National Republican., 1876-12-21
MRS. GREATOREx.
Interesting Glance Into q Lady Art
lists Studio.
BY DIR. FULLER WALKER.


One Of the foremost women artists of America,
whose works may be regarded with pride BY all
lovers of the beautiful, is Mrs. Eliza Greatorex,
Of New York, widely known, both in this country
and Europe, through her admirable etchings,
pen-andink drawings, oil paintings, antiquarian
researches and numerous illustrated books. She
was born in the year 1870, in the pretty town Of
Manor Hamilton, County Leitrim, Ireland, on
the 25th of December, being what is called
"Christ-child." Although fifty six years Of age,
Mrs Greatorex is in the full vigor Of health, and
looks forward with pleasure to ten or fifteen years
more Of Industrious art-work.
When but sixteen years of age she came to
America, making, with the exception Of occasional
art tours through Europe, this country her home.
Her relatives and ancestors were men and women
Of decided talent in the musical and ecclesiastical
worlds.
HER ART LIFE BEGAN IN THE UNITED STATES,
Eome twenty years age, under the tuition Of VIM.
wallace w otherspoon and James and William
Hart She has since studied under Emile Lam
binet in Paris, and at the Alte Pinakothek in
Munich. Devoting her energies to the study Of
the fine arts from her intense love of the beauti-
full she visited England in 1857, Paris in 1S6l-2,
Germany and Italy in Is7o3, familiariZing herself
with the schools and galleries Of those countries;
while in America she has taken a deep interest
in historical and art subjects wherever found.
One summer was passed in Nuremberg, the
charming old city where Albert Durer, the re-
nowned Bayarian artist, once lived After
winter OF study in Munich, the summer OF ISL
was spent in the pious village of Ober Ammergau,
amid the lofty highlands of Bavaria.
When in Home, in the spring Of 1S71, Mrs.
Greatorex and her daughters were presented to
the Pope and received the autograph Of his
Holiness. Returning to New York in the
sumner a RI in Colorado, and has since devoted her
time to the pursuit of her profession in the
metropolis. ..
THE PRINCIPAL WORKS
BY Mrs Greatorex consist of "Bloomingdale," a
landscape in oil, painted in 1888, and owned by
Robert Hoe, esq; Chateau OF Madame Clife,"
painted in 1869, owned by Dykeman Van Doren,
owned by the late Charlotte Cushman, Of New
port; "The Homes of Ober Ammergau," pub
SI COLORADO" d. y % pu6iished in 1874; "oId New York
from the Battery to Bloomingdale," published in
1875, with fifty original etchings and ten copies Of
city OF New York in the earlier periods of its
history; "Landscapes of Amsterdam. painted In
1876, owned by Mr.. Alex. Mitchell, Of milwaukee,;
''Qld st. Paul's, - 1876, owned by James b. Col
gate, ESQ.,; 'Sixty Pen-drawings Of Old New
York" owned by Alfred Clark, esq.,, and last,
but not least in honor of Lthe Centennial year Of
bum" a series of beautiful etchings OF the his
tOrical buildings Of Philadelphia, Boston and
In 1872, King Ludwig II of Bavaria, accepted
a copy of The Homes of Ober ANN ergau," and
did Mrs, GTeat0reI the Honor Of presenting I'M her
V. Ksulbach, with his royal autograph and an
expression of his appreciation. 10.
expense. as wei as artistic talent expended in the
production of these works, can only be estimated
by artists and authors who have made similar
Mrs. Greatorex has carefully educated to the same
profession
one of whom has illustrated a holiday book from
the German with unusual originality.
Between Union Square and Fifth avenue, within
the shadow Of Tifany's famous establishment, We
linda grand square old mansion OF the past gener-
alton, witha wide hall running through the centre
of the house. Ascending the broad staircase, at
the head of which there is pretty stained-glass
window, we enter the studio, q fine square room,
with subdued northern light. Hanging over the
fireplace, opposite the door, is large and excel
lent portrait of Mrs. Greatorex, painted by Tobey
Rosenthai in Munich The walls Of the room
are thickly crowded with pictures and panels
painted BY Mrs. GreatoreX and her two daugh-
ters. The young ladies spent the past summer in
studying the fora Of America, and have secured
many beautiful designs for panels and general
decorative purposes. Some Of these are painted
on light colored woods, obtained from the old
churches which are constantly being demolished
in the progressive city Of New York. One of the
most recent PctuIs painted BY MIS- I.
