Studio: international art (6.1896)

Mr. Whistler s Lithographs

lately described in The Studio. On stone it has treatment of a street scene, suggested no doubt by
been in use nearly as long as lithography has been the subject, which is very typical of Paris in its
invented, being always a favourite process with older quarters. La Belle Dame Paresseuse is more
French artists; but its application by Mr. Whistler like a charcoal drawing than a lithograph ; but the
to his drawings is on quite individual and distinct next two, Confidences dans le jardin, here illus-
lines, as will be seen when we study the Luxem- trated, and La Belle Jardiniere, do not fail to
bourg series—The Steps, with its dainty figures impress themselves as lithographs of the most
ascending and groups at the top, or the dark Dome delightful description, and show a new and unex-
of the Pantheon from the terrace on which are the pected side of the artist's art; surely they cannot
familiar nursemaids and children, here illustrated ; fail to entirely satisfy the most utter Philistine,
but the peculiar quality, the velvety softness of whilst they will give equal pleasure to his warmest
stumping, is seen admirers; and

in its most elabo- the same remark

rate form, per- /0r%=3> applies to the

haps, in the Nude night interior,

Model Reclining X. The Duet; the

and the Draped \ arrangement of

Model Seated, ._......... ' jt , I light and shade

which are almost ___^SgsWa I is worthy of

entirely modelled ZZ4] t^J^V '•' Rembrandt in

n

by this process; til "'. •.•„•> , his own peculiar

such work, in- ^ ... ,„ _j hne. the two

deed, shows the x^"^* "• ~ dark interiors,

master! jtA The Smith and

The next few__ 1 : The Forge, of the

drawings return Place du Dragon,

to the simple mark yet another

methods of the j * r" % change, and

earlier ones, The should be con-

Nursemaids and . • sidered as draw-

The Balconies . .. .... ' /vp&kWk_s-~, ings on stone,

being drawn with ; for, although

the point. The drawn on paper

former is a very from Nature and

typical example ,, transferred to

JL 1 "THE LITTLE NUDE MODEL READING BY J. MCNEIL WHISTLER

of Mr. Whistler's stone, the fine

treatment of a qualities of both

number of little groups of figures; charmingly were then added; and where is more exquisite

composed, treated in a manner that rivals finish to be found than will be seen in the little

Hiroshige in his rendering of Japanese streets. figures of these two drawings ? In them, also, the

The two drawings called The Balcony and 7he peculiar qualities of stumping is observable.

Long Balcony, in brilliant sunlight, are hardly Then we have the charming drawing, La Robe

suggestive of the sombre occasion which called Rouge, so lately printed in The Studio, La Belle

them into being—the funeral of President Carnot. Dame Endormie, and the beautiful group of the

The Long Gallery, Louvre, one of the few interiors, Sisters, graceful alike in action and composition,

will be well within the memory of the readers of and the two splendid portraits, Stephane Mallarm'e,

The Studio. With the Rue Furstenburg we come the great French poet, and The Doctor, the famous

to a fresh development, the drawing being free throat surgeon, and brother of the artist. Next we

from the mechanical texture to be found in those come to the latest series of drawings, made during

preceding it—although it must be allowed that the the last few months at Lyme Regis, and showung

artist has used this grain in such a way that it in yet another side to the artist's amazing versatility,

no sense interferes with the beauty of his drawings, for who wrould have imagined that he would now

and in fact, it is quite unnoticeable until we look show himself as an accomplished animal draughts-

for it; but this drawing shows a quite different man? And yet, are not The SmitKs Yard and
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