, 1877-12-23
CHARLES G. DYER, THE ARTIST.
IN fht Editnr of The Trfh,,nr

CHICAGO, Dec. 2.-l send you part OF letter
never intended for publication, but nm sure it
will interest all the friends OF the writer
Charles e. Dyer,-and particularly those who
have seen his picture sent here just before the
close Of the Exposition, or who, not so fortu-
nate, have read Col. Eastman's description Of
it. No one can suspect Mr. Dyer OF conccit n
in relating his success to one who has known
him from childhood, whose mother was one OF
my first friends iu Chicago.
Ihcse two pictures Of which he writes arc OF
special interest to Inc. I spent the month of
June with MIN in Venice, and daily, in the most
fascinating church in the world, watched his
faithful work. and every time the eondola
ttoated me past the dva Schiayoni, or
down to the Lide,, was on the look
sails of the tshing-boats Il pcrchance / might
find one more beautiful than those he had
selected for the out-of-doors scene OF which he
speaks. This last is IN order for gentleman
in Philadelphia, bus before it crosses the ocean
''The SpanArd," to whom Mr. Dyer refers,
is a wcll-known artist OF Paris. His large pict-
ure, nearing completion when I saw it, was
wondrously bcdudful, correct in drawing, and q
most truthful rendering OF the unriyaled color
Of San Marco That IN artist SO young as Mr..
Dyer still Is should have executed picture Us
good would have satisfied me,-that competent
Judges say he has surpassed it In excellence will
be real joy to many besides his friends.
Il. n. D.
You will doubtless be surprised to find us still in
Venice, The fact IL, it il, as you can well n,a..-
inc the most difficult place on earth for painter
out in the way Of work. I only wish you conldr rec
my work now Instead Of but just begun, as it was
when you left me. The ''St- Marks" stady IL
very large, and I trust important, work which
measures five feet By four. l am sitting near the
right pulpit and looking towards the lovely pulpit
Of mr. is that superb mosaic door reaching far OF
into the pictures. On the right the grand etcps
and the screen Of thc PFssbytery with it, Apostles
Of left nave with Mosaics and tree OF Adam, and
above and behind screen the rich Mosaics, columns
and organ. l scratch down this II pen-and-inE
sketch of subject> that you, who know the grand
old Baailica inch by inch, may know eracfty what
color and richness OF ornament and architecture I
obtain from ny point of view; This, thank
Heaven, after lao days Of most aFduous but most
delightful toll. now approaches completion
have never, from the first stroke OF the char
coal lost that vivid interest and sincere pleasure
without which it were almost impossible to CON-
pEehcnd and carry out the grand sentiment with
which the subject seems to me iubaed. and at the
same time pay that attention to detail in broad
why which nne s so apt to ovcrdo, and thereby de-
tract from the grand hymn, and fall into mechani-
cal hand organ airs
I have been much encouraged by the encominm.
Of such men as Van Haanen, Kicco. Passini, who
eeem exceedingly pleased, and have gone 80 far as
to say in public, at Florence, when was not pres
church, and that had whipt the Spaniard. Now.
you do think l'm conce,ted, don't you, to tell you
all this! but please let me- for 1t does good and
you know ii you had been here should have run
to you at once When one has struggled hard and
racked his brains and talents upon thing, It is
very pleasant to hare those who know acknowledge
it rs good
1sesides this, have nearly finished large study
Of Morning on the Rira deeli Schiavoni," which
promises we'll. 1t is rather IN odd subject, and
lsnnSs 3Snnfh nlease Y0u.