THE. UFFIZI GALLERY

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 69

THE. UFFIZI GALLERY

The invitations to contribute their portraits to the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence that have just been received by M- J. S. Sargent, R.A., and Mr P. W. Steer are flattering to the more "advanced" school of artists in London, of whioh *he two chosen painters are among the chiefs. The Uffizi Gallery has been in existence between 300 and 400 years, and throughout that time it -has been the custom to invite the. great artists of the period to contribuate their own portraits, painted by themselves. The gallery now contains the portraits of generations of artists, including those of many of the first rank, and. of course, of numbers of others whose temporary claim to fame time has failed to confirm. The portraits of several of thp most famous of contemporary British artists, including Leighton, Watts, Millais, and Orehardson, are already in the Uffizi Portraits of Mr Sergent are rare icr the great artist whose name is now in everybody's mouth is one of the most retiring of menT and until two or three year* ago there was hardly a photograph of him in existence. He is a man of distinguished bearing, and, as far as talent and appearance are concerned, would mako an ideal president of the Royal Academy. But oratory is — or should- be — one of- the presidential qualifications, and it is impossible to imagine this shy artist on a platform: Mr Sargent has known the- Uffizi Gallery from his yowth up, for he was born at" Florence, of American parents, and is therefore a citizen of the great Republic. But, except on occasional visits, he has seen nothing of America, and he _ ;s; s really a cosmopolitan, equally at home in France. Italy, or England. At painting he works tremendously hard, and makes a far larger income than any other artist in or out of England — probably £20,000 a year or more. He is a passionate lover of music, an ardent cyclist, and has £>o far escaped matrimony. Mr P. W. Steer is th* neighbour in Chelsea of Mr Sargent, who is a great admirer of Mr Steer's painting. Mr Sargent has shown -hi*- admiration in the most practical fashion by buying one of his neighbour's pictures, which now forms part of the small but choice collection in the American painter's house in Tite street. 3Jr Steer is an artist whose work is newer likely to be popular, although its lemarkable qualities are admitted by all painters — even by those who do not admire his pictures. But ho is not a man who seeks popularity, and his work is not often seen, except at the small and select exhibitions of the New English Art Club. Tears aco ho used to exhibit at the Royal Academy, where, however, during a later and more experimental period of his art, Mr Steer's pictures were refused admittance. That this refusal did not dismay him wes evident from the amusing advertisements that lie issued jointly with another painter of similar views — advertisements announcing thut the two artists "had had the honour of rejection by the Royal Academy."