BloOmingdale, occupied once by Louis Philippe,
afterward King Of Fracce, but only poor school
teacher when a resident Of New York. The fur
niture OF .. -.'
MRS. GREAToREx's STUDIO,
aside from the pictures, is of unusual interest.
The cheerful IRE in the open crate is supported
by pair Of quaint and highly polished brass
in the Washington Heights residence of the cele-
brated Madame Jumel. Who knows that Wash
this identical open.work fender while snatchfng
an evening from his New York campaign to pass
an hour or two of coy chat with the fascinating
tongues instead of feetl If they were even
trained dogs, instead of lre-dogs! But they keep
their secrets well, notwithstanding they have
heads Of brass! number Of chairs in the room
are also from Madame JumePs. They have
straight mahogany backs, carved to resemble
stalks of wheat, and are cushioned with green
leather A large armed easy chair, upholstered
In red plush, resembling the bronze chair which
supports the statue of Secretary Seward, on Mad
Webster. He used to carry it with him from
MaTshield TO Washington, and used it in the
Senate Chamber: A sideboard near by, elabo-
rateIy carved in black walnut, with mirrors, Sc.,
was also the property Of Webster. 1t is melan-
choly to reflect that the Webster property at
Marshfield has passed into other hands, and its
venerable widow Of the great statesman still sur
wives, living in New York in the midst Of
Two tall, silent, useless old clocks stand in op-
posite corners OF the room Their faces no longer
indicate The time S Of day, and their hands have
One Of these clocks, of mahogany and maple, in
intricate tfabesque patterns, was made on Pail
Mall, in I&ndon, for the
PRINCE OF ORANGE.
1t afterwards became the property of Dean Swift,
and thence it fell into the hands Of an Irish fam
lily OF note, by whom it was brought to America.
Perched upon the top of this clock is large
to he daZed with our medern telegraphs Wal
than watches, weather predictions and news,
five minutes later /" from Pekin. The clock in
the date. when red faced Indians were burning
villages along the Hudson, and was found in Kin
derhGOk New York. Its doleful face looks as If
cpuld ta1 a al n nth days
is in the studio an cid chest of drawers with
brass handles, and a carved chest from Italy,
covered with frightful grifins. This latter chest
contains some OF the curious garments worn by
Peter, Paul, Matthew and the other saints
who take part in the celebrated passion plays
carved in mahogany, which stands at one side
OF the room, is from Holland. The top Of It
is piled mp with French cuirasses stained with
picked up in the modern battlefield Of Metz;
upon the table there is a lot of rare old Dresden
house, in New YOrk-the family from whom the
present Ludlow street, well known for its Jail,
was named. Among this china is small blue
OF tea while he occupied New York city Here,
too, is plate Of Faience ware, three hundred
years old, and a great Liberty punch bowl"
made for holding punch on Independence Day,
when all patriotic citizens used to drink to the
prosperity and independence of America. This
bowl is blue and white; ornamented upon the in
side with Masonic emblems, and upon the outside
with pictures Of Hope-a classical female sitting
by the side Of an immense anchor. With these
STRANGE SURROUNDINGS,
calling up q thousand "reminiscences of other days
distant lands and great people, is it any wonder
the appreciative mind tlnds q studio like Mrs.
Greatorex,s an excellent place for study and
dreams? The very air is hlled with historical,
poetical and art Influences. The past mingles
with the present; we have before US presidents,
kings, generals, saints statesmen, soldiers artists
noted women writers, authors and they pass by
in silent review, every article Of furniture in the
studio helping to bring them more Vividly before
the minds eye. After ALL there is something en-
chanting about Professor Huxley's atrumpery of