Art and Handcraft in the Woman's Building
of the World's Columbian Exposition

IN THE WOMAN’S BUILDING. 205 their pallet beds, their faces turned toward the single gracious figure of Florence Nightingale standing in their midst, a figure full of dignity and of pathos. It was in this hospital that the dying boy kissed the shadow of Florence Nightingale as it fell upon the wall by his bed. In one of the smaller panels we have a handsome, robust young mother with a lusty child upon her knee, while the remaining one shows us the figure of an. aged woman; beside her sits her young granddaughter. One feels here that the situation, is reversed; the young girl is repaying something of the care and love which in her infancy were lavished upon her. There is a wealth of sentiment and tenderness in. this three-fold presentation, of woman’s great duty and prerogative, the care of the weak and helpless. Facing Mrs. Swynnerton’s decoration are three corre- sponding panels by Mrs. Anna Lee Merritt, who, though by birth an American, has for so long lived and worked in England that we may fairly claim her for one of our painters. The central panel is a spirited scene, representing woman the mistress of the needle. A group of seated figures about an embroidery frame is particularly worthy of notice. In the right-hand panel a group of fair girl graduates receive their diplomas from the hand of a college digni- tary. It is interesting to learn that the process used by Mis. Merritt in this decoration is a novel one which, has only lately been known in England. The whole work was executed between the ist of February and the 8th of April, which gives us an idea of the artist’s industry. In justice to Mrs. Swynnerton and Mrs. Merritt, it should be said that their work is seen at something of a disad- vantage owing to the narrowness of the vestibule in which it is placed. It -would be seen at a much better advantage at a far greater distance than is here possible. Miss Clara Montalba exhibits a charming little picture of the palace in Venice where Robert Browning lived, and from whence his body was carried m that wonderful funeral pageant when the English poet, lying in his flower-crowned barge, was carried down the Lido, followed by all the dignitaries and notables of Venice. Hilda Montalba s “Market Woman of Dordrecht” is clever and well drawn, and deserves the commendation which it received when it was exhib- ited last year in the Royal Academy. Miss Alice Grant’s “ Por- trait of a Baby ” shows us a jolly little wight, full of fun and good humor Mrs. Perugini’s “ Portrait of a Child is a characteristic piece of work. The “ Sussex Cottage ” by Mrs. Allingham and the charming landscape by Miss Stewart Wood have been widely admired. Henrietta Rae’s large picture of “Eurydice Sinking