The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-12
SHANNON'S MODEL.

sHANNoN's MODEL.
Immediately to the right of the space in the
handsome galleries of the Academy of Design, al
lstted to water colors, there has been, since the
opening night Of this annual exhibition, large
vacant space. The fact that the position is one
OF the best lighted in the room, makes visitors
who are wholly ignorant of the troubles Of chang.
ing committees" wonder why it is not filled
Some of the invited guests, who were present on
the opening night and remember the scene which
occurred in front of the large painting catalSgusd
.tNe. 1913, Venus Rising from the Sea-" which
hung there for that single evening, may know
why it hangs there no longer, and it may b they
are aware of the romance connected Herewith
but few, even of these, can have heard tho par
ticulars Of tho final denouement of this sinru.
lar family history; hence tell it:
In the spring of 1856, Mr.. Thomas B. Shannon
entered my study, and throwing himself on the
lounge with fatigued air, exclaimed:
" "Hn 1h congratulate ): me"
9"Werkis over, and am ready at last for nv
two years holiday"
mean" ,....l.. -
"No, no, I say it is over, tell you. Oh! Won
don't know, my dear fellow, the drudgery of talk.
ing commissions; the settlement of money mat
tiers; the drawing up of terms the closing of bar.
gains with drafts and checks, which 1 can't un.
derstand Painting the pictures is nothing.
That is the labor that physics all pain-the labor
delight in Painting is pleasure
But to be more brief, Shannon explained that
the commissions which he had sought had been
ootalned' and he was authorized to make one
large equestrian portrait, two large paintings il.
Illustrative OF NEUROLOGICAL subjects, and several
from sketches of war incidents and American
scenery. Among them was one of "Venus Ris.
ing from the Sea-" for Mr.. Gideon L. Vandewa.
ter, OF this city, a gentleman of culture and
wealth, well known by the artists as liberal pa.
iron, and admired by them as a sensible and crit
zeal cennoisseur of the fine arts. The artist was
very wisely uninstructed in his treatment of the
rather hackneyed theme handsome sum was
named as the price of the picture, and the privil.
oge 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 half years stav
IN Rome, or to notice in detail the result of his
iabors Only one of the incidents of that resi-.
aence' and only one OF the pictures painted by
him have aught to do with this history. The in.
cident will be mentioned in its proper place. the
picture was the one ordered by Mr.. Vandsrwater,
and which, as have before stated, hung for a
single night in the Academy of DESIGN. New
York, catalogued mo. l13. Venus Rising frera
the Sea. I. B. Shannon
Unfortunately for me, as the narrator of this
story uid not arrive at the Academy of Design
on the opening night of the exhibition of 1868.
until late hour in the evening. am compell-
ed to give the facts of theoccurrences on That
a mn from the statements made to Inc by Mr..
Shannon.
Inc painting arrived from Europe but few
days before the evening of the exhibition. and
was hung Immediately, without being previous.
~ shown to Mr.. underwater. 1t was, therefore.
emily after being there displayed that Mr.. Van
derwater saw it.
He entered the Academy on the evening in
question, in company with his sister and b;s
youngest daughter, his wife being at th;. TINA
In Europe Soon after entering the room. he des.
cried AIR. Shannon, and making his way
through the crowd he addressed him. and vel.
coined MN home in very warm terms At the
END OF the conversation Miss Vanderwater. tax
ing Mr. shannon's arm, joined with her father in
begging the artist to guide them to the picture
In which they were all interested-eithsr AZ
painter OF purchaser. Shannon might have con-
sistently declined in the mixed crowd present
all OF when could not know the circum,tances 81
1he case, and the relation of the parties to him
sell as far as the picture was concerned but bav
ing no Iaise msdesty, and caring little for the
"Pihioh OF those OF the crowd who did not knsw
nln' and not fearing that of those who did he
acted as the guide of Mr.. Vanderwater and the
ana escorted them to the picture.
on hrst looking at the painting there came
from Mr.. Vanderwater and his fair compan;ons
simultaneous cries, not of admiration. but aston
.shment' Miss Vanderwater dropped the arm Of
the artist, and, convulsively clasped that of ber
1athSr pointed nervously to the picture and wbi..
pered in his ear. His sister made similar move.
inehts ana hurried exchange of whispers was had
between the two ladies. Mr. vanderwater mass.
ca his hands before his eyes, readjusting his eve.
glasses, as If fearful they had deceived him. and
then aftera few seconds Of observation Of tho n;c
ture, ne turned full upon Mr.. Shannon, Who
stood slightly in the background A number Of
the promenaders, attracted by the strange man.
ner OF Mr.. Vanderwatcr and the ladies. had OATH.
cred near by, and now observed, with evident in.
terest, the scene enacted before the picture.
AT length Mr.. underwater spoke address,no
himself to Mr.. Shannon in curt but still imnasse.
tened phrases, in which the emotion he felt -..
smothered, bnt concealed. was
"The face Of your Venus is not coucept;.n y.
your own ~ he asked VI
Mr. Shannon did not answer
1T is portrait 2" continued Mr.. ynndorv.,..
still interrogativs. "''''