Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-03-26

SDOAc0 6ioee ~ hhC NAoPAoy'
1t is not strange, that with all these attrac
tions, the city should be filled, day by day with
multitude of strangers, drawn from the nations
of the world; or that these people from various
parts should go to their homes filled with the
wonders of climate, fruits and flowers, and the
colossal exhibition they have seen in New Or
leans The wonder is that more don't come,
especially from the north. think that in spite
and seems to have been popular with some in
the north, that those who stay away for these
reasons will finally find out they have stayed
away from good show. But let US look into
THE ART HALL.
This building is 800 #. long by 100 ft. wide,
constructed of iron, having wide portico at
front entrance with futed iron columns. The
sides are faced up with sheet-iron, futed also.
1t is but one-story high, and has no great archi-
tectural beauty, but answers tho purpose for
which it is intended admirably. The roof, which
has very considerable pitch, is composed partly
of glass-se, arranged as 10 throw light upon
the paintings within, so that they can be seen
building is divided into four departments or
galleries. The first or main one has arranged
around the walls in excellent order $40 oil
paintings. all of which, with but two or three.
division is the Mexican collection, consisting
Of 70 paintings. This collection, from the
national academy of Mexico, represents the
Mexican school of painting during the past two
collection, I20 oil paintings, representing the
living painters of Belgium. The fourth divi-
sion or vestibule is filled with pictures in water
colors, pastels, black and white, ETC., and works
terra Gotta, being 81 of the former and 81 of the
latter-making 78l pieces in all.
Among this very large collection of paint
ings, there are manysexceedingly fine ones in
specially in the first gallery, is one entitled,
1.-THE Minute Men of the Revolution" This is
a very striking painting, especially to an Amer
ican-the production being that of A. NJ. Viii"
bly, about 7xI0 #. on which is first rural scene
of pioneer farm-life as background; the log
house, the yoke of cattle standing hitched to
the pillow in the field, the COWS, calves, chickens
and pigs in the barn-yard and fields, the latter
with its stumps, and here and there tree left
standing, indicating no ground, and in the dis
lance the forest, all finely colored and beauti-
fully blended. In the foreground near the
the act of hastily putting on his coat as though
he had rushed from his plow at a signal,
and left his team standing in the field. His
eyes fash as he seems to be looking away in
little, bare tow head, with short, blue drilling
pataloons, pulled up to his knees, holding his
fathers gun. His wife is just outside the door,
holding the powder-horn, and seems to be as
sisting in his hasty preparation for departure,
encouraging and praying for him, all at the
same time. In the door stands the old father,
apparently so years of age, holding in his hand
an old hint-lock musket, the hole in the muz-
zle of which is painted SO distinctly and well
that one can almost imagine he can see down
the barrel. There is fire in his eye as though the
recollection of some former war was awakened
in him, and he must needs fly to this one, at his
I2 years, stands before him with her hands
placed against his arms, as though she would
prevent her grand-pa's going. This is the |
family group as the artist protrays it, and it is
so life-like and striking that it requires very
lite aid of the imagination to see them as liy-
ing, moving subjects.
The painting is one 1 would be glad to have
and place in our home for the children of the |
present day to see and study; but when look
ed at the price of it, $4,000, found i hadn't the |
'change," so left it in the art hall, where it |
can be seen and enjoyed by the thousands who
will yet visit the worlds exposition.
Another, in the same gallery, "The Mellow
Autumn Time, is most charming painting by
Jasper F. Cropsey, of New York, price $4,000;
and one, "Early Morning in the Blue Ridge"
by c. H. Shearer, of Philadelphia, is also very
fine. But, perhaps, among the very finest
paintings in the entire collection, are series
of fine paintings by the artist, Thomas Hill of
San Francisco He was born at Birmingham,
England, in 1929; came to America in 1871;
studied at Pennsylvania academy of fine arts;
later with one of the Masters at Paris; has re-
sided in California since 1871; has received
in America and Europe no less than twenty
medals.
The first is entitled, "Hart of the Serras,"a
mountain scene; the second, "Grand Canyon Of
the Yellowstone" bold and suggestive; third.
" Early Morning in Yosemite" and fourth,
''Yo Semitic Valley" and the fifth and last one,
entitled, "The Last Spike;" it is very large,
probably 6xl0. The subject is the celebration
ofthe completion of the Central Pacific railroad
aud the driving of the last, golden, spike. 1t
has the railroad track locomotive and coaches,
the crowd of people with the dignitaries and
railroad magnates in the foreground 1t is said
theyare correct likenesses of the most prominent
men present. As series of paintings by the
II