The sun., 1912-07-21

" IL curious mat the VuDlc he''o
so little Of ,'chn Singer Sargent
rr,hah'v 20 chief reason for this ia his
'.borrence OF puolicity He avoids the
r.rcl'rht with the same cagerness that
ono Vt his co'icarucs try for It,
though not born in America. he Ia
rnyor'hccss Americas greatest painter.
without the frcahish magic OF Whistler
and with moro soid cus.i.ies "a a crafts
man 1, is said that lc has given UP por-
nature: certainly his wonderful water
colors are ample compensation for the
cterral posing Of the face rairters. In the
,plendid tribute TO lis genius published
hv the Scrisrers NJ Royal Cortissoz
r,ppl,cd the tex. and handled his theme
With uncommon clooueice. He defin-
nelv ranged Sargent with the immortal
masters or portraiture. and vino shall say
lin nay
Bu. there are too fcw works dealing
with ,hs slbject. Mr.. Samuel isham in
M. invaluable american Painting" ar.e-
o,atelv deals with Sargent and well
within tho reach Of modest purses Il n
brief study by r. Martin Wood. illustrated
with eight reproductions in co'or that
r,av le recommended. cMnsterpicces
in Color" New York. Frederick A.
stokes Co'rp pany,
Mr. Ishan cousi e-s that 4 complicated
problem of nationality is involved in tho
case oe sargent. aud an important one
from the standpoint OF those who arc
JEALOUS to exait their country by display
ircits farorite sons Porn III isJG at Flor
epce of American parents. he received his
artistic training in Paris and has since
hvei in England. though with much
travelling On the Continent ard :wo or
three trips Ia the land of his allegiance
His pictures havr bern shown wherever
nicturcs are to ho seen. and ba h : re-
ceived for them all tHc donors painter
can receive.
For Il doYoa rears Continental iuries
have sr',r the r-ob'"n of concilinting
American, jcalousies III the matter of
svarda hv giving to him and Whistler
medal Of honor apiece. II another had
ieen added 10 them i would Lave un-
chained a furious discussion of relative
attitude. but hv common consent OF the
,ren who exhibited in Europe these two
stood above the rest each secure ~, his
own e'nnslc".
Tho argument for Wh's.'ers Aineri-
canisln i based partly on his tc'npera-
men,. but - -sn:'s private life = not
d,ulayed TO the world. His opinions.
erlyrans animos,tes are not cx-
potei in the daily press. The public
knows o' Inn only lew dates and sta
'istics. and wha; thcy. can divine from
hi, work, 1l ,se how his artistic devc'cr-
mont rloaris enough. If to outside in
hrerc,r ia ~ Id II an cycortionul inborn
sen
lis hrSt studies wrrn made u. r."
adcny Of Florence Wien hn w.S very
Young. ard iust what permanen' in"n-
cnce he received there is not clear. The
arolus Duran atelier is rightly credited
with forming bis style. He Was only !.
when he entered. The big roll "f mis-
ellaneous work. drawings. water roIors,
landscape studies in tn" style cf Galathc
and copies after tho Old masters, which
he showed to Cain admission. led Carol'i-s
20 remark that he had much 20 unIearn,
hu. his fellow students (ail much older
man ha, wera amazed AZ their qualit!'
and facility
This same e:sc of execution remained
VIII him As a stIdcH. WORKING from the
model lie would cuycr - whole canvas with
color VIII" others wore fIssing over u
Title patch. such t"cili'y j. apt 20 bc
dangerous. Hundreds ot er,i>ts have
stopped n their development bocdise
the ability tn do q pleasing sketch eas-
i.v has made thcm content with that
and incapable of the hard wor, and self
criticism necessary 70 opmplot eness.
sargent, however, had no such lcthu-yy.
nor were his talents checked - d,vertec.
into false channel. "a ,ni-ht ia;e hap
i'"ned he'd he entered anptncr studio
'arolrs Duran w. probably the best
mGster he could b;re had. Contemplating
some cF lis later work. especially the por-
i-ats executed IL America we are Grt 10
forget what II ,,uperD draughtSman he
was at the time ha painted the Femme