New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-28
ABOUT THE WOMEN ARTISTS.
A STUDIO TALK.

-l - STUDIO TALK.
Sccne.-A charming studio. Dainty, neat,
and dehciousy topsy turvy. Rich somber walls, and
great generous Northern light Rough studies scraps
Of vigorous drawing, venerable yellow prints pinned and
hanging everywhere. In corner confusion OF Old
paintings. very bad but with here and there bold dash
or curve that preserves them from contempuous exile
In another corner the rusty dusty Of old
musty, dusty Crusader and sword keen and elegant.
Here lovely bit Of Venetian tapestry crimson and gold
there the cool blue Of Japanese silk all dotted with bright
bees and butterflies See that cOOrsketch OF witch up
there What wild thing 1t IL with the flying, ragged
hair and the deviish grin the bOny redbrown face
And here San Michele clear pure PALE angelcalIy Sc
rene. nice old sofa, red velvet and very big with
maps hidden away In Its puffy cushions. shining
brown basket with ivy green and agile travelling out OF
II In all directions. An antique blue satin chair, with
tho sulng bursting out In delightful way An easel
with q precious hidden picture. bright fire sending
little sparkes all sorts OF queer odds ana ends
lying around everywhere And the oldest OF all s tho
Painter good old with the benign eyes, the long
gray beard and the lean brown fingers that are just
dropping oyster into the hot aches Did you ever pic
mic in studio with eashed and paintspatered draw
ingboard for table and appetistng fear that Mad
Hauton will walk In and catch you spreading bread
and butter with spoon eating canned peaches with
forki Not All, then, You know not one Of the most
charming OF studio experiences
As I was saying Felicta," observes the Painter,
opening the Aforesaid oyster with odd artists tool
and bringing him hot and lovely to tho drawingboard
for dash Of lemon and hint or two OF salt and pepper
"as was saying, they dreadfuly conceted act,
and the worse they paint the conceted they arc
"Oh! Are thcy says Fclicita disposing Of the Oys-
ter while the Painter looks admiringy his head on
one side Nonsense They re not bit more conceited
than you masculine artists-not q bitp Embarrassed
by this stout contradiction the Painter opens more oys
ters burns his fingers says: "COnfound tP and retorts,
. Wall Than heye hnu,
they do much execrable work that concet in them
seems more marked and not TO be cnduredf
Oh Cir how preiudced you are" Gays Felicia, her
mouth full Of pickle els this the light Of Herewith
think all You masculine authorities I'm Art have sort OF
mild contempt and jealousy for every woman who
attempts the brush" Monsieur shakes his head mot
at all We look for great excellence don't find II, and
grow discouraged. We can't get women Of fine genius
even, and real power, to study They get Married. or
they dawde they lose their love for ar-wth the ma
jorty there always obstacle upon tho mysterious
threshold Of perfection" "Oh!" gasps Fecita. She's
trifc strong minded But the Painter Ia relentless.
"Tere is American omanpanter who stands beside
our best masculine artists celia dire I'm glad
10 say that have many excellent feminine artists but
they sensible enough to know that they haven't
reached the highest point Of masculine attainment.
Study study tudyyou can't Get women to study They
seem to have an insane idea that they burst full
fedged upon the world without going through course
Of in-feathers Now intuition IL good thing In its
way but does Mt teach the noble ereeds of Art Bah
and the old gentleman whsks the pot of The fire with
the aid OF coatais Felicia voices her indignation
"Do mt You believe women follow Art effectively
az earnestly and in the directions that men dOf
"wer, they May" the Painter, reflect
iyrIy .but they don't" "why. look az the BOnheur,
and Harriet Hosmer, and Miss S,ebbins, and Madame
Browne, and Henrietta Ronner, and-and-and-."
"Ah yes-a few notable they are few. But look
at the proportonatey immense number OF men who are
masters OF their profession. Frankly, child don't
think ought TO follow in the artistic foot
seps Of men, You must acknowledge that the majority
OF women painters most successful In flowers and
fruit In dainty domestic scenes, and In that sort OF
landscape which requires the graceful, gentle poetic
ideal element. Did you ever see woman who you
thought could paint great flashing thunder storm,
ragged mountain gap, figure full Of vehement pas
sion and powerr
"N-no" says Pelicita, "I never have But why
should mt they do itf'
OH IA for that" smiles the Painter why should mt
they be carpenters, and brckayers and cardrtverst
Cause tits not their nature to- Mile. Bonheur and Har
ret Hosmer are rare and solitary stars" "Why did MT
you say brickIayers and be done with it says angry
Felicita "Dont msunderstand me-" pursues the
Painter coolly; there nothing In the world that pro-
fewer limitations upon endeavor than does the
artist guild. Every who makes Art her profes-
sion Is free to become Bonheur or Hosmer, II she
have genius and perseverance enough. Here apprecia-
II
see good thing, acknowledge that it, good putting
sex out Of the question"
"I think that women paint womenbest, don't you y
asks Felicia.
"No What woman could have painted the Birth Of
Venus for instance ~
None" says the small woman sadly. But tell me
n men put the feminine soul most perfectly on canvas
ouphtnt women In obedience to like spiritual law,
paint men bestr
I don't know about that it's point to he cOnsd-
cred. Certainly they have MT succeeded very well In
sculpture Look Mt Winnie Reain's Lincoln it's weak,
it's efYeminate II lacks wofully that expression OF
strength and power that comprehensive atmosphere OF
,nanIness that might have given It, i wish our
American women would do more In Art. But I'm hope
less They won't study The lady-artists In the city
have been very quiet lately DO you know what they re
doing -
"Ah " Gays Felieita trumphanty, "you shall have
srrap or two from my notebook. Listen"
"Lly Spencer is busy che he with portraits
she beginning several ideal pictures; says she has
developed an idea for q companion piece to Youth I'm
yajlinQ FalsehoOd; : but that's q secret"
"Therefore you toll IT," says the malicious Painter
MRS Loop too is busy with portraits and has just
finished one Of marked excellence. .'
miss Kollock has lovely upon the easel
one a Pennsylvania landscape, the other losg yellow
stretch OF North Carolina meadows.
"Miss Remington is at work upon her flowers Oh
usual. ..'
"Mrs Culver sits in her brothers picturesque studio
and paints day after day. upon her Adirondack studies.
"Miss NJ j. Walters s also reproducing the sketches
abe made last Summer In the Adrondacks One ht''e
.e.ne On n winding OF the An Sable promises great
beauty.
"Miss Conant painting portraits and an ideal picture
or two st intervals
"Mrs II. +. Grey Is engaged upon variety OF
subjects.
Mrs Hamilton, who painted Longfeiow III rome
and who has just published the novel woven " "''y
rs.a., h.s ,ahcn studio here and IL working upon
v,.cesu, ideal picture The First Gift OF Love-