Evening star., 1940-06-02
Miniatures in
Fine Exhibit
At Museum
Paintings by Local
Artists Included
In Collection
Bv leila Mechlin.

By Leila Mechlin.
One of the largest and most COM
prehensive exhibitions of miniatures
ever held in Washington Is now on
view in the National Museum, Tenth
street and Constitution avenue NV
Sponsored by the National Collection
Of Fine Arts, of which Ruel p. Toll
man Is acting director, 1t Is shown
in the section set apart for the
display of works given to the Nation
but not to be included in the
National Gallery of Art. The ex-
hibition consists of 103 miniatures
by 81 members of the Pennsylvania
Society of Miniature Painters, ad-
mirably supplemented by works OF
early American miniaturists belong
ing to the National Collection of
Fine Arts and by loans from private
collectors. Among the last are few
miniatures by great English artists
which not only round out the repre-
sentation, but serve to illustrate fully
the history of the art as practiced
during the last three centuries.
The word miniature" was orig
inally derived from "minium," mean
ing, in Latin, red lead, because the
decorations and illustrations in early
manuscripts were either in this pig
ment or outlined with it. "Rubi-
Gated" came from the same source
the color red-but, gradually, this
term was applied chiefly to letter.
ing, and minated" to illustrations
of text. These illustrations were
essentially pictures "in little" and
after a time they were adapted
to portraiture-tiny affairs, no big
ger than a small coin, but finely
rendered. They were called min
iatures," and from those early days,
before printing, the name has held.
First in Field.
The first great miniature painter
was Hans Holbein the Younger, born
in Augsburg in 1897, court painter
to Henry VIII of England. He 1t
was who demonstrated the poten-
tialities of the miniature portrait,
not by way of Illustration, but as
complete in itself-a work of art,
comparable to the best, without re-
gard to size. There are not great
many of his miniatures in existence
today, and those which do exist are
in great museum collections for the
most part and very highly valued.
One, in fact-"Portrait of Mrs Penn
berton'-sold at Christies in London
a few years ago for over $4,000.
This is the more remarkable when
it is known that Holbein's minia-
lures were painted in gouache on
playing cards, ivory in that day
not being available. But they have
kept their color and their perfection
of workmanship for centuries with
out blemish. For accuracy and tech
nical brilliance, these precious works
by one of the greatest portraitists
of all time have never been sur
passed.
After Holbein came a troop of
gifted miniaturists in England and
on the continent of Europe from
whom, especially the former, our
own school is derived. In England,
it seems to have been an hereditary
profession, or a family affair, for
those who attained chief eminence
came in pairs, father and son,
brothers, or other close relatives.
There were, for instance, Nicholas
and Lawrence Hillard, Isaac and
Peter Oliver, Samuel and Alexander
Cooper. the two Hoskins, two Engle-
harts, two Plimers-to mention only
a few. Ivory was not used until
the 18th century, and it was then
that the art fully fowered. With
the general use of ivory, change
was made in both medium and man
ner of use-clear color superceding
Opaque and the method of appli-
cation being, in most instances. deli
cate wash rather than short close
strokes of the brush.
All this has a distinct bearing
upon the art of today; first, by evi-
dencing its roots, and second, by
explaining the variation in tech
nique, which must be remarked by
those who visit the current exhibi-
ton.
Delicately Washed.
Quite in accordance with the best
English tradition is the miniature
of a child, Clifford" in white frock
and pantalettes, standing against a
landscape background, which is by
Emily Drayton Taylor, president of
the Pennsylvania Society of Mini
ature Painters. This is delicately
washed in, but exquisite in finish,
and wss....o painted with precision
also has freedom in expression. It
is both a lovely and an accom-
pished work.
Also distinctly outstanding and
comparable with the best of the old
school is a portrait by Olga Soren-
son entitled "Fiornza," high in key,
likewise delicate in treatment, done
in transparent wash with the tint
of the ivory giving warmth and
glow, all so simple and yet, at the
same time, so perfect, work of
surprising excellence.
Utterly different, but no less re-
markable for technical brilliancy,
are three miniatures by M. M. Has
selriis; one of himself holding a
musical instrument like a large
mandolin or lutte, one of his wife
in black velvet dress against blue
background with Just touch Of
coral to give the composition life,
and one of a Chinese Antique
Dealer" standing in front of the
shelves in his shop on which is a
remarkable array of precious pieces
Of Chinese porcelain, etc. These