Early English Art
The early English School is strong in numbers—it was greatly strengthened by the Fletcher bequest. The large portrait group of The Honorable Henry Fane with his Guardians shows Sir Joshua Reynolds attempting a group on an ambitious scale. His half-lengths, especially that of Elizabeth Reynolds, are more pleasant—in that particular one he pays tribute to the style of Rembrandt. Gainsborough, Sir Joshua’s most successful rival, shows his ability in the portrait of “Miss Sparrow” and, in another field, in the “Landscape” in the Hearn Gallery. He used to paint these landscapes as relaxation from the portrait pieces. Romney and Opie (o´-pee) have attractively pictured Lady Hamilton for us. One of the best pictures that ever came from Lawrence’s brush is his portrait of the Reverend William Pennicott.
MARIE MARGUERITE LAMBERT DE THORIGNY. By Largillière
PORTRAIT OF A LADY. By François Boucher
There are some good canvases by the landscape men. Constable has an unusual portrait, as well as the gorgeous “Glebe Farm” in the Fletcher Collection. John Crome, in his “Hautbois Common,” shows the influence of the principles of the Dutch School. Wilson has an unusually rich “Italian Landscape.” Turner, the greatest of the English landscapists, is responsible for three pictures. The early “Saltash” is rich and luminous; the “Grand Canal, Venice,” is one of the best of his pictures of the island city, and the “Whale Ship” is in his late style. There are some wonderful water-colors by him on loan.
ARABS CROSSING A FORD. By Eugène Fromentin
The French School of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries is represented by pictures few in number, but excellent in quality. Boucher (boo´-shay), Largillière (lar-geel´-yare), Nattier (nat´-ee-ay), Drouais (droo´-ay)—all these men show amazing strength on the decorative side, and, always, exquisite taste. Chardin (shar´-dahn) has a beautiful low-toned still-life, “Preparations for a Breakfast.” David’s portrait in the Fletcher Gallery is a marvel of directness. In the Morgan Wing there are eight decorative landscapes by Hubert Robert well worth looking up in this connection.