Composition is supposed to belong only to those departments of painting known as "genre"

It is not generally appreciated that the element of what is called composition enters largely into the making of a portrait. Composition is supposed to belong only to those departments of painting known as "genre," or historical or landscape. Nothing could be further from the mark, for composition has to do with every branch of artistic effort; it is indeed one of the most cogent qualities that entitles a picture to be called a work of art. It is the art that conceals art, but which is always and necessarily there.

In portraiture, composition is to be found, if looked for, in the adjustment of the figure to its surroundings, so that the spaces of the canvas not occupied by the figure itself may not be without interest, but unobtrusively lend their aid in directing the attention to the purpose of the work which is to represent a human being in a familiar and natural environment. To do this well is to achieve much, although it might be at first looked upon as an ordinary and unimportant accomplishment.

In endeavoring to effect this desirable end, let the student first of all give special attention to the position of the head upon the canvas. It should be neither too high nor too low. If in a bust portrait, the first error will tend to make the lower half of the canvas uninteresting, revealing a mass of dress which will outbalance the head; and the second mistake disturbs the interest by causing too great an area of background to display itself, and by giving an undignified suggestion of the figure sinking alto-
gether out of the frame.