"THE BLUE BOY."

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17393, 2 March 1922, Page 9

"THE BLUE BOY."

GAINSBOROUGH'S MASTERPIECE.

(rBOU OTO OWN CORRESPOSOm.) LONDON, Janr. 10.

For throe "wceKs, and only three weeks, Gainsborough's masterpieoe, ''Tho Blue Boy," which first appeared at the Royal Academy in 1770, is on view in the National Gallery. A continuous stream of Londoners is passing into the Gallery to look their last on this famous picture. While the Englishman knows that his historic ! treasures are safe within the Homo country he does not trouble overmuch to mark and study tiiemj but when I they pass to alien hands there is a distinct and widely-felt regret. bir Joseph Duvoen, the dealer, has bought this matchless artistic achievement, from the Duke of Westminster, and it is going the way of many of the Old World treasures—going to the land of bottomless coffers across the Atlantic. • . , „ • Among all the great pictures of the the National Gallery the satin of the Blue Boy's party dress makes the intensest spot of gemhke colour, its saDphires being echoed rather faintlier by the "Mrs Siddons" {likewise |of Gainsborough;, which hangs next but ono to the duke's relinquished (■treasure. The picture has been cleaned and varnished, aJid critics ar© not altogether "pleased with tlie result. "At. first sight," says one, "the impression was that it had been overcleaned. Aloofness that was half its charm has "disappeared with tho old varnish. The figure now asserts itself, teems to have come out in front of the frame, and the illusion of lieijjht has cone. The brilliant Vermeer-like blue Topks colder amid the.warm tones of tho neighbouring paintings, which include Gainsborough's stately portrait of 'Mrs Siddons.' And this coldness is emphasised by the lowering of grey hues of the sky and the obtrusiveness of its ruddier colouration. The question, now i 3: Will the action of time and the netf varnish bring the picture-into a tenderer, more harmonious . than at present exists ?. We hope, even believe, that such a (hange will be effected. In the meantime we are better able to appreciate the defiant challenge of Gainsborough, and realise the wonderment aroused /by 'The Blue Boy' when jt appeared at the fioyal Academy in 1770; As a technical achievement the picture is superb. It gave the artist very considerable trouble. That, is proved by the pentementi not hitherto apparent in our day. The hat was originally on the boy's head; it'now hangs from his right hand, and tlie position and size of both feather and havs been changed after they were removed to their present place. _ The painting of tho urer.s. embroidered with . silver, is remarkably beautiful. Note the exquisite rendering of the 'ftCi? collar ornan-ented with ' jewels, and you will understand what is meant by the 'defiant, challenge' conveyed by this masterpiece." There is something pathetic, something mournful, about this eridless Stream of English folk looking their last on the treasure they cannot afford to buy.