Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24
BY LEILA MECHLrN.

Oh LILA VuECAtAzhNs
IN the National Gallery of Art, United
States National Museum, there
opened yesterday, to continue until
II April 81, one of the most important
exhibitions ever held in this city.
This exhibition consists of miniatures
by Edward Greene Malbone, born in
1777, died 1907. the greatest miniature
painter that America has produced.
Malbone's professional career was ex-
tremely short. His earliest work dates
from 1875; his latest was produced in
1906. His known output during that
period is given as approximately ITS or
100 works. The present exhibition en-
braces fully half of these, including
26 not heretofore on published lists. At
least 80 of the miniatures now on exhi-
bition have not heretofore been publicly
shown.
The collection comes from all parts
of the country-New England. the Mid
die States, the South, and even from
California. Art museums and individu-
ais have made contribution. There are
examples drawn from the permanent
collections of the Metropolitan Museum,
New York: the Worcester Museum, the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. and other
art institutions; also, from private COL
lections, such as those of Herbert L.
Pratt and John Hill Morgan. But per-
haps the largest number and the most
generous of the leaders are individuals
in whose families these miniatures are
and have been for generations treasured
heirlooms.
Malone was born and spent his boy
hood days in Rhode Island. In early
youth he made the acquaintance of and
formed a friendship with Washington
Allston, a South Carolinian, whose
mother, a widow. had married DR..
Henry c. Flagg of Newport, formerly
chief Of the medical staff of Greene's
Army When this acquaintance began,
Malone had already begun painting,
and it is quite likely that 1t was this
common interest in art which drew
these two young men, destined in both
instances to take prominent place In the
history of American art, together. Pos
sibly 1t was on Allstons advice that
Malone left New England and settled
in Charleston, S. G. History records that
Allston found him there well established
after he himself had completed his coll
lege course in Boston. Later Malone
and Allstone were together in London
for q brief period, during which time
they both came un6er the influence
of Benjamin West and profited by his
aid. Together they saw the sights OF
London, especially the works Of the
great portrait painters Of that day.
Malone, in spite of inducements to
stay in England, returned to Charles
ton the Winter of 1901. From then un-
til the time Of his death, in 1907, OF
consumption aggravated, 1t is said, by
too constant application to his work.
he visited most of the largest cities and
was fully occupied with commissions.
Undoubtedly Malbone was Influenced
by the works of the painters of the
great English school Of portraiture--
Reynolds, Raeburn, Hoppner, Lawrence,
GainSborough in the field OF
art during the period to which he be-
longed. But his paintings have q sim
plicfty and charm all their own. Isham
saws of him that ''he had a sound
method Of working, q sufficient skill In
drawing, an intimate feeling for beauty
and grace" and reminds US of the
beautiful tribute his colleague, AllSton.
paid him when he said mo woman ever
lost any beauty from his hand"
There is nothing little about NAL
bones work. It has breadth and
strength and extreme purity Of express
sion. As win be seen from the present
exhibition, he used not one but several
methods. However, in all Of his work
he painted is seen through the pigment,
lending it's inherent charm.
The student will find interest in sew
eral unfinished works In this collection,
one mere drawing in paint on ivory.
pure color being employed
In some instances these treasured
miniatures are seen to have faded Woe
fully; in other instances, they are as
fresh and colorful as II painted but yes
terday. This may be the result of in
1erior pigments or of lack Of care, But
even the faded ones are charming.
In this entire collection Of 90 works
only IL are signed. These signatures
are In some instances on the front and
In others on the back. Only five in the
entire collection are dated-three in
1795, one in 1877 and one in 1905. In