The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-22
"REMINISCENCES or MINARD LEWIS.
The Day when the Scene Painter. and Not
the Uphoi.terer. WINS Chiefly Esteemed.

Inc nay when the Scene Painter. and Not
the Uphoisterer, wns Chieny Esteemed.
In the death OF Mnard LOWS in Chicago
America loses n distinctvely national scenic
artist. His busy brush was welded in boauti-
lying scenery in every city OF the Union. There
are dozen drops to-day. rung up and down
nightly. that were painted by him. In musty
storerooms thcro are bits Of scenic effect torn
and covered with dust. that had grown into
beauty beneath his hand. At the Bowery The
atre there are Lewis flats with tho paint taking.
They are unused. but are kept reverentially.
He paintedb gasight. while ,he theatre was n
tomb Of echoes and shadows. lie had theory
that an artist could not tell correctly the effect
Of his work unless he executed it in tho light
in which 1t was to bo observed by tho public.
After the audience had departed he toiied on
IN his swinging eyrie until tho clocks struck
three. II not pressed he then throw down the
brush and went home. but often tho sun
streamed through the lofty windows before lie
went away.
1t is many years since first climbed. by n
| DARK and devious stairway. 10 the paint room
| Of the Academy Of Music great piece was
| in preparation In the roomy carpenter shop,
! which Occupies the fiy gallery on tho Fourteenth
| street side. men were saving, planning. and
| hammering together the frames for wings and
| set pieces and gluing and king canvas to
| them; On the paint bridge half dozen men
| and boys were working 10y the light Of II hum
dred gas tets spoutng from a long gas pipe
swung 10y chains from the raftcrs. In their
rough, paint-stained attire. with their faces
menis. they looked like Indians in their war
| paint. or the gnomcs Of some grotcsque Black
| Forest legend. One, armed with brush foot
| broad, was covering canvas with q printing
OF white, over which the other colors Of The
in the sketched outlines Of palace Interior.
| blocking out the shadows. and laying on the
tints Tor panels. walls. and ornaments from
| was constantly stirring. Others still. with
brushes as thick as a man thumb. were adding
scene. An old man bent over n caudron on a
| brick furnace in n corner. The rcek from the
pot said glue This. with a proper admiX-
mixing and fastening bis colors instead OF oil.
Moving in this confusion was man OF tho
| some. sharply outlined face. heavy moustache
and imperial and bright, restless eyes He
scarcely removing il from his lips even to
speak. He resemblcd a Fronchman. He talked
plain and vigorous English. now giving an
order TO carpenter. then imparting direc-
ton to one Of tho painters. again shouting IN
some invisible subord Innate buried IN the gloom
Of the stage far below. Between whites he
dahbcd a brush in q mixture OF cOlors on "a long
table where various pigments nestled in little
ooA,hNe S',.hlaiIlien.s UNI H az on oi
were employed Each touch was a mnsterly
one; the right mark IN the right place. bring
ing out with that force which catches the dis
tant eye IN the auditorium the realistic effects
Of the painted scene.
| II was Minard Lewis. Upholstery then played
n very insignificant part in stage effect; Money
which now goes into the pockets Of the furni
ture dealer and the property man then was OK
pended in the paint room The pieces in vogue
called for frequent changes OF sccne Requiring
n greater variety Of tableaus. The number o.
scenic artists az the time could be counted OF
ones fingers. Consequently business was al
ways brisk. and the rates Of emoiument high
Men employed regularly at ono theatre too
were constantly called upon Co furnish scene,
for lesser houses and stock scenes for proVin
cial theatres The scene painter was tho Con
erol Of little army Of p-sisi4nts. OF expert
p ! cnced artists OF an inferior talent and Of ap
prentices. to whom he detailed employment IA
= q commandcr-in-chici directs tho movement
OF his forces.
I Lewis received rs much rs 5000 for q slngl
> scene. Nothing but the most reckless imprOVi
: dence prevented him from dying rich man
| His personal eccentrcities were marked. 70
= years he was an inyeterate beer drlnkcr. Tn
only form in which he purchased beer was b
, the pail full. II he only wanted single glas
he sent out bucket 10 be- filed. He purchase
, every pipe that struck his fancy. often THROWING
il away after single smoking. He was tire
less collector Of rare prints and engrayings, 70
| which lie paid tho most cxtravagant sums
| These accumulated and at one time the collec
ton was as valuable rs IL was varied.
When the Bohemian Club. that nuubere
| among its memhers Harry Clapp, Nat. Shcp
, | herd. Aremus Ward. George Arnold. Al
| Glaze. and tho others. met 10 drink beer q
| Pans Lewis was "A frequent visitor.