The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-26
ANGUS BRITISH PAINTER DOES WHITE HOUSE PORTRAIT
FLAMBEAU TELLS STORY OF LONG CLIMB TO ART SUPREM


he says that what lie was told by
one psycho-analyst was corrobo-
rated by another in a distant city.
without the second knowing at all
what the first had said. And an
he tells you the story. which he
makes you promise not to repeat.
suddenly you become aware Of IN
, extraordinary and subtle change Of
features. certain marked characters
OF the face Of Michelangelo an
known from his portraits. seem to
appear, and you are convinced that
: an artists complex" is always
something unusual, something be-
yond his own knowledge. though
not beyond his expression IL he is
willing to be patient and silent. and
let It speak through his art.
WHAT OF HARDING!
And what of tho President
Hodgson Smart absolutely refuses
to talk now. fearful lest he may b.
tray secrets. but he says that Mr..
Harding has been exceedingly kind
to him. that In painting the Presi-
dents portrait the thought he as
the artist has kept uppermost is
that President Harding is the man
Of the hour. not merely President
of the United States, but the man
who holds in his care the destinies
Of the world, and who will not fail
to guard them well.
That his picture might have an
international influence by inter
preting tho greatness OF character
Of the American President Is a not
at all impossible effect, ard in
achieving this result Hodgson
Smart typifies the highest aim OF
art, for It Is a universal activity,
not sectional or national. but q Ian
guage that all may understand.
And 80, this picture, painted in
the White House by q British sub
ject, along with Anders Zorn's
great portrait OF Chief Justice Taft
and John Singer Sargent's "Roose-
velt," will prove a bond uniting.
not merely America and the
mother country England. but all
nations in one, because II will in
terpret to all the character. not
only OF Mr.. Harding, but of what
he typifies as representative of the
American people. of what the com.
posite American people actually
represents. a symbol Of world
union.
Hodgson Smart is occupied with
other commissions. He goes South
TO paint a portrait Of the president
OF Winthrop College, in South
Carolina, and he has recently COM
pleted a striking three-quarter
length of the bishop Of Ohio in
clerical robes. One Of his best
works is the portrait Of Tommy"
Cleveland boy, son Of a noted
family there. AS a character in
depreciation of boyhood, perfect
alike in conception and technique.
Tommy" may rank with the noted
child portraits of history, the Rom
neys and Reynolds. even with
Gainsborough's blue Boy" recent
ly sold to Henry Huntington, OF
Los Angeles. for nearly $4,000.
LIKES TWO CITIES.
In the pursuit Of his varied ca
reer as an artist, Hodgson Smart
has travelled in many lands. and at
one time he had studios in seven
different cities. Yet he confesses
now to a peculiar liking for Cleve-
land and Washington. AS he is not
fond Of noise. he has avoided New
York. But Washington he finds
delightful.
Mr.. Smart not only loves Ameri.
cans, but he adores the strange
new ways they find to do things.
He is almost a Frenchman in his
bonhomie. The other evening at a
banquet where Mr.. Smart was a
guest of honor, his host. after toasts
had been drunk to the President
Of the United States and other
American notables, offered Mr..
Smart the highest recognition he
says he has ever received. by pro-
posing a toast Ito Mr.. Smart and
the King of England" The com.
pany drank 1t with alacrity and
due solemnity, greatly to the di.
version of the guest of honor, who
had never before preceded his king.
Which would you rather do or
be an artist?" Victor Flambeau
asked of himself once more, and
replied, "A thousand times an art.
list. Mile fois! Mile fois!'