DOI Heft:
No. 88 (July, 1900)
DOI Artikel:Mourey, Gabriel: An American painter in Paris: John W. Alexander
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19785#0097
jfohn W. Alexander
that is a difficult matter,
and at first sight, with
certain sitters, it seems as *
though there were nothing
to discover. If the artist
become discouraged all is
lost : one must watch,
watch long, and carefully,
and in the end one never
fails to succeed."
To his observation of
these broad principles is
due the great variety of
the portraits signed "J. W.
Alexander." Whatever he
does, whether it be the
delightful Fillette avec sa
Pouftee, or the portrait of
the great poet Walt Whit-
man—a work which, thanks
to the generosity of Mrs.
Jeremiah Milbank, is now
in the Metropolitan Gallery
of New York—or to that
of Mark Twain's daughter,
Miss Clemens, or that of
Mr. James W. Alexander,
President of the University
Club, or that of Mrs.
Randolph Coolidge, of
Boston, or that, again, of
Rodin, our great sculptor,
one of the finest pictures W"
in the American section of
the Universal Exhibition,
he ever shows the same
wonderful gift of adapting
himself to the requirements music cabinet designed by w. h. heady, made by thomas page
of his subject, while re-
maining absolutely himself
in every instance. Disdaining needless detail, he first sight, that sane logical method of composition
cares for nothing but that which is essential, and which belongs by right to the decorative painter,
in his choice of surroundings for the figures he It is not necessary, however, to labour this point,
paints—in their setting, in a word—he shows as the decorative aspect of the artist's work will
perfect taste. appeal to all who are able to appreciate it; and so
At the commencement of this brief appreciation I pass on to my summing up. Mr. J. W. Alexander
I spoke of the decorative feeling which, it seems is no mere painter of morceaux, and, needless to
to me, prevails in Mr. Alexander's work. Apart say, this is not said to his discredit. Neither in
from all question of colour, this attribute is clearly his drawing nor in his colouring is he a slave of
seen (to my eyes, at any rate) even in the photo- that detestable prejudice known as "Art for Art's
graphs of his paintings. I recognise therein that sake." He sees his picture as a whole, sees it
sense of synthesis, that regard for simplicity, that broadly and in all its abundance, and, for the
striving to invest every figure with some special purpose of realising his impressions, he possesses
quality other than that which is apparent to all at the fullest equipment.
77
decorated by j. heady and john burrows
Ascoit Class
that is a difficult matter,
and at first sight, with
certain sitters, it seems as *
though there were nothing
to discover. If the artist
become discouraged all is
lost : one must watch,
watch long, and carefully,
and in the end one never
fails to succeed."
To his observation of
these broad principles is
due the great variety of
the portraits signed "J. W.
Alexander." Whatever he
does, whether it be the
delightful Fillette avec sa
Pouftee, or the portrait of
the great poet Walt Whit-
man—a work which, thanks
to the generosity of Mrs.
Jeremiah Milbank, is now
in the Metropolitan Gallery
of New York—or to that
of Mark Twain's daughter,
Miss Clemens, or that of
Mr. James W. Alexander,
President of the University
Club, or that of Mrs.
Randolph Coolidge, of
Boston, or that, again, of
Rodin, our great sculptor,
one of the finest pictures W"
in the American section of
the Universal Exhibition,
he ever shows the same
wonderful gift of adapting
himself to the requirements music cabinet designed by w. h. heady, made by thomas page
of his subject, while re-
maining absolutely himself
in every instance. Disdaining needless detail, he first sight, that sane logical method of composition
cares for nothing but that which is essential, and which belongs by right to the decorative painter,
in his choice of surroundings for the figures he It is not necessary, however, to labour this point,
paints—in their setting, in a word—he shows as the decorative aspect of the artist's work will
perfect taste. appeal to all who are able to appreciate it; and so
At the commencement of this brief appreciation I pass on to my summing up. Mr. J. W. Alexander
I spoke of the decorative feeling which, it seems is no mere painter of morceaux, and, needless to
to me, prevails in Mr. Alexander's work. Apart say, this is not said to his discredit. Neither in
from all question of colour, this attribute is clearly his drawing nor in his colouring is he a slave of
seen (to my eyes, at any rate) even in the photo- that detestable prejudice known as "Art for Art's
graphs of his paintings. I recognise therein that sake." He sees his picture as a whole, sees it
sense of synthesis, that regard for simplicity, that broadly and in all its abundance, and, for the
striving to invest every figure with some special purpose of realising his impressions, he possesses
quality other than that which is apparent to all at the fullest equipment.
77
decorated by j. heady and john burrows
Ascoit Class