Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-08-29
Art
Notes
Notable Portraits
By American Artist
Of Last Century
Rv Leila MechHn.

By Leila Mechlin.
One of the happy experiences of ;
lifetime for the lover of art is t.
come across, Unexpectedly, worl
which instantly declares its excep'
tional distinction through merit.
Such an experience awaits the
sensitive and perceptive visitor tt
the National Gallery of Art in the
portrait of Capt. Warren Delant
by Charles Loring Elliott, which
some months ago, was given the gal
lery by the Warren Delano estate
through Frederic A. Delano Of this
city.
The subject happens to have beer
the grandfather of Mr.. Delano and
the great grandfather of the Presi-
dent of the United States, but its
merit as work of art rests upon the
skill with which it was painted, the
painters insight and genius, rather
than the high standing Of his de-
scendantS. At glance, the eye OF
the observer is caught and his at
ISHIiOu ilelu III duldIcu duAhil de1Oll
Brilliant Success
This is. in the present instance,
perhaps, the more astounding, mas
much as, by and large, Elliott can
not be said to have been great
painter, and although he attained a
fair reputation during his profess
sional career he was not ranked
with the great men who preceded
him, such as Stuart, Peale and
Copley. Yet, here in this portrait,
he achieved brilliant success
which should assure him utmost
esteem and perpetual remembrance
Such things happen sometimes, but
not often-Whistler to the contrary.
Chales Loring Elliott was born in
Auburn, N. Y, in 1872, the son of an
architect who did not encourage
him in his desire to take up paint
er's career, but did, eventually,
give him letter of introduction to
Trumbull, then painting in New
York City. Trumbull, too, tried to
dissuade him, suggesting architec-
ture as an alternate, but young Eli
oft was not to be turned from his de-
termination, and first went to COPY
ing casts from the antique in the
New York Academy, and then be-
came a pupil of Quidor, who had
studied with Jarvis, and was we'll
taught, Having gained a measure
of facility, Elliott returned to Gen.
trail New York and became an timer
ant portrait painter, at which he is
said to have done well financially.
In l845, he returned to New York
and took his place among the group
that established the National Acad-
envy of Design, made many friends
and secured important patrons.
His death occurred in 1868. The
portrait of Capt. Delano was painted
in 1882, when he was, no doubt, at
the zenith of his power.
BELONGED TO Second Period
Living at the time he did, Elliott
may be thought of as belonging to
the second period of American art,
when the English influence was
wearing off and characteristics typi-
cally our own we're developing. This
era was from the beginning of the
18th century to the time of the
Civil War. and the works produced
deserve much more praise and ap-
probation than they have received.
Among those who helped to build
up the American school of this Pc
incidentally, just pre-
coded the invention by Daguerre
which led to photography-were
such portrait painters as Harding,
Sully, Neagle, Waldo, Jewett, Morse,
the inventor of the telegraph. and
Fulton, who invented steam navi-
cation, as well as Inman-all, at
their best, very good. Their effort
was to produce portraits that were
good likenesses and as well painted
as lay within their power. The
compensation received was largely
their own sense of achievement, the
price paid being exceedingly small.
Occasionally, as in the case of the
Delano portrait, they, through their
sincerity of effort and the grace of
GOD, brought forth a masterpiece.
1t may seem far fetched. but in
directness of statement and con-
vincing personality, the portrait of
Capt. Delano impresses the observer.
on first glance, as does that of M.
Berth by Ingres, in the Louvre.
Here, as there, is very real person
"a man Of character and great
vitality.
FOLLOWED the Sea
Capt. Warren Delano was of old
New England stock-a direct de-
scendant of Philippe de Lannoy, who
arrived at Plymouth, Mass, on the
good ship Fortune in 1921. Like
many another New Highlander, War
rem Delano followed the sea and
its dangers. In time, he
established a shipping business of
his own, making a speciality of trade
with the Orient. This is probably
why his grandson-Frederic A. De-
lano-happened to be born in
where his father, Warren
Delano, jr., had settled as repre-
sentative Of his fathers firm. Be
that as it may, Elliott shows Capt.
Delano as a man of strong personal
ity and with certain features, such
as the droop of the eyelids, which
still persist in the family. The eyes
are clear seeing, the mouth kind
but flrm-the expression is of one
about to speak.
The details are all admirably rem
dered; the pose good, A "V" of
white shirt front combines with
the pointed white linen collar
to fix attention. At the wrist of
the left hand, which, by the way,
holds a cane, there is bit of white
- ouoIity