TWO 

EDWARD GREENE MALBONE was born in Newport, Rhode Island, August 17, 1777, and died in Savannah in 1807. While a boy he frequently visited the local theater in his native town to watch the process of scene painting, and, later, tried his hand at this work—attaining what was considered by the townspeople great success. As a child he was quiet, reserved and self-absorbed. At sixteen he showed an indication of great talent in his first portrait miniature. Encouraged in his efforts by the English Consul at Providence, he devoted himself to the study of drawing heads and painting miniatures, and, at seventeen, he became professionally identified with miniature painting in Providence, and, in 1796, fairly established as a miniature painter in Boston.

In 1800 he accompanied his friend and fellow artist, Washington Allston, to Charleston, and the following year the two went together to Europe. It was during his stay in London that Malbone painted his most important miniature, "The Hours," now owned by the Providence Athenæum. This shows, at three-quarter length, the figures of three beautiful women, who represent, as the Greeks personified them, Eunomia, Dice (die´-see) and Irene—the Past, the Present and the Coming Hour. They have a general resemblance and seem as if they might represent the same individual in different moments of emotion and development.

On the left is seen Eunomia or the Past, with an expression of pensive reluctance rather than regret. The central figure is Dice, or the Present—looking straight out from the picture. Her right arm is slightly raised toward Eunomia, at the left, while the left hand reaches half deprecatingly toward the Coming Hour. Irene, or the Coming Hour, is shown leaning upon the left shoulder of the Present.

This miniature was given to his sister by the painter during his lifetime, and, later, was purchased from the family by the subscription of twelve hundred dollars for the Providence Athenæum.

Although urged by Benjamin West to remain in England, where his art would win him ample appreciation and employment, Malbone preferred to return to America, and on his arrival traveled for several years—stopping in the principal cities to paint miniatures. "These," to quote Tuckerman, "are among the few pleasant and precious artistic associations with the past in this country."

Ill health finally took Malbone to Jamaica, but finding that his illness was incurable he left there, with the intention of returning to New England, but died in Savannah—in the prime of his life and success—before he could reach the North. Malbone is now considered the most important of all miniaturists of his time.

PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 4, No. 23, SERIAL No. 123
COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.

THE GOLDEN HOUR.
By W. J. Baer

Actual size. 4 inches high, 5 inches wide.

COPYRIGHT. 1896, BY W. J. BAER

IN THE POSSESSION OF
MR. ROBERT S. CLARK, NEW YORK CITY

 THREE 

ART beckons and the artist follows. Only an artist knows what the lure of art is. The field of art is full of enticements. Little incidents, apparently insignificant, have sometimes been sufficient to change an artist's career and direct him toward his most brilliant achievements.

William J. Baer was thirty years of age before he painted a miniature. More than that, he had never seen a miniature that interested him, and he believed that miniature painting had limitations that precluded it from serious consideration. He was an instructor of drawing at Cooper Institute, New York City, an illustrator for magazines, and a painter of portraits, and had no thought of painting miniatures when, in 1892, he finished a very successful portrait of the late Alfred Corning Clark of New York. Mr. Clark was so pleased with the painting that he expressed a desire to have a copy of it in miniature. Mr. Baer did not believe that a result could be obtained worthy of the effort, so he refused to try it. Mr. Clark renewed his request, and Mr. Baer again refused. A short time after, however, having some leisure, his mind turned back to Mr. Clark's request, and, upon consideration, he was prompted to make a quiet attempt at miniature painting. He supplied himself with the necessary materials, and made his first experiment by copying a head from one of his own pictures, a profile of a young woman. The result was surprising to him—detail, patience, eyesight and hand served him well. In another week he had painted the miniature of Mr. Clark from his original sketch in oil colors. When Mr. Clark saw it he was delighted and asked for another. And so, out of what was at first a mere diversion, Mr. Baer developed a perfected art.

With the showing of Mr. Baer's miniatures at the First Portrait Show in 1894, his success was definitely assured.

In 1896 he painted his first ideal miniature, "The Golden Hour," now owned by Mr. Robert S. Clark of New York City. The idea of this exquisite picture developed from an effort of Mr. Baer's to paint in profile from memory the head of an auburn-haired girl that he had seen. A well-known English girl who had posed for Sir Edward Burne-Jones and Sir Frederick Leighton, happened then to call at his studio. Several sittings, in which a number of pencil and red chalk drawings were made, gave him an entirely different idea. The profile developed into a lovely dream picture, in which woman's crowning glory, her glowing hair, was poetically idealized. The picture shows two profiles, like twin sisters—the first with hair of dark copper tinge, the second at the left with hair of brilliant auburn, melting into the sunset colors of the sky.

This was the first of a number of ideal works by Mr. Baer, and was followed at intervals by others of like charm. "Primevera," painted in 1908, which is Mr. Baer's most important and ambitious endeavor, represents Flora, the handmaiden of spring, and is a delicate color poem.

Mr. Baer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 29, 1860. He studied art in Cincinnati and in Munich. He returned to America in 1885, and for several years was an instructor in various art institutions. In 1897 he received the first-class medal for miniature and ideal subjects in New York, and he was an organizer and a former president of the American Society of Miniature Painters. Mr. Baer is at present treasurer of that society and an associate of the National Academy.

PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 4, No. 23, SERIAL No. 123
COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.

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