Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-08-28
TERMS
Shannon's Model.

Immediately to the right of the space
in the handsome galleries of the Aca-
denny of Design allotted to water-coors
there has been, since the opening night
of this Annual Exhibition, large va
cant space. The fact that the position
is one of the best lighted in the room
makes visitors, who are not wholly ig-
norant of the troubles of changing
committees" wonder why it is not fill
ed. Some of the invited guests who
were present on the opening night, and
who remember the scene which occur
red in front of the large painting cata-
Iogued " No. 1913. Venus Rising from
the Sea-" which hung there for that
single evening, may know why it hangs
there no longer, and it may be they are
aware of the romance connec ed there
with but few even of these can have
heard the particulars ofthc final dcnoue-
ment of this singular family history.
Hence l tell it.
In the spring of 1865, Mr.. Thomas b.
Shannon entered my study, and, throw
ing himsclfOn the lounge with faligued
air, exclaimed:
"Wcll, congratulate me ~
'On what ?'
"WOrk is over, and am ready at last
for my two years holiday"
"YOur work is about to begin, l sup
pose you mean"
''No, no, l say. 1t is over, tell YOU
Oh |! you don't know, my dear fellow.
the drudgery of talking commissions
the settlement of money matters the
drawing up of terms the closing CT
bargains with drafts and checks which
[ can't understand. Painting the pic
lures is nothing. That is the labor that
physics all pain-the labor l delight in.
Painting is DicaSureb
But, to be more brief, Shannon ex-
planned that the commissions which he
had sought had been obtained, and he
was authorized to make one large eques-
trian portrait, two large paintings illus
trative of NEUROLOGICAL subjects, and
several from sketches of war incidents
and American scenery. Among them
was one of "Venus Rising from the
Sea-" for Mr.. Gideon l.. Vanderwater of
this city, a gentleman of culture and
wealth, well known by the artists as
liberal patron, and admired by them us
Il sensible and critical connoisseur Of the
fine arts. The artist was very wisely
left uninstructed in his treatment Of
the rather haclkneycd theme; hand
some sum was named as the price of the
picture, and the privilege of exhibiting
it before its delivery to the purchaser
was also claimed and granted.
1t is not necessary to narrate, at this
point, the incidents of ShannOn's two
and q halfyears' stay in Rome, or to no
tlce IN detail the results of his labors.
Only one of the incidents Of that resi-
dence, and only one of the pictures
painted by him, have ought to do with
his history. The incident will be men,
toned in its proper place; the picture
was the one ordered by Mr.. Vanderwa-
ter, and which, as l have before stated,
hung for single night in the Academy
of Design, New York, catalogued No
1913. Venus Rising from the Sea. II.
b. Shannon"
Unfortunately for me- as the narrator
of this story, | did not arrive at the Aca-
denny of Design on the opening night of
the Exhibition of 1868 until late hour
of the evening. | am compelled to give
the facts of the occurrences on that
evening from the statement made to me
by Mr.. Shannon.
The painting arrived from Europe but
a few days before the opening of the
Exhibition, and was hung Immediately,
without beng previously shown to Mr..
| Vanderwater. 1t was, therefore, only
after being there displayed that Mr..
VanderWatcr saw it.
He entered the Academy on the even
ing in question, in company with his
sister and his youngest daughter, his
wife and eldest daughter being at this
time in Europe. Soon after entering
the room, he DIES cried Mr.. Shannon,
and making his way through the crowd
he arrested him and welcomed him
home again in very warm terms. AT
the end OF the conversation, Miss Van
derwater, taking Mr.. Shannon's arm,
joined with her father in begging the
artist to guide them to the picture in
which they were all interested-either
as painter or purchaser. Shannon
might have consistently declined in the
mixed crowd present, all OF whom could
not know the circumstances of the case
and the relations of the parties to him
self as far a the picture was concerned,
but having no false modesty, and caring
little for the opinion Of those of the crowd
who did not know him, and not fearing
that of those who did, he acted as the
guide of Mr.. Vanderwater and the la
dies and escorted them TO the picture.
On first looking at the painting there
came from Mr.. Vanderwater and his far
companions simultaneous cries, not of
admiration. but of establishment. Miss
Vanderwi te' dropped the arm of the
artist, ana cOnvulsively clasping that
of her father, pointed nervOusly to the
picture and whispered in his ear. His
sister made similar movements, and a
hurried exchange of whispers was had
between the two ladies. Mr.. Wander
water passed his hands before his eyes,
readjusting his eyeglasses as if fearful
they had deceived him ; and then, after
q few seconds of observation of tee pic
ture, turned full upon Mr.. Shannon,
who stood slightly in the back ground: