Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-15

hundred of the choicest and most brilliant |
examples of photography. So prominent
in position are they that no one entering |
the gallery can avoid them. But even If
so inclined, the love of the beautiful, the
power of recognizing thoroughly good
work, a taste for art, the capacity to DIS
criminate between fine workmanship into
which something of the inspiration of the
artist has entered, will arrest the attention
Of every man or woman whose Judgments
worth anything, when their eyes tall upon
the display of Alr. Hodson.
THE BLEACHING AND FADING
Ofvegetable colors drew attention earliest
to chemical changes produced by light.
In 1889 came the invention of Niepce
and Daguerre for the tiXatiOn of the
images of the camera, and out of that
discovery photography, or light-prinung,
was born. Since the day of the daguerreo-
type, with its soft, ivory-like surface and
cieac-cut outline, the advances Of the art
have been
TOO FAMILIAR
To call for or Justify recapitulation here
At first photography was limited 10 the
taking of artificial views and interiors but
it was not long until it was extended 10 the
taking of portraits, and this advance was
largely due to the labors of Professor
Draper, while the pertecting OF the picture
is 10 be credited to the discoveries of NJ
Fizeau So it Will be seen that the photo
graph finds its highest development in por-
traiture. II was natural that the earlier
artists in this line should strive TO present
portrait work on as large a scale as pos
sible. The portrait for the wall must neces-
sarily make some approach to life-size. But
it was not found an easy or profitable task,
and the art Of taking large pictures direct
attained no considerable proportions until
the experiments of Mr.. Hodson. The re-
suit is that those who look upon thepor
traits now in the State fair, or those on view
at his gallery, 521 J street, see the
LARGEST PICTURES
Ever taken by direct process. All larger
ones are the result of the solar process.
Nov it must be apparent 10 all that there Is
attainable greater accuracy by the direct
process than by the enlarging system. Mr..
Hodson, therefore, must stand credited
with an achievement i'll Photographic art
that has been equaled by no Others in por
traiture in the United States. In short, he
turns out the largest portraits precisely &C
cording to the same process customary for
smaller pictures Whoever views his dis
play will be informed by these lines then.
that he or she is examining work that has
THE NEXT
Feature of the display that commands at
tentiOn is the success he has attained in
preserving the likeness. 1t is by no means
true that " the apparatus cannot lie. 1t IS
truthful only when arusucally manlpula-
ted. In hands unskiled the work viii be
distorted. This laithfulness on Hodson's
part is due, as must be apparent. 10 his art
perceptions 1t is not enough to have a
l-subiect plate a camera and proper lights.
These must be supplemented by knowledge
gained by experience in the management
of lights; in an artistic judgment as TO the
result possible from a given subject, under
given conditions; the demands for the sub
ject according to its physical characteristics,
etc Faithfuness is not the exact repro
ductiOn of the face or form as presented in
the blank camera when the sitter Is before
it, but such an adjustment as will produce
! the effect when photographically fixed that
is apparent to the eye that views the sub
ject In short. faithfulness is the closest
approach possible to naturalness. IN this
HOdson's pictures are remarkable. They
testify to an attention To detail, and for the
correctness of this judgment appeal is made
To the portraits now on exhibition, the
drapery of forms, the position of the sitter
best adapted to produce natural effects, and
every art in the handling of the subject
that will tend to highten and beautity the
picture.
N HIS GALLERY
On J street Mr.. Hodson has the portraits of
over 400 prominent peOple-people who
know good work and are able 10 COM
mand it. and who have come to him be
cause Of the results he achieves. These
facts account for the breadth of territory
from which he draws his custom, the work
of the gallery being done very largely for
people from outside Of Sacramento. and
who came here to secure portraits at Hold
sons hands. Recently, it is ascertained, in
three consecutive days his orders for work
from Eastern patrons amounted to 1892
alone, and annually from 50 600 10 $1,000
worth Of work is done by him for patrons
in outside towns and cities. He has been
in Sacramento but four years, but in that
time has built up by fair dealing and skill
the best paying business, we are assured, in
all the interior. He has by his methods
and art accomplishments elevated the
standard Of Photographic art in the interior
from plane of depreciation to one worthy
of the art, and the influence thus exerted
has had its effect in the business generally.
ONE SPECIALITY
With Hodson's work must be noticed, and
una! Is Ille Wofhig QUO On race eli9CI9 an
aciie' elelt III MIIiun nc ii''S ;io' '' e.i d
TiFal' D} ioile 4c'is VI eAl s:iio WI; WI.
tie Pellcl ne mas pecQIi,e - l"llli i ioi
me g''Illiiie'l S'iice' tLiIi Ie loIcIes u d
le''rLes5ly aiit s''cct,'iiE - a MoI 1>ll,
for artists, and it is not eXaggeratiOn 10 say
Iliat ne Gots even 9ef'ei' IIi,'eC', WIN
race as PSl3Ial'iiiFiI ne @o!lS "5'' ne"
ee9i5ils' hiGIe o;a''li,,l li'Ii,e 'il i'1tt
Iul tllal tIli' IN p lil,e0 li'il liie pay
The softness he has snrceeeed in obtainino
in all his pictures. LISA common complaint
that the photograph is NOT the equal Of the
old daguerreotype, because il lacks its soft
ness, warmth and clear-cut lines. Usually
distinctness Of outline and boldness in the
photograph is obtained at the sacrifice of
the essentials named. But HodsOn's por-
traits must convince anyone who will study
: