Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-02-22
ADMIRAL FARR4GUTS PICTURE

THE ARTIST WHO PAINTED THE FAMOUS
. PICTURE ENDS A DISCUSSION WITH A
STATEMENT OF FACT.
Louisville Courier-Journal
William Page, the artist who painted
the famous portrait of Admiral Farra
gut in the rigging of the tlagshil>, which
was subsequently purchased by com
mittee of citizens for $4,000 and pre-
sentcd to the Grand Duke Alexis. said
to a reporter recently, at his home near
Richmond Valley, Staten island: Il
was much interested in reading the dis
cussion, which arose some months ago,
concerning the statement of q naval
officer that Admiral Farragut was not
dashed or tied to the rigging while
directing the movement of the feet dur
ing the engagement from his high posi-
ton Oh the mast of the vessel. ! can
give the statements of the admiral him
self, and think they will settle the qres-
ton. / haye often wanted to explain
what Admiral Farragut said to me
about this matter.
When he WIS sitting for the painting
| WIS living at Eagleswood, n. j., and
he came regularly from New York for
the sittings. When they began. | asked
him to describe his actual position dur
ing the conflict He then explained
how he had first assembled the rigging
on one side of the vessel to give orders
to the men below. He found, however,
that the smoke interfered with his view
and the officers on deck could not see
his movements or motions distinctly
While he was in the rigging he noticed
a piece of shell strike few feet above
his head and cut away portion of the
main cop, beneath which he was stand
ing, with his feet resting Oh the rope
ladder. CHANGING below, he noticed
that if he should be wounded
or killed, as he merely held on
by his hands, he might roll down
the shrouds overheard, and his body
might not he recovered, owing to the
smoke and quick movements of the
mancuvering fleet. AS his non was on
board, he desired to prevent such a re-
suit; so, that on finding tho smoke SO
thick as to intercept his view where he
was, he descended to the deck and
crossed to the opposite side. But on
his journey across the deck he found a
piece of rope, which WAS precisely
what he wanted, and took it aloft with
him, tying the knot himself which fast
ened him to the rigging | procured
for him piece of rope to use in the
posing for the painting, and the knot,
shown there. was the one made bv him
self. Probably any sailor will recognize
it as a nautical knot, or one likely to be
made by sesfaring man. When !
went to unite it its formation puzzled
me, and the admiral himself had to
undo it.
When he was relating these details
to me he did so without any mannerisms
other than candor and quiet modestv.
giving the impression that he pos
sessed a brave and subdued tempera-
ment. The admiral was rather short
in stature, but was very rare excep-
ton to artists subjects, in that his
figure was of the exact classic or Greek
proportion called eight heads. meaning
that his head was precisely one-eighth
the length of the entire body. There
are two of those life-size portraits in
existence. One is in the cC.lrt Of St.
Petersburg, and the other is in the
possession of Mrs. J. w. Watson, Of
this city, daughter of Mr. Page, and
whose husband is treasurer of the Cen
trail railroad of New JERSEY"