Evening star., 1944-01-23
Bv Leila Mechlin

1llC 1NdUlOildl IA SO11CSOlOli, az
ministered by the Smithsonian In
stitution and housed in the National
Museum, Tenth street and Consti-
tuition avenue, has lately been en-
riched by four paintings bequeathed
to it by the late Rev. F. Ward Denys
of this city. They are Rome and
the Compagna," by Richard Wilson;
portrait group, Mrs. Hawkins and
Family" by Sir william Beechey;
Lady and Two Children" by George
Frederick Watts, and Water Car
riers, Venice" by Frank Duveneck,
all but the last of which are now
on exhibition.
OF especial timely interest is the
Wilson painting, as the eyes of the
world are today turned upon the
Eternal City and the part it will
play in the long march toward vic
tory. This was done before 1755
(when Wilson returned from Italy
to England and from hilltop not
far from where our American Acad-
emy now stands, overlooking the
Vatican and its garden.
1t is a broad, beautiful view en-
bracing the distant plains and
painted with a skill essentially the
painters own. The rendition of
landscape in Wilson's day followed
to an extent classical tradition,
inaSmuch as it strove for dignity
and decorative effect to insure con-
tinuity of interest. Wilson's skies, as
in this instance, are particularly
beautiful, and his compositions ex-
ceedingly good. Between such paint
ing as his and that of the impress
sionists of the 10Th century there
was a wide gap. This is not to
say that one is better than the
other, but that there is marked
difference between them.
Wilson's Landscapes
Richard Wilson, born in England
In TIA, son of an English clergyman,
began his career as painter Of por-
traits. Like Gainsborough he at
first only painted landscapes for
his own pleasure, but during long
stay in Italy, under the encourage
ment received there from fellow
artists, he abandoned portraiture for
landscape, and as a result narrowly
escaped death by starvation upon
his return home Landscape paint
ing, except as a backdrop for figures,
had not then come into vogue.
Even GainSborough found no sale
then for his rich and handsome
landscapes. which today in the
open market bring the equivalent
of kings ransom. 1t was he and
Wilson, however, who turned the
tide of understanding and appre-
citation in this direction, and thus
opened the way for Crome, Con-
stable and Turner to give it fresh
impetus and meaning.
Another excellent landscape by
Wilson-"Italian Landscape-Sunset
Clovis included in the National
collection, having been with other
notable canvases so bequeathed by
the late Ralph Cross johnson, like
wise of this city. While rich in
decorative quality, this handsome
canvas lacks the veracity to be found
in Rome and the Compagna." It
shows, however, and patiently, how
great was the influence the classi-
cal exerted upon Wilson during his
six years in Italy.
Portrait Groups
The portrait groups by Sir William
Beechey and George Frederick Watts
are typical of the English school of
the 18th century and rather aston
ishingly similar in style, as the two
men were SO distinctly different in
character and purpose.
Beechey followed the path estab-
lished by Reynolds and Gains
borough, Romney, Hoppner and
others, and shared in their success.
George III gave him generous pa
tronage and Queen Charlotte marked
him for distinction by naming him
portrait painter to the Queen and
instructor to the Princesses. For
his picture entitled Review of Horse
Guard" he was knighted. In 1898
he was elected Royal Academician.
During the 64 years covered by
his professional career he exhibited
over 300 paintings in the academy.
Obviously he was technically eff
cient and fully imbued with the
spirit of his day.
Mrs. Hawkins and Family" con-
sisting Of four young children-a
boy and a girl of perhaps and 10
years Of age, and two smaller chill
dren. possibly twins, one of which
she holds in her lap must have
been, for the painter, a difficult
subject. The composition is excel
lent and the treatment good. Also
much may be said in favor Of the
color scheme and the introduction
Of decorative accessories such as q
Persian shawl, to increase effect.
With all this in mind, difficulties
and achievements, it must be ad-
mitted that between those painted
and the average onlooked, there is,
as In other portraits of this school
and era, a veil which prevents in
timacy. The subjects sit for their
portraits, likeness is accurate, but
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