The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-10-09

The other day spent an hour with Raul
bach, and . right pleasant hour it was. The
studio of this great artist is q vast room in
the old university. and here are the sketches
of most Of his great works. Kaulbach il
particularly fond of Americans, and strang-
ers Of that nationality are likely to meet
with pleasant, even q warm, reception, il
they make their visits within his specified
reception hours. As We made our visits by
appointment, We found the great artist all
ready to receive US, and very communicative.
Kaulbach is now, judging from his appear
ance, well-nigh seventy years of age, but liz
still full of animation, and as enthusiastic as
ever in all matters pertaining to his beloved
profession. We found him seated before a
drawing which he had just made for one Of
the prominent groups in his great picture Of
the Deluge. As he came to open the door for
US, he held in his hand German translation
of Shakespeare, his finger carefully mark
ing the place where he had left of read
ing. There is no author of whose writings
he is more fond; and that he has entered
fully into the spirit of the poets works il
shown clearly enough by his wonderful illus
tration of the text. The first greetings were
hardly over when he began to make inqui-
ries as to the condition of art in America.
l told him what We had done, and what We
hoped to do, and incidentally mentioned our
two projected art museums.
"Oh ~ said the artist, "that is a step in
the right direction; but make them "a free
a. water, 80 that everybody can have the
benefit Of them. You have probably many
artists among your people who only need
contact with pictures TO bring them into the
light"
Having mentioned to kaulbach that the
cartoon OF The Era of the Reformation was
considered as one of our highly valued art
treasures, he made every inquiry about its
present position and condition, and hoped
that it would ultimately have place in the
Boston Art Museum.
81 like" said he, ''to have my pictures
60 to America. and my original studies in
color of all my frescoes in Berlin l have
kept together, hoping that come time they
might 20 TO your country az a collection;
but Pm afraid your people don; know much
about me-"
Then he showed us the work in detail for
the picture of the Deluge. Each group was
drawn on squares of paper about four feet in
to be :be finished work These are my
shall build my house-perhaps the last one
shall build; but il is grand sutject-,he
grandest have undertaken" OF course
from these di.iointed parts 1t was impossible
to form anything like a correct Judgment Of
what the finishing picture will be; but those
who have known and watched Kaulbach's
method Of working for years say that it is to
be the grandest of his works.
>. e. r.
Americana. i may mention an incident that
has parsed into common gossip here. A
short time ago two young American ladies,
who were stopping for few days in Mcnich,
paid a visit to the old artist. and by their
beauty and their wit 10 delighted him that
he returned the call at their hOtel-an I'M
heard o! honor to a stranger, which surprised
everybody. and nobody more than they who
knew Kaulbach best. Bat this was not the
end of the affair; he asked one of the ladies
to come to his studio and sit for her portrait.
Certainly, Mr.. Kaulbach," she replied,
half jestingly, "Pll come; but, then, you
must give me the picture when tits finished"
"Of course, if it suits," said the painter, ="
never ask my Patrons to take my pictures
unless they suit" The young lady naturally
enough regarded the whole conversation as a
joke; but Judge OF her surprise when the
next day Kanlbach's servant called and an
nounced that his master was ready for the
first sitting. The lady had nothing to do
but to proceed to the studio, and the result
was she returned to America with a charm
ing portrait of herself by Germany's most |
renowned artist. give the anecdote a. a
bit of the common gossip Of the cafes; but
having heard Kaulbach say, "The women of
America are as beautiful az angels, and a.
good Is they are beautiful" there seems to |
be probability of its truth. As We turned |
to leave Kaulbach he seized us each BY the !
hand, and, in q tone which left no doubt of |
the sincerity of the remark, he said: "Good-
by; give my greetings to America, and God
prospe, You in what you try to do for art"'