ART AND ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 73

ART AND ARTISTS.

—Mr Frank D. Millet, the well-known artist, invariably makes use of the phonogiaph while painting a portrait,/ as "he declares that it ' helps to banish the b&red look which a subject usually assumes when sitting for any length of time. In the ease* of children especially he finds that the little- one, is able to sit much, longer withotit "becoming restless or fatigued if the phonograph is turning-^out melodies or funny speeches. The smile becomes naturaL and", the expression interested — a* state-, of things which, under ordinary circumstances, , is sometimes impossible "to obtain. — A writer in the Connoisseur thinks that , the fashion of painting the eyes in miniature 1 is worth reviving. It affords opportunity for much skill, and an imitation of an eye, he says, is a delightful treasure to possess, and* to cherish as a memorial of the person in whose beauty it was once a distinguishing feature. Richard Cosway is believed to have been the artist who introduced the idea of painting the eyes, and it is said that the first work he executed! was a commission from Mrs Fitzherbert to paint her right eye as a present for the Prince Regent. In return for this gift- the Prince had' his eye painted and set into a ring; giving it as a birthday gift to Mrs Eitzherbert.' — The death is announced of -at wellknown zoological artist, Mr Edward Neale, who died- in London on November 11. All lovers of animal life are, no doubt, acquainted with his works, which include the colo.ired plates to rhe late E. T. -Booth's "Rough Notes on British Birds" ; some of the plates in Mr Dresser's "Birds of Europe"; some of the woodcuts in the last edition of Yarr ell's "Birds," and numerous smaller book illustrations. • He- was a pupil of the famous animal painter .Joseph Wolf, andi as a ieft-hamdedf art-isb h& probably held a iinique position. The fidelity of his drawings often indicated a close observation of nature. He was a Fellow of the Zoological Society, a member of the British Ornithologists' Union, and until his last illness a regular attendant at the evening meetings of the British Ornithologists' Club. — Great regret is expressed at the death of Mr Charles W. Furse, A.R.A., the ablest and at the same time the most distinctively English in method of the younger portrait painters in this country. Though only in his 37th year, he had 1 already established a high reputation by his several contributions to the last two summer exhibitions of the Royal Academy, and was well on the road to ample fortune, as well as fame. He received his training mainly at Paris and Munich, but it was such English models as Reynolds; rather than the Continental masters, that he followed as a professional artht. He was, however, steadily becoming more individual in his style, and was particularly ©ommerid'edl for avoidance of

oM- fashioned posing. Among his most sue« rossful work are portraits of Lord Roberts, Lord Chares Beresford, Sir Francis Mowatt, and a large picture group which was one of the most prominent features of the Academy show of 1903. At the time of his death (which resulted from asthma) he -was engaged upon a portrait of Mr Chamber hiu.