OF the ivory OF the miniature painter,
the work is done with frmness, Fl aedom,
and such evident ability. that these
catalogues possess a quality Of artistic
refinement, distinct and separate from
the fact that the volumes are richly
bound, that the preSsWOrk IS beyond
criticism, anc that the owner OF this
rich collection OF miniatures Is one Of
the celebrated art collectors o. the
world
In subject. the miniatures are excel
lent sidelights upon the condition OF
their period. The list Of patrons in
cludes the names of kings, queens,
princes. and al degrees OF royalty. and
all classes OF professional beauties. and
mer famous in the history
epO chs Of their day. Il was a period
when the wig maker. the perfume ven
Ger, the haiTdTesseT, and dressmaker
were persons OF importance. because of
the necessities of the times. When men
were effeminate in their dress. and WON
en- became as dolls I'm the hands OF their
maids. A time when the painter paint
ed not what he saw, but what he mag
iued the subject desired 10 resemble.
when the truth Of outline was saCri-
feed 10 the sloplng shoulder the
elongated neck, the narrow. contractr6
chest: the dOll-SiZed waist. and the hand
OF impossible construction. A period
that Notwithstanding ITS tol!ies and
fTtVOlities gave 20 the world some of
sts greatest beauties and to art its
greatest painters CT miniatures.
Use Antique Frescoes.
one OF the Oldest Of decorative arts,
and in it's rediscovery and recent appl r.
cation one of the newest methods g
mural decorations. is being demonstrat-
ed for the second time IN the United
States Capitol by the adoption of an
-iJue fresCo in the committee room Of
the Senate Committee on Library The
work is under the charge of MAJ A..
FTiedTdug. OF New York. a fTesCO art
list, who for years has been engaged in
OF the permanency of the fresCOes of
the period OF Michael Angelo.
The process. in all of its subdiVided
paris. is one of exceedingly interesting
features. The plaster, upon which the
fresco Is pIa ee1. Is prepares by the ar
list according 10 carefully prepared
formula in which the chemistry Of the
component parts has been scientifically
arranged; the designs are stenciled or
drawn in free hand upon the wet sur
face. and the COlors. which are con-
fined 10 mineral and chemical coIOrs
are Immediately applied according to
the design and color scheme selected.
The color impreEnates the plaster fouu-
dation, and time, instead Of destroying
the work OF the artist sOftens and i'm
proves rs quality until the whole mass
of plaster, with its decorations OF color,
becomes as a stone with the effect of
inlaid, instead of overlaid decorations.
The designs. selected for this COM
mittee room, are those of one of the
younger architects Of the city, Mr.. Tis-
SingtOn. and for the reason that the
committee room might in the future be
used by other committees. there has
been no attempt in the direction Or
emblemattc decoration The scheme has
been that Of ConYentionalized patterns
combined with a color scheme of re-
finement, one that appeals by its quail
ity, rather than by lbs quantity, by its
simplicity, instead Of it's elaborate mo-
tive
Exhibits a ROSsetti.
In the art galleries of Mr.. Fischer in
Fifteenth street, there has been ex-
hibited privately to artists and art low
gg.4