So Mr. Baer's activities as a portrait painter were turned into another field of art. Having painted a successful portrait of the late Alfred Corning Clark, of New York City, in 1892, and afterwards a replica in a miniature, Mr. Baer began his career as a miniature painter, showing unrivalled skill and an acknowledged excellence of conception, character, color and suggestion of detail. In 1896 he painted his first ideal subject,--"The Golden Hour," and in 1908 what he considers his most important and ambitious endeavor, "Primavera," representing "Flora," the handmaiden of spring, in which the color scheme is rendered in delicate pinks, blues, greens and grays. "Aurora," owned by Mr. Henry Walters of Baltimore; "Daphne," a charming conception of the nude; "Summer"; "Mildred," a fancy head representing spring; "Doris," another female nude, and "Young Diana," are also among the ideal subjects for which Mr. Baer has become famous, while the portrait miniatures of many prominent persons can be numbered as the result of his able brush. [Illustration: THE GOLDFISH, BY LAURA COOMBS HILLS Courtesy of Mr. George D. Pratt] _Laura Coombs Hills_ In freshness and brilliancy of rendition Laura Coombs Hills, of Boston, is a recognized leader among living miniaturists. Her work is charmingly natural and unaffected, with vivacity evident in every essential part of her work. Especially true is this of her miniature entitled "Persis," in the Metropolitan Museum, a "5 × 6-1/2" oval. In this a child with brownish red hair, dressed in faded pink, is seated in relief against the reds and blues of the background. "The Goldfish" is another beautiful miniature by Miss Hills, in which her treatment of the bright golden tresses of a girl, her gown and the illusive tones of the background, denote the artist to be a colorist of the first rank. "The Bride," a harmony of gray, gold and blue, is also a notable example of her work that marks her as a craftsman of great talent. [Illustration: PARKE GODWIN, BY THEODORA W. THAYER In Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City] _Theodora W. Thayer_ Theodora W. Thayer's short career (1868-1905) as a miniature painter measures well up to that of Malbone's in its quality and good art. Perhaps Malbone will be more popularly remembered by reason of the fact that he painted a number of works, whereas the available works of Miss Thayer are few. The latter artist had the distinction of being "different" from other miniaturists, although quite without eccentricity. In her portrait of Parke Godwin, at the Metropolitan Museum, we see a person we should like to know. A charming portrait of an old gentleman, with a mass of white hair that dominates the picture. This is not only a characteristic example of Miss Thayer's art, but is an eloquent portrayal of fine manhood. In the profile portrait of Miss Gray the genius of this artist is again seen, also in her portrait of Bliss Carman, the poet, in profile.