Studio: international art (55.1912)

Studio-Talk

PATRICK HENRY

BY LAWRENCE SULLY, 1705
(Collection of Gilbert S. Parker, Esq. )

HILADELPHIA.—The tenth annual ex-
hibition of the Pennsylvania Society of
Miniature Painters, to which brief refer-
ence was made in my notes published
last month, proved to be one of the most inter-
esting events in the history of the movement
towards the appreciation of an art somewhat
neglected since the introduction of photography,
but now happily revived. One hundred and fifty-
four works by living painters were exposed in one
gallery, and in another adjoining one a loan
collection of three hundred and eighty-four old
miniatures. One could hardly imagine a more
appropriate place in America in which to hold an
exhibition of this kind than Philadelphia, the
home of so many distinguished painters of portraits
of persons prominent in the early history of the
United States. The addition of some well-selected
furniture of Chippendale and Sheraton design, and
a few floor-coverings of the same periods, was a
happy thought of the hanging committee, giving
the proper environment to the works exposed.

Mrs. Emily Drayton Taylor, the president ot
the society, contributed three portraits, of which
the best was probably that of Mrs. John I. Kane.
Miss A. Margaretta Archambault’s portrait of Mrs.
Walter M. James, entitled Black and Gold, deserves
especial mention as a charming bit of character-
painting with a most attractive scheme of colour.
Portraits by Laura Coombs Hills were noticeably
handled with delightful savoir-faire, depicting
lovely American womanhood in the most con-
334

vincing manner. Margaret Kendall’s contributions
included an excellent portrait of Ralph Bradley,
Esq. Mr. Ludwig E. Faber’s Miss L. M. O.
was a very well painted portrait of a young girl, and
Mr. Herman Deigendesch contributed two works,
The Siren and Betty, well worthy of praise.

In the loan collection of old miniatures were
a number of portraits by Edward Malbone (1777-
1807), born in Newport, Rhode Island, resident
afterwards of London upon the persuasion of
Benjamin West. His portraits of Mrs. William
Drayton, lent by Maria Heyward Lewis, of
members of the Alston and Cadwalader families,
lent by Charles Henry Hart, Esq., and John
Cadwalader,Esq., were good examples of Malbone’s
craftsmanship. Six portraits by Richard Cosway,
R.A., figured in the collection ; those of Mrs.
Fitzherbert, wife of George IV., lent by Mrs. Joseph
Drexel, of /antes Boswell, lent by Dr. S. Weir
Mitchell, and of himself, given by him to Albin
Roberts Burt and lent by Dr. S. W. Woodhouse,
junior, being the most interesting. Perhaps the
most remarkable part of the collection was made
up of the works of different members of the famous
Peale family of Philadelphia, three generations of
minature-painters of merit. General Washington
is said to have given Charles Wilson Peale no fewer
than fourteen sittings for portraits, two of which
appeared in this collection. A fine portrait of
fames Anthony, Junior, by Gilbert Stuart, lent by

LADY ERSKINE ARTIST UNKNOWN

(Collection of Mrs. H. /. Rowland)