, 1872-11-25

free, but confined to the bold bluffs OF Norway
and the extreme North. The artlst nas !, take9
| advantage OF the summer solst1ce In Wild and
desolate region to produce apicture which az
rests the eye Immediately, ana o.. comPels the OBJ
the horizon and is hanging suspended in mid
:lir, it seems. before he begins his re-ascent.
The cold bright light is flung askant upon one
of those historic tiords n Wnlch Morse geography
| heroic feats Of the heroes Of Morse tradition.
| Great shadows are thrown along the water bY
| bold masses of rock, while two men in
o canoe~ stand up to view the grandeur
Of the qases br;1ss ~ npoa On -. sea and shore
of those scenes which nature affords to only q
chosen few, and by which she appears to be en-
deaToring to compensate for the. long, dreary
winters Of q northern climate. As work Of
art it has been viewed by artists with more than
ordinary compliment, and, as 8 promise Of
future greatness it has raised Mr. Hammerstad
above some Of his more favored associates.
The artists history is q romantic one. Apoor
Norwegian shepherd boy. he evinced at an early
age n penehant f for painting, and brilliancy Of
painters, who recognized in the untutored farm
hand the true artist. He procured for his
protege the best teachers, and for three years
paid for his tuition. The lad studied hard, and
rapidly developed his genius, winning from his
master the highest commendation. He was
studying might and main, and with feverish
anxiety, when an obstacle to his future progress
appeared in the form Of the military regulations
Of his country. To servo as soldier for five
yeare Was blow at all his future hopes. To
avoid it he expatriated himself, and came to the
United States three years ago. He WAS strug-
Cling for recognition when the fire came, swal-
lowed all he had, and drove him to St. Louis.
He, like Others discovered that in St:
again he returned to Chicago, where be is paint
ing assiduously and preparing himself Tor
greater things. Besides the painting noticed,
are several others incomplete atpresent, painted
from studies in California and Colorado. The
general style is as bold as the craGs OF the ar
lists Scandinavian home, but they are not sufh-
clently advanced as to permit comment.
Going into Phillips studio, on Van Buren,
street, duplicate paintings Of q face, rarely
sweet in expression, attract the eye and fasci-
color, the exquisite se1f-containment in the face
cannot but hold one. Those who were SO fortu-
nate as to know the original, recognize at onca
in this tho portrait Of the wife OF Rev. K. Laird
Collier-the best souvenir OF that amlable Indy
that remains executing the memory which her
deeds have left in the hearts Of those who knew
her. The original painting VAS executed by the
artist from an indifferent photograph OF Alrb. Col
ler, and from his recollection Of her face. It
WAS painted for the chapel of the new Church Of
in TIE TRIBUNE. The copy, which can be told
from the original only by certain marks inten-
tionally added by tho artist, is intended for Mrs
Golfers father, while third, not yet COM
menced, is for A1r. Collier.
Portraits of Philo Carpenter and his deceased
wife, the former from life, and the latter from a
photograph, are also strong ikenesses and
strong. faces. Copies almost without number
are ordered.
Phillips is also engaged upon life-size paint
of ScnttnN0s6 r4frOn saint for fha st An.
drew's Society. q subject which the artist has
worked On with infinite labor. The martyred
saint is impaied upon the traditional diagonal
csoss: csaM:..;o3a3 The artist artist has discarded the
stituted rough branches. The
drapery is that Prescribed BY the order, and
gives the artist little opportunity to indulge the
picturesque or graceful. The attitude, however,
Leaves little to be desired, while the face, the
istic. An old man, fully 70 years of age St.
Andrews face is adorned with full grey beard.
The countenance expresses peaceful resigna-
ton to suffering, and piety almost divine.
With bis right hand he exhorts his followers to
cution. In the background the artist has
endeavored to idealize the Cdawn OF hristianity,
BY daybreak Of unusual splendor. The paint
ing is nearly finished, and will be ready for the
new hall in 8 few days.
Conkey, the scul ptor, is busy with orders.
Sculpture is not as profitable as painting nova
days in Chicago, but the time is coming shortly
when art will regain the position it held before
the fire, and sculptora and painters alike will
find their hands full. A pretty little bust OF
May Stark, daughter of James L. Stark, Or
dered before the fire, and nearly finished only to
be destroyed, is the sculptor's latest work. The
likeness is said to be good. A happy conceit is
the finishing Of the bust in q festoon of May
flowers in full bloom. An equally pretty piece
Of work ia bust Of Eddie Blatchford, well exc
cuted.
Pebbles and Pickering, on the West Side, are
kept fairly busy painting portraits. The former
has portrait Of Mrs. James Walsh deserving OF
notice, and Pickering several portraits yet lack
ing the finishing touches. Other artists will re-
celye notice Oh future occasions.