Sir William Jenner, M.D., K.C.B.

Frank Holl, artist

P. Naumann, engraver

Signed and dated 1888

Source: Magazine of Art 11 (1888): 272

“The Kepplestone Collection. By Kind permission of Mrs. Alexander Macdonald”

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M. H. Spielmann's article, which accompanied the portrait

Mr. Frank Holl, with his eight portraits — which represent but a quarter of his season's harvest — maintains a marvellously high level of excellence. He sometimes falls into the error of "forcing" his work; he emphasises the lights and shadows already too highly cast in his cunningly-lighted studio, and is even said to paint sometimes more than life-size in order to increase effect. But he has never painted more solidly or successfully than this year. His portrait of Lord Spencer is a masterpiece — the work is so full of character and force, so excellent in colour, and so restrained, and an admirable likeness withal. The "Sir "William Jenner" — who up till a month or two ago was the President of the Royal College of Physicians, an office he has held unprecedentedly long — is an equally fine portrait-study, but not one calling for such power of brush. The whole attitude is characteristic of the man — a strong contrast in all, save skill, to Dr. Sydenham, the first President, whose bust stands at his elbow. On the portrait of Mr. Gladstone the painter has lavished all his knowledge and skill, aud in the Leader standing at the table, the "old lion" roused in him, his eye flashing and his form erect, we see the highest point of Mr. Holl's power. But it is impossible not to feel that the artist has been somewhat disturbed by his task. and, adding his own strength of character to that of his subject, has brought a little too much force into his canvas. Perhaps the best of his other works is the portrait of Sir William Jenner's successor. Sir Andrew Clark; but it is difficult to select where all is so admirable and so nearly equal in merit. [26S-66]

Bibliography

Spielmann, M. H. “Current Art. The Royal Acaemy II.” Magazine of Art. 11 (November 1887-October 1888): 267-72. Internet Archive version of a copy in the University of Toronto Library. Web. 8 September 2013.

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Last modified 10 September 2013