Evening star., 1941-09-07

wing. Here, since recent rear
rangement, has been placed, with
other portraits of noted schools. the
three-quarter-length portrait OF
Lady CaStlereagh, painted by Law
renee, in a white dress. blue sash
and hair ribbon, against a clouded
sky, not stormy but picturesque,
patches of blue appearing here and
there. Across the lower portion of
the canvas is seen an extensive
landscape. suggestive rather than
meticulously realistic, as observed
from considerable height, typically
English. 1t is charming compost
ton, rendered with a full sense OF
both characterization and decora-
tive effect.
At the time this portrait was
painted, Lady CaStlereagh. While not
so young as she seems, retained her
youthful expression and vitality, and
appears as woman OF grace and
distinction. Few OF those who sat
for Lawrence played more con-
spicuous part in the social and polit-
ical life of the time than she. The
daughter of the second Earl OF
BuckinghamShire, Lady Amelia
Anne Emily Hobart, in 1894, when
%, married Henry Robert, ViScount
Castlereagh. the brilliant but hated
Irish statesman. who. because of his
betrayal of his compatriOtS, was re-
garded by them as an arch-traltor
and by the English as hero, hence
given high place in governmental
ranks. Dom Byrne, in his historical
novel. The Field of Honor" tells
vividly of CaStlereagh'S cleverneSs
and lack of honor, his unfortunate
handling of British affairs, Of the
assistance in intrigue for which he
turned to his equally unScrupulouS
wife CaStlereagh represented Eng
land at the Congress of Vienna in
1914, and seven years later inher-
tied the title Marquis of London
derry. The following year he took
his own life. The marchioneSS lived
until 1929, and the original of the
portrait by Lawrence, of which the
Corcoran Gallery's version is sup
posed to be a replica. is Still-or was
a few years ago-in the possession
Of the Londonderry family.
Copies Are Coveted.
In 1910 Lawrence did second
portrait of Lady CaStlereagh, but
by then she was much older in ap-
pearance, and, furthermore, both
the dress she wore and the pose
taken were entirely different.
The portrait in the Clark Col
lection is popularly known through
having been mezzotinted in both
black-and white and color. Copies
of these reproductions are still eX-
tant and much coveted.
Senator Clark bought this paint
ing from the late V. G. Fischer, the
well-knoWn art dealer, who had a
gallery and saleSroom for some
years in the old Corcoran Building,
which stood on the present site OF
the Washington Hotel. From him,
also, he purchased the portrait OF a
Lady and Child" by Hogarth,
which hangs in the same gallery as
that of Lady CaStlereagh. When
acquired 1t was single figure, the
child by the ladys side emerging
when the portrait was cleaned,
after the Clark Collection passed
into the possession OF the CorcOran.
Why the child had been painted out
and by whom probably none will
ever know. The finding was great
surprise TO those TO whom the
painting long had been familiar
This painting and one Of an equally
straight-laced lady which Is IN the
Ralph Cross johnson collection, in
the National Museum, place Ho-
garth, who is best known by his
satirical paintings done III con-
demnation of social evils. on par
with the really great painters OF
portraits. His dates were l697-l764,
and some still regard him as one Of
the greatest British painters OF all
time-an individualist. following the
dictates of his own convictions. Ger
tainly he was an accomplished
technician-and had the ability to
dignity his subject when it merited
such distinction.
Inimitable Skill.
The Gainsborough portraits Of
Lord and Lady Dunstanville in the
Clark collection are fully representa-
tive, q handsome pair, painted with
the masters inimitable skill, gravely
but with more than touch OF the
r,tctllreSnlle GainShOrOngh'S great
love of the outdoors is manifested in
the picturesque landscapes which
constitute the backgrounds in these
portraits, quite as obviously as in the
Market Cart" one of many YER
sions of the same theme, also In
eluded in the Clark gift.
Sir Joshua Reynolds, for many
years the leader of the English
school. president OF the Royal Acad-
emy, teacher and lecturer. Is seen
here in three-quarter-le
standing portrait of Isabella DIAL
mida"-perhaps little affected in
pose, but decoratively seen and fine
ly rendered.
Finally, there is a winsome por-
trait of Mrs. We're of Stonebyres,
a Scottish lady, by Sir Henry Rae
burn, which shows this great painter
of Scotland capable of subtlety as
well as strength when interpreting,
with vital force and uncommon un-
derstanding, grace and beauty.