The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-11


short time, and can only be seen within the COM
ing week.
Mrs. Dawson is at present devoting her time
to charcoal drawing as the nitiatory step to a
thorough preparation for painting. She pos
sesses undoubted ability, and is determined to
succeed. Her freehand work is commendable
for character and grace.
Mrs. Culbertson entertained decided preju-
dice against placing any of her work on exhibit
ton at the State fair as did large number of
others. Her latest effort is a very little gem,
being cabnetsiZed winter scene, embracing
an old monastery with several people in the fore
ground.
Mrs. Ferry has just painted o statue of the
Virgin Mary for the altar of the Church of the
Little Sisters of the Poor. The lady will soon
commence with portrait class from life models,
In which speciality she excels. as its study alb
sorbed her chief attention while in Munich,
where she remained for some time.
Rev. John Baltzly speaks before the Art As
ISOLATION at the gentlemen's club-room, Ply
mouth Church. on Tuesday. Oct. 13. at 3 P. M.
He discusses Faces" of all types of beauty of
ali ages, of various nations and races and more
particularly the faces of celebrated men. The
lecture is free. and all persons interested are
invited to attend. He illustrates his talk with
collection of good pictures.
1t is mistake for painters to suppose that the
public will ever buy admire pictures whose
subjects are not beautiful such old sheds. di-
lapldated fences, groups of mouldy shoes in a
muddy puddle, and the like. The artist may say
the mold on the old shoes has wonderful
tone" and is very strong" and "cool. and SO
on; but the public want to see and own pictures
that make the beholder exclaim, How beautiful
that scene isl"
Mr.. Potter. OF Indianapolis now president of
the National Photographers Association, read a
paper before that body, in which he said, any
one can make dry plates. but it takes genius to
develop them" Our amateur photographers
find this to be true. Success in photography
requires great deal of preparation. 1t requires
neatness, artistic taste. sentiment and enthusi-
asm, and excellent judgment, as we'll as great
mechanical skill.
John G. Dean, of this city, made. during re-
cent visit to the hop-growing region of New
York. portfolio full of exquisite photos. They
are of large size, and depict broad, rich valleys.
clothed with hop-felds forests, meadows and
grain fields. They are full of sunlight, with
clear, fine shadows that a painter might envy.
Cleaning waterfalls, ola homesteads, pastures,
hill slopes, village scenes, suggesting repose and
plenty, are among the subjects of these photos.
The art school has begun its session under
very hatterlng auspices and 1t certainly merits
popular encouragement and patronage. as the
opportunities afforded by it for proper art ed
cation rarely come to the students of Indianapo
lis. Mr.. Steele took his class out sketching on
Wednesday afternoon, and the pupils returned
with several sketches in charcoal, pencil and
will be continued whenever the weather will
permit.
Mrs. Craig, of North Meridian street. is hav-
ing prepared in one of our studios a very pretty
device for her childrens portraits. 1t consists
OF very large, deep-margined mat, in the center
OF which are three crayon portraits, while
side and the lower edge are attached two cab
met photographs. One represents little Howard,
who is dead, while the margin is covered with
field daisies, his favorite flower and in one cor
&c
former residence, in which he was born.
Indianapolis is still very provincial in one re-
spect-it does not appreciate its own things,
whether engines tiles steam pumps or pictures,
though these things stand first in the markets
of the world. As it is growing rapidly, perhaps
the time is at hand when it will like its own
things. If so, Mr.. Jacob Cox will he the fashion.
Mr. Cox is eminent AZ a colorst. He puts the
clear, brilliant hues of nature into his pictures
If you were to see one of them in Timbuctoo,
you would say, THAT is AN Indiana scene,"
they are so true to life. They show the yerdure
that our rich clay soil sends up He chooses
very beautiful subjects, such as the bend of
river with gay autumn foliage or split be-
tween hills, showing the vale far inland"
Miss Evaline Stein, of Lafayette, who deco
rated parts of Vanderblt's house. will send some
paintings to the New Orleans exposition. This
show'will provide market for our wornen's
work. The only object of any fair or exposition
is to provide market. Mrs. David Coffin will
send painting; Miss Anna Styer, of Kokomo,
will send some Woodworking and also several
pieces OF fine silk embroidery on boiling cloth:
Mrs. Culbertson will send some paintings; Miss
Mary Kirlen will send some brass work; Mrs
Woodward will send some paintings by Wilbur
Woodward; Mrs. DR.. Alembert Brayton has
gift OF mounting birds naturally and artisticaly
She will send case containing the varblers of
Indiana; Mr. Jacob Cox will send few pictures;
Mr.. Steele will send few studies; Mrs. E. W.
Matthews will send point lace.
The past two years have seen greater advance
ment in Indianapolis art than any former period,
and especially now does there seem to be an ef-
fort on the part of instructors to get such of
their pupils as wish to make art study started
on the right course. True, large number who
devote some of their leisure time to painting do
so merely to occupy their idle moments, and to
adorn their homes with work done by their own
hands. Such make no claims to accuracy, and
are not willing to endure the drudgery of a
thorough commencement First. a great artist
must be stamped with genius. Study and ex-
perience cannot supply this Then must come a
thorough course in drawing and sketching.
true estimate of form, size and proportion is as
essential as the ability for distinguishing shade
and color. 1t is said there ten good draughts-
men where there is one good colorist; that the
former can more easily be acquired, while the
latter is gift. Doubtless this is true. yet draw
ing and composition the prime requisites to
the successful completion of picture in oil It
is said that Michael Angelo and the great Will
lam Kauback chiefly owed their renown to their
wonderful power of composition, because they
were poor at coloriDg and experienced great diff
fcuty in this particular.
Mr.. T. G. Steele's Saturday afternoon recep-
tons in the Vance Block are very agreeable, and
are freQuented by many art lovers of this city
and neighboring cities. Mr.. Steele's talk about
life abroad, about art student experiences. such
as sketching in the mountains, about various
opinions and authorities in art, about the green's
of EuroDean and American landscapes and
about multifarous other topics. is very interest
ing. He says remarkable change has taken
place in taste for art in this city, for the better
since he left it, and there is greater interest in
art than heretofore He has hundreds of sketch
Many have the unapproachable charm of a
careful out-of-doors study, showing the clear
tints OF the open air. Such as: deep den in
the woods A swampy, reedy. sedgy stream and
yellow-ereen sunslight. hillside in early au-
tnmn manv-tinfed leaxaa in SUNLIGHT nraat