Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-10-01
prArn or y. .. gArNAnE.
The ssFasHaer of Wilmington Art,'
PASSES Away ON Saturday Evening
The Account of hAis First Artistic

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The ssFasher of Wilmington Art,'
PASSES Away ON Saturday Evening
The Account of hAis First Artistic
Success.
Harry L. Tatnall, the we'll known artist,
died at his home on jefferson street,
between Tenth and Eleventh at 7.40
o'clock Saturday evening. Death resulted
from cystitis, with which the deceased
had been afflicted in more or less aggra-
waited form for two or three years. The
ailment took rather alarming turn in
the early part of the summer, but SEEM
ingly yielded to medical treatment, for a
time. 1t reappeared later and
Mr.. Tatnall, in pursuing his physician's
directions, went to the soashore in hopes
of receiving benefits from the change and
complete rest. The patient was tempo
rarily benefited and returned homo about
month ago. Soon after the annoying
ailment showed itself again in q very
aggravated form and for two weeks past
his condition has awakened great anxiety.
Throughout last week his medical at
tendants regarded his recovery as being
beyond hope, and the patient became
weaker and weaker until the sad end.
Mr.. Tatnall was probably one of the
best known men in this city. He was
born in the old Tatnall mansion in (then
Brandywine Village) the Ninth ward, and
was in his seth year. His ancestors were
among the earliest settlers in Delaware,
and held prominent positions in the
various mercantile, marine and social
circles of the city and State. He was a
descendant of the late Commodore Tat.
nall and some of the most conspicuous
u
colonial period and succeeding that
time. Mr.. Tatnall was educated at
Westtown Boarding School, On
institution under the direction of
the Orthodox Friends and exclusively
patronized by that sect. After complet-
ing his studies he engaged in farming on
the late Randolph Peters, near Hare's
Corner. A few years spent in agricultural
pursuits he. removed TO this city and
engaged in the lumber business, with
which line of trade he was identified for
several years.
Mr.. Tatnall exhibited strong musical
tastes and early in life cultivated his
natural talent for music and acquired
mastry of the violin, performing upon
the sweet-toned instrument with the
beauty and finish of virtuoso. The
latter part of his life he devoted to paint
ing, and achieved an enviable reputation
through his landscape works.
Mr.. Tatnalps own story of his first
painting, as told by him TO the writer
few months ago, was a STANCE one. II
was, he said, while George Hetzel of
Pittsburg, was in Wilmington at work on
afew canvases for OF Rudolph's gallery,
then newly opened. Being one day at |
the gallery, where Mr.. Hetzel was tenn
porarily at work but absent at that time,
MIR. Rudolph playfully bantered Mr.. Tat
nall to compete with him in painting a |
picture. Mr.. Tatnall demurred, saying
that he knew nothing about painting. His
companion, however, persuaded him to |
try his hand. Two easels, with canvas,
paint and brushes were ut hand. MIR. |
Tatnall took one, Mr.. Rudolph the other, |
and in the same sportive spirit in which
the contest was projected, the painting |
was begun.
Soonafter they Ind started their pictures /
Mr.. Rudolph was called away by n GUS
toner, leaving Mr.. Tatnall alone in the /
gallery. Mr.. Tatnall ayerred he had no
distinct recollection of what followed
until he seemed toawake as from n dream /
or trance and found upon his easel q
completed painting-a river scene with /
vessels under sail-and was conscious of L
MIR. Rudolph standing behind him, gazing |
admiriugly upon the canvas and acknowl-
edging himself ont of the race.
This success and the companionship of
Hetzel and of Hamilton, the late Phila-
delphia artist whose glowing marine sun
sets made him IN enviable reputation,
turned MIR. Tatnall's attention to art. L
He fitted up the second story of his lum-
Der office as studio and went to work
diligently, sometimes becoming SO alb
sorbed in his occupation while engaged
on others of his early pictures us to be
almost us oblivious to what might be
passing around him as he was while
painting of his first picture.
This WINS about 1871, and since then the
deceased had devoted himself exclu-
sively to landscape painting with
an industry and enthusiasm
which clearly bespoke his love of
the calling. The prettiest bits of wood
and river vistas and hill and dale stretches
in this vicinity his busy brush has repro
duced, and the rich, quiet beauty of the
picturesque and historic Brandywine are
perpetuated on his canvases. He was an
artist, self-taught and the works he leaves
behind with their marked originality and
fidelity of portrayal are but the inevitable
outcome of natural Unborn talent Mr..
Tatnall was justly recognized as the
father of art in Wilmington and the
State, and is the first distinctively local L
landscape artist to win prominence in the
broad field.
Socially the deceased was most genial,
bright and hospitable. His individuality
was most pronounced, and his attach
ments strong and lasting. His good
fellowship was ever apparent, and the en-
thusiasm, frankness and openness of his
nature, with his entertaining originality /
in conversation, made him welcome
guest everywhere, and drew about him a
lnrge circle of warm friends. His fellow |
artists held him in the highest esteem, and
his many admirable qualities of the head
and heart brought them close to him in
bonds of strong fraternity. His taking |
off in the midst of his progressive work is
q matter of general sorrow, and creates a
vacancy in local art circles which is much
felt.
The funeral took place Tuesday after
noon and the body was inferred in the /
Wilmington Il BrOndywine cemetery.