The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-27
Art.

Miss Trusler has entered several fine pieces
in the art exhibit of the State fair
Miss Mccoy has commenced work on studies
from still nature under Miss Burgess.
Miss Stella Harriott has finished study of
birds and branches on the Minturn style.
Members of the art school are rejoicing at the
beautiful weather. as if affords them such splen-
did opportunities for outdoor sketching.
Mr.. Ecker. the cameo artist, has gone to New
York for few days. Just before leaving he
completed a portrait of Mr.. Walter Stanton.
Miss Burgess who makes China decorations in
oil a speciality, will exhibit collection of work
done by herself and pupils at the State fair.
Mrs. Julian has opened a studio in the Roberts
Academy building, 345 North Pennsylvania.
street. Her fall and winter class will be large
one.
Miss Mary Robinson will furnish very fine
collection of pencil sketches. flower pieces and
studies of the Alleghenies for the State fair art
department
Mrs. A E. Terry, absent in New York and
New Jersey since the middle of September, is
again home and will be in her studio for active
work on the 28th.
Mrs. Homer Sewell, of Covington, Ind is
represented as having fine ability in landscape
work. She will probably be represented in the
art exhibit at the State fair.
Next week Mr. Steele will send four or Eve of
his masterpieces to New York city, and three to
Boston, to be placed on exhibition for the fall
contests to take place in those cities some time in
November.
Mrs. Ludington has discontinued her art class
in Greenfield, Ind, for short time. After the
fair week. however, she will take several sketch
ing excursions with pupils of that place through
Hancock and adjacent counties.
Miss Sophia Dithmer, of this city, has fin
ished beautiful mountain scene of the Allie
ghenies, the handling and coloring of which are
exceedingly well done At the State fair of last
year Miss Dithmer took the second prize on her
copy of Barney Castle.
The Art Association is intending to give an I'M
usually fine exhibition some time in November
An effort will be made to secure work from the
best artists of several of the large Western Cities
including Chicago, Milwaukee ST. Louis, Gin
cinnati, Denver and Kansas City Such dis
play would arouse great interest of more than
local nature, do much toward insuring the fpan-
cial success of such undertaking, and result
in much good to those interested in art in In
dianapolis.
Mr. Williamson, the artist, has taken rooms
in the Thorpe Block. His sketches in oil while
in the country last week possess many points of
merit The picture in oil, of the old homestead
of Lawrence Wheeler near Brazil, Ind, as also
two water-colors of scenes in the same locality,
are especially good. Mr.. Williamson has. also
sketches, one of farm house in Illinois, the
other taken from North Indianapolis to be pre-
sented to his brother. Dwight w. Williamson,
on his marriage next Wednesday evening, to
Miss Fannie Hereth of this city.
Are the points made against Indianapolis art
and artists in the cynics complaint of the News
of the 3d. we'll taken2 In the last three or four
years our city, like all American cities, has had
an art craze; but is this superficial art study Of
any value? What does chrome copy ing or copying
of any kind amount too To the intimate friend
this work doubtless has a certain value, but as
art it certainly has none and should be called by
some other name. There are good copyists in
the galleries of Europe, who have
copied from youth to old age without
acquiring the ability to paint anything original.
If this is the result where the grand old masters
are the originals. what can we expect where
cheap chrOmos and still worse oil paintings are
set before the STUDENT decorated placaue
may be fine work of art but. if So it must rep
resent feeling knowledge and technical skill
Of the thousand PLAQUES upon the walls of In
dianapolis homes how few represent anything
They have been done for amusement" and
nothing is gained by hiding the fact that most of
them are bad copies CT bad pictures. With the
glorious scenes of nature in every direction
broad fields cleaning brooks and magnificent
woOds-it is a lamentable fact that nine out of
every ten of our artists, teachers as well as pu-
pills. will sit down to paint Barney Castle or
something else they have never seen, and whose
local colors and characteristics they know moth
ing of. 1t is unfortunate that the art interest
in INDIANAPOLIS should ever have been turued in
this direction, and the sooner an improvement
in this particular is made the better.