The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-06-10
A LAKE SUNSET.
A Beautiful Plcture---Art Posi-.
bilities and Probabilities.

A recent brilliant production by
a citizen artist, Mr.. Alfred Lam
bourne, brings once more before us
a realization of the prominent po-
sition in art matters to which Utah |
is entitled to lay claim. We have
working among us number of real |
artists, whose best efforts would be
worthy of a respectable place in any
art centre, while the steady I'M
provement that is seen in their pic
lures is such as to suggest a most |
worthy outcome in the future, and |
leads US to hope that our territory
may be identified with more than
one name destined to be celebrated
in this direction. 1t would be
strange indeed if the inspiration
that exists in magnificent scenery
should not impel TO great work
some, at least, who dwell in
its presence. With The noble
mOnuments,Ot the Creator in every
day view, it must surely happen
that artistic minds will become
creative, even as the art atmosphere
est human creators have worked,
brings forth artists century after
century. We believe that painting
is not the only art that is to be bred
by the nobility of our landscapes,
but that the poet also will appear,
whose inspirations shall have come
of them and the quality of whose
verse shall indubltably be traced to
their influence. In the careers of
those whose talents have developed
among Us, and whose works are
identified with ia miliar scenes, the
people of these valleys have ever
shown sincere interest. Feel
ing a pleasure, that our
can produce
proofs Of intellectual energy while
struggling with the hardships of
pioneer life, our citizens look with
pride upon the works of the ones
who are achieving excellence in
higher pursuits than those common
to western life. 1t is in sympathy
with these feelings that we view
the recent works of Mr.. Lambourne,
wherein are shown evidences of the
highest artistic talent, coupled with
continually increasing skill. The
latest product of his brush, and un-
doubleday the best picture he has
yet put forth, is entitled "Sunset
on Great Salt Lake" 1t is fami-
liar scene on which thousands have
gaZed, looking westward across our
strange inland sea from the shore
near Black Rcek. Much of the
interest that attaches to the picture
comes from realization that the
wonderful sunsets seen from this
point have made the view famous
both at home and abroad. Be this
as it may, the subject is treated in a
broad and mastery manner that
makes the painting valuable, no
matter whether it is possible for the
artist to produce better work in the
future or not. Although adhering
faithfully to the real topography of
the scene, the painting is worthy of
being considered great creation by
reason of the manner in which it is
treated. Through a wild piling up
of clouds, the sun is sinking-a great
red ball of fire whose brilliant rays
are cast upon the edges Of numberless
waves that roll in upon the shore. To
the lefG are seen the handsome
mountain masses that end the
Oquirrh range9almost at the waters
edge and in the distance, dimly dis
cerned in the combined gloom of
storm and coming night are the
Grantsville mountains and the
islands of the lake. Garfield is
shown in the middle distance, with
one or two tiny craft, and few
familiar sea-gulls are made to do
their part towards the perfect COM
position of the picture. Although
brilliant in coloring, even glowing
with rich carnation in the various
puppies and blues of its shadows, it
can not be said of this painting that
the colors are in the least degree
crude, Indeed, it seems to be the
outcome of this artists various eff
forts to produce a perfectly salts
factory picture in this key
of color. The painter himself
attributes this improvement in tone
to a careful study of grays, which
he has used to harmonic phases of
color that might otherwise prove
too violently opposed. In the max
ing of so important a picture as
this, an artist has many difficulties
to encounter that the general public
rarely take into consideration, but
which are only to be surmounted
by the most devoted attention to
nature and deep study of art. Even
in very realistic painting the science
of composition must be carefully
considered; bat in such an ideal
work as the one under review, every
faculty of creative brain must be
also brought to bear upon it. The
laws of composition, the proper
blending and opposition of color,
the chemistry of pigments, must
receive the strictest attention, but
must be Enthusiastically subordinated
| to the poetry and passion of the idea.
Hence, extreme care in method or
technique becomes ridiculous where
the motive OF a picture is insignih-
cant; but when used to give express
sion to so grand theme as one OF
the finest of our Salt Lake sunsets,
there is not one of the ruling priIl-
lcfpIeS of art that may be neglected.