The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-24
MINIATURE PAINTING

Since the very praiseworthy fashion
has set in Of making collections OF old
miniatures, the fad appealing very
strongly 10 women OF large wealth, a
slight sketch Of those who were past
master painters in that beautiful art from
its infancy may be OF help TO those col
lecting. When the wonderfully fine and
complete exhibit OF eighteenth century
miniatures was not long since held at the
Colony Club. Il was surprising 10 md
among the weIi-educated visitors how Few
there were that had any reliable knowl-
edge OF the artists whose works they so
enthusiastically admired They seemed
quite unfamiliar with the miniatures OF
that period, though ready enough to rec
ognize the kings, queens. and court ladies'
so charmingly and skilltully nmned, says
the New York Sun.
England has the honor OF being the
home OF this beautiful water-coior art
and the seventeenth century Is distin-
guished as the period when It had its birth
and gradually grew into notice and favor
James 7. then the reigning sovereign,
being Indifferent TO all art and with
out any knowledge Of il, took no interest
in the portraiture OF his day and could not
BE- depended upon for support OF court
favor. Nevertheless three great artists.
Nicholas Hiulard, Isaac Oliver. and his
son Peter are recognized as past masters
in miniature painting OF that period Both
HiIHard and the elder Oliver died within
two years OF each other. the latter IN loli.
the former IN 1873. leaving rare examples
Of their work among the mobiles and gentry
Of England
The son OF James I, Prince Henry, who
died al the early age OF nineteen, fortu-
natelv possessed a marked taste for the
arts. and for one Of his years made 4
wonderful collection of pictures, statues,
coins. and medals. His fathers friend.
the Duke OF Buckingham, familiar as King
James "Steenie," had always been q
great collector. so Il may be surmised that
the young prince. filed with his natural
love OF artistic objects. was quick TO learn
| from the duke how 10 undertake his
valuable collection.
II was this same duke who later gave
/ Charles his first lessons in art. and IN
1s25. when he came to the throne. Eng
! lands golden age OF art BEGAN. Charles
/ I stands out II contrast 70 .he previous
kings and queens OF England, who are
/ Iameutably wanting IN artistic taste
/ From this time on miniature painting had
Z its renaissance. and some OF the greatest
miniaturists made their appearance en-
| couraged and loyalty supported by tht
/ King. Among the famous masters Of thai
period the name OF John Hoskins stand:
I out prominently as distinguished IN 'fact
painting" as all portraiture was Their
called
The early work OF John Hoskins was
/ done in oils, but as Charles had SCI
I the fashion for portraits IN little,'' a.
miniatures were termed. he turned hi
/ talent IN that direction and exceeded
what he did before. The King. Queer
Henrietta Maria, and the royal family
as well as most Of the court. sat to hin
/ frequently. Mr. Hoskins had tive
nephews. who were pupils of his. nance
Alexander and Samuel Cooper The lat
ter became the more eminent OK the tw'
and met with great success. Alexande
entered the service OF Queen Christina
while Samuel painted during the pericdl
Of Charles 1 and Charles II. He wa
I thought TO be al his best during tn
/ Cromwell days WalpOle said Of him
NO one ever approached him IN givinl
to water-color miniatures that breadt
and strength belonging 70 the proportio'
Of Van Dyck's portraits. Two magnifi
cent examples OF COoper's are IN n
Windsor collection, namely. Genera
- -
Cooper's miniatures still in existenc
are quite numerous. in spite Of the fac
that so many we're destroyed by aeciden
IN the time Of Queen Anne. The work
OF the famous miniaturists. Hilliard, tn
! divers. and Cooper, had been stored i
a room in Whites Coffee House await
ing removal 70 q house at Norford later
The house was destroyed by fire wit
everything in it. In the ashes nothin
was found but the gold mOuntings Q
the frames.
A weI-known miniature painter Of ths
period was Richard Gibson, g dwarf. onl
three feet ten inches in height, and MAJ
RED 10 a dwarf OF his own stature, Ann
Shepherd. Before his marriage, Gibso
was Lady Mortiake's page 1t wa
4, through her kind Offices that he wa
: placed with Francis Cleyn TO learn draw
ing, and happily later on won the ar
prevail OF Charles I, who became hi
patron II was Gibson's miniature {
the Good Shepherd that the King S
valued that he gave It IN secret keepin
for a time TO Yanderdort. the keeper {
his coins. &c, with orders to have
put away with great care. When III
> King afterward sent for 1t poor Vandel
bort searched high and low without fnt
1 ing il, and unfortunately failed to remeu
| Der its hiding place He took IL so
heart that from sheer modification an
chaErin he took his own nfe- After h
death a thorough search was made, an
the miniature was found and returned
the King Gibson lived TO the age (
seventy-five and left nine children tn
: OF them became miniature painters.
One OF Gibson's sons was taught :
Sir Peter LEY. A nephew, William Gil
son. amassed such wealth that after s
Peter Lely's death he bought in his el
tire collection. Gibson had a daughte
Susan Penelope Rose, and she becan
also q distinguished painter in waite
color miniatures Of rather large size 81
was extremely popular among her pl
irons and much sought after.
2 Quite the most interesting woms
! among the miDiaturists Of this reign ";
: Mary Beale. g pupil OF Sir Peter Lei
z and the daughter OF the Rev. Mr.. Cra'
dock Hsr husband kent daily ninu