Novel Experiment In Art

1901

Tony Robert Fleury Paints Portraits In Three Colors.

Tony Robert Fleury is making some curious experiments in three color portraits, and the results have astonished the Paris art world. They are interesting not only from their originality and harmonious combinations, but for the variety obtained through limited resources. M. Fleury said to the New York Journal correspondent:

"The idea of attempting portraits painted in the three mother colors only was suggested to me by the lines of Pliny remarking on the fact that red, blue and yellow, which are the base of all hues in the prism, are also the fundamental colors of nature.

"It occurred to me to see how far this could be carried in portraiture, since no form of art requires a greater scale of tones to render life. I have now executed five portraits in this way, and in no two are the combinations alike. For these experiments I was compelled to confine myself to half size figures. In a large canvas so treated predetermined method would have been necessary, and method is impossible in art."

How Landseer Worked

1904

The man who can accomplish work at a dash is probably the one who has spent patient years in preparation for it. An enthusiastic English sportsman, Mr. Wells, of Redleaf, Penshurst, had engaged Landseer to paint the portrait of his favorite dog. But the artist was one of those who put off their duties as long as possible, and one day Wells, who had been growing more and more impatient, showed his feeling by some sharp expression.

"I know I have behaved shamefully," said Landseer, "but I will come down next Thursday and stay till Monday, and the picture shall be done before I leave."

On Thursday he arrived, just in time to dress for dinner, and his first remark was, "Oh, your man tells me you are going to drag the great pond to-morrow! Hurrah! I am just in time. That is a subject I have often meant to paint, and I shall get any number of sketches done."

This was an unpleasing announcement; but the host bore it. Landseer did a capital day's work for himself, and the next morning, when he came down to breakfast, he said:

"Mr. Wells, I hear you are going to shoot to-day, I've been looking forward to that for a year or two." So it went on until Sunday morning, and then Wells, who was very particular about seeing his guests at the early service, said to Landseer:

"I suppose you are going to church?"

"I don't feel like going," said Landseer. "I think you must excuse me."

"Oh," said Wells, in a blaze, "do just as you think best! You know well enough that this is liberty hall — for you, at all events."

"Thank you," said Landseer. "And I am going to ask you to let me keep Charles Mathews with me, to amuse me."

Wells vouchsafed no answer, and away the people went, leaving these two to their own devices. The minute the house was clear they hurried to another room, which Landseer had specially arranged for the purpose. The head gamekeeper was there, holding the dog, and Mathews assisted when there was need, at the same time amusing Landseer. When the party returned from church the picture was painted, finished, and framed on the wall. Written on the trunk of a tree in the background were the words: "Painted at Redleaf in two hours and a half."