The Washington times., 1922-06-18


the artist an Injustice from which
he may suffer In many ways" !,
PAINTED IN WHITE HOUSE.
The Wilson portrait by John Sin
ger Sargent. most celebrated Of
modern American portrait paint.
ers. pictured the President in
seated full length view. II was>ex-
hfbited at the Corcoran Gallery
here. before going to other cities.
and eventually to the gallery In
Dublin. Ireland. The artist painted
II at the White House. not the
easiest place to secure best re.
suits.
A new commission upon which
Dunbar is now engaged Is a
Portrait bust Of DIR. Wallace Rad
cliffe, 90 long pastor OF the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church
here, where the head viii no doubt
be installed upon it's completion.
When Dunbar takes a holiday
he likes to go to some place like
Mackinaw Island, where he spent
three months one season and
made medallions Of all the prom.
nent people there, including Vice
President Fairbanks. That 10 the
vacation an artist likes. where he
covers all his expenses and brings
home money besides.
But Mr.. Dunbar does not have
to worry, about expenses any mo-c.
for his children are nearly grown,
now. His daughter has a won Ter.
ful voice. and the others art
gifted. One of the younger sons
was in the navy during the war.
and his father modelled a fine busr
Of Sailor Boy" from him. while
an older son was III the flying
corps. Soon his grandchildren will
be posing as young models for the
sculptor. and that is always an.
other advantage, to have good
models in the family. especially ~
they are rather difficult to find in
our city.
A possible element in Dunbar's
success Is the sense Of respon.
sibility for some one else which
he has felt through life, contrary
to our general impression Of the
artist temperament. Though Mi.
chelangelo. we read, was es.
pecially kind always to his family.
and patient with his querulous
father and irritating brothers, for
all of whom he provided as best
he could. though he was often
harassed. no doubt. by their de.
mands.
LEFT SCHOOL EARLY.
In Dunbar's case. he lost his
father early and left school at
fourteen to go to work in order
to provide for his mother and
sister. When he adopted the
sculptor's career. he had to, sue
ceed at 1t. He couldn't afford To
fail. He didn't want to 60 back
to the farm, or the little village.
and he knew the drygoods houses
didn't want him. So success was
the only thing left.
Picture yourself" went on Mr..
Dunbar. this great artist frettine
and fuming In his hotel. awaiting
q call from the over-taxed Presi.
dent-n6t even daring to 60 out
on business or pleasure for fear of
missing call; then, to rush to the
White House, glorious old place
but not as suitable for the work
in hand as a garret, which has the
necessary seclusion and atmos
phere; work feverishly and furious.
ly. to make the most Of the It'd.
Bit Of time wrested from cabinei
conferences and other important
affairs of State, In which he must
oftatSh oo ihdCh oS poosAbac UStoft
the inevitable interruption comes,
1T Is a desperate lunge to try
and force q conclusion under such
unpromising and discouraging CON.
ditions. Only a man Of the highest
courage and supreme confidence IL
himself would dare to undertak
such an herculsan task. Then
when he fails. as nine hundred
and ninety-nine out Of thousand
must do. he is to be pulled down
by the self-constituted critics who
know as much about the interpre.
tation Of character In art as they
know about the numerous constel
lations of the heavensr'
Here Mr.. Dunbar beamed with
such q genial smile that even. sr
art critic could not be offended al
his violent language, and he prom.
ised to have something new to
show when next Victor F1ambeau
should call at the studio. 1917 n
street northwest. rs
n n n NV