The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-16
WILBUR W. WOODWARD.


given to the country statesmen, law makers and
soldiers that have made the nation her debtor
forever. 'Ben Hur," written by a native In
dianian, is conceded to be the greatest work of
fiction that has yet been produced in America
equal in every way to the best works of Sir
Walter Maurice Thompson, author of Songs of
Fair Weather." Riley and Ben D. House are
living proofs that poets thrive in our congenial
atmosphere Wilbur w. Woodward was its rep
resentative in art. In 1882 those who visited the
Cincinnati Exposition were attracted by a
picture hung on the line which, even in the
midst of much that was excellent, compelled at
tention 1t was painted by Woodward, and the
subject was "Ossiau." In the Indianapolis
Journal Mary Dean the most competent art
critic in the State, writes of it: ut filed the
mind with suggestions of old Celtic poetry and
history. The picture, about three feet by two,
represents Ossian singing the gories
of his race of heroes to his
daughter-in-law, the widow of his son Toscar
the last of his race. Ossian and his one auditor
sit on the two steps of the das of an ancient
Gaelic hall. The immense gloomy, solitary
shadowy hall, with its thick, massey columns,
far-receding arches and barbaric carving Elk
tends wide about the two figures, throwing them
minstrel, sits on the higher STEP singing and
playing ON small antique harp. His face is
raised, his lips are parted in song, and his looks
are rapt. He is vigorous athletic figure; his
white hair and beard are not wild or long, but
have a certain hoary grace. He wears some
pieces of armor about his stalwart body, his
sinewy arms are bare, his legs are enwrapped
and cross -gartered in archaic STYLE and from his
left shoulder hangs rich drape1y of the ancient
royal color-red. Nothing could be grander
than the kingly strength of his face. Toscar's
widow sits on the step below Ossian. She has
the white arms and yellow locks of old Celtic
poetry. She leans arm and it's elbow on the
step above her, resting cheek on hand in a half
recllng attitude, all absorbed in listening. Her
young cheeks are warm red her hair of warm
gold curls hangs crisply down her bare Shout
in dark purple. The idea of listening
to music is so well told that re-
remembering the picture is like remembering
music.
We visited the exposition together and as
Miss Dean stood admiring the picture, which was
afterward exhibited at the indianapolis art
loan, she remarked: II have never heard of
Woodward but we will watch his career We
are certain to hear great things of him in the fu-
ture." In the following March his death, of
consumption, at his home in Lawreneeburg,
was announced. His work was only just begun,
and he was only thirty years old. He was born
at St Omer, Decatur county Jan. s, 1851.
When he was three years old his parents re-
moved to the village of ST. Paul in the same
county. There he received a rudimentary edu-
cation in the village school. He had a natural
love of books, and soon acquired greater fund
of general information than is usual with boys
at that age. When the war broke out, although
he was only ten years old, he besought his father
to buy him q fife, that he might enter the army
as fifer. After much hesitation and many OBJ
jections, his desire was finally gratifed. The
boy became member Of the martial band of
the One Hundred and Twenty third Regiment,
in which his father had enlisted. At this time
marched with the regiment from Nash
vile to Chattanooga, and from Chat
tanooga to Atlanta, enduring fatigue
and hardship in the camp and on the march, with
the courage and the hardy patience of a veteran.
For this service he was made member of the
Providence (R t. Post, G. A. r., wearing his
badge with thepride of soldier, conscious ofhav
ing served his country faithfully and well. When
the war closed he returned to st Paul and re-
entered school, But when his parents began to
talk of sending him to college, he begged to be
sent to a school of design instead, that he might
cultivate the taste for drawing that he had dis
played from childhood. This love for art that
had grown with his growth, strengthened with
his strength, increased in intensity he grew to
manhood. In compliance with his desire, there
fore, he was sent to Cincinnati and became a
pupil in the studio of c. F. Weber, who was
then one of the most eminent artists in the
West He remained with Weber until the
School of Design was opened, in which mstitll-
ton he remained, teaching and studying until
the summer of 1871. His quality of character,
his genius, his devotion to his chosen profession,
his high standard and the excellence he attained
won for him, as it is always certain to do,
warm and enthusiastic friends. The year
previous he had won the gold medal
in the School of Design for prof
cheney in drawing, and in 1871 a crayon which
he had left with friend received a medal
Through the assistance of the friends above
alluded to he was enabled to go to Europe and
remain there for two years. All this time was
devoted to unceasing study and work SO rapid
had his progress been that when he returned to
Cincinnati he was made teacher of the higher
class in drawing But simple excellence did not
content him. Like all true lovers OF art he
sought perfection, perfection which he believed
could be obtained by one means only, persistent
and laborious work. The two years he spent
abroad were not enough; they seemed only to
incite him to greater effort He, therefore, re-
turned to Paris and remained seven years. He
was more widely known in that city, within a
few years than he was or has since been known
in his native State-there where great artists /
compete for splendid prizes, where fortune and
honors are showered upon them, and honorable
mention is considered a thing to have lived and
striven for He entered lEcole DIES BeauX Arts
persevering in the long course prescribed for
pupils. There, as in Cincinnati his application
conscientiousness, and enthusiasm won for
him the respect and admiration of students
and professors. The paths in which lie that
mysterious decree of destiny the feet Of genius
must walk had not been made smooth and
straight for him. He was spared none of the
hardships of poverty, none of the bitter ex-
periences which, if they do not crush out life
and hope, seem necessary to the development of
great gifts. In his struggle for money, fame
and recognition, he was confronted by difficulty
and disheartened by disappointment. But they
were the failure and disappointment which are
frequently the forerunners Of success. In a
marvelously short time his merit a painter
was acknowledged and his reputation established
His pictures were admitted to the salon. an
honor denied many meritorous French painters
after lifetime of trial. He was employed while
in Paris to make sketches for Partisan illus
trated papers, and was engaged by the leading
illustrated journal of France to write and illus
trate the history of the Yorktown centennial
He returned to America to do this, and in New
York was offered a lucrative position upon the
staff of one of the leading illustrated magazines
published in that city He had passed