The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4): Revised edition continued by the author to the end of the XIX centuryMuther, Richard
History
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4): Revised edition continued by the author to the end of the XIX century
Muther, Richard
Painting -- History
expression that concentrated air of attentiveness which suggests
photography and so easily intrudes into a portrait. Even Leighton, so
devoid of temperament, so entirely devoted to the measured art of the
ancients, became at once nervous and almost brutal in his power when he
painted a portrait in place of ideal Grecian figures. His vivid and
forcible portrait of Sir Richard Burton, the celebrated African
traveller, would do honour to the greatest portrait painter of the
Continent.
[Illustration: FURSE. FRONTISPIECE TO "STORIES AND INTERLUDES."]
Amongst portrait painters by profession _Walter Ouless_ will probably
merit the place of honour immediately after Watts as an impressive
exponent of character. He has assimilated much from his master
Millais--not merely the heaviness of colour, which often has a
disturbing effect in the latter, but also Millais' powerful flight of
style, always so free from false rhetoric. The chemical expert Pochin,
as Ouless painted him in 1865, does not pose in the picture nor allow
himself to be disturbed in his researches. It is a thoroughly
contemporary portrait, one of those brilliant successes which later
occurred in France also. The Recorder of London, Mr. Russell Gurney, he
likewise painted in his professional character and in his robes of
office. In its inflexible graveness and earnest dignity the likeness is
almost more than the portrait of an individual; it seems the embodiment
of the proud English Bench resting upon the most ancient traditions. His
portrait of Cardinal Manning had the same convincing power of
observation, the same large and sure technique. The soft light plays
upon the ermine and the red stole, and falls full upon the fine,
austere, and noble face.
Besides Ouless mention may be made from among the great number of
portrait painters of _J. J. Shannon_, with his powerful and firmly
painted likenesses; of _James Sant_, with his sincere and energetic
portraits of women; of _Mouat Loudan_, with his pretty pictures of
children, and of the many-sided _Charles W. Furse_. Hubert Herkomer was
the most celebrated in Germany, and is probably the most skilful of the
young men whom _The Graphic_ brought into eminence in the seventies.
[Illustration: _Mag. of Art._
HERKOMER. JOHN RUSKIN.
(_By permission of the Artist._)]
[Illustration: _Cassell & Co._
HERKOMER. CHARTERHOUSE CHAPEL.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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