THE AGE

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

17 February 1926

(page 15)

ART NOTES.

Miniatures by Stella Lewis Marks.

A panel of miniatures by Stella Lewis Marks is to be exhibited at the New Gallery, 107 Elizabeth-street to-day, when a private view will take place, and thereafter will be open to the public till 25th February. This artist is one of the many Australians who have travelled to other spheres to find an outlet for their art. She is on a short visit to her native land with her husband—another Australian—both products of our National Gallery School, and one was pleased to hear her give praise to that institution and maintain that her chief education had been obtained there, in fact giving homage to none other. Mrs. Marks has been a member of the Royal Miniature Society, London, since 1916. One other Australian only has had this distinction. She is also a member of a very exclusive body, The American Society of Miniature Painters, which consists of about 30 members. These honors certainly mark her as a distinguished artist. She had worked in New York for the past eleven years, and steadily gained a reputation, painting many society people of note. In her treatment of her miniatures broad brushwork and convincing color are apparent. Pure washes of pigment without the aid of body color, and thus preserving the quality of the ivory, are the chief features of her work. Many of them are decorative in arrangement—a cloud-flecked sky appearing as a background in some, thus helping the pictorial scheme. That she has had the honor of painting the Princess Patricia of Connaught at Government House, Ottawa, is a distinction. This picture shows a striking resemblance. Among the works shown are those of Miss Maud Allan, Jan Cherniavsky, the pianist, and Miss Marjorie Williamson, well-known here and lured to the studio of Mrs. Marks in New York while passing through America. Her representation of Marjorie Williamson, of whom an exquisite portrait was painted by John Longstaff when she was a child, is one of the best works exhibited. It was placed in a position of honor at the Pennsylvania Academy. The miniature of Maud Allan, the danseuse, is very distinguished, and Jan Cherniavsky is a good character study. A typical American study reveals the multi-millionaire Mr. Knox Studebaker. An arrangement of decorative color and lines is that of Mrs. T. Akaboshi—Oriental indeed. An interesting study is that of Mrs. Madge Carr Cook, who was the original who starred as Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. A beautiful picture of young womanhood is that of a society beauty, Miss Bettie Parker, as is also that of Mrs. Sydney Reilly, a young Russian bride. These are suave in workmanship and showing the artist’s power in translating to ivory her power of refinement. A well-drawn portrait is that of Lady Maxwell, wife of Sir William Maxwell, a notable was correspondent. No. 4. Miss Edith Day, was the originator of Irene, of musical comedy fame. Mr. Allister [sic] Crowley is clothed in an extraordinary costume of red head dress and blue costume, and a fine characterization is that of Mr. Justice McKenna (Washington). A self portrait and Patricia and John are intimate examples.