The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-03-31
Art notes.

passed away in the studio OF our young
friend, Jos. D. Strong, in the Government
building. There. ne and his talented
wife, bright and witty, and as apt with
the brush and pencil as on the histrionic
boards, have covered the walls with Ha-
waits lovely scenery deity depicted. At
present Mrs. Strong-who, as her friends
will be glad to learn, is recovering from
her rather serious illness-is represented
by few clever sketches and charming
female head spiritedly drawn and fOrci-
bic in character.
Strong has on the easel several works
OF great merit The one that at
tracts the most attention is a portrait of
His Excellency the Minister of the Inte-
rior, Mr. Gulick, in his robes of State.
The rather handsome face has been
handled with that dexterity, broadness
and fidelity that attach to all sincere
students of the Munich school, of which
Strong is no inapt pupil. When the
finishing touches of the genial expression
that conversation brings forth on the
Minister'S face after he has passed out of
the Interior" with its figures and I'M
merited blame from political opponents,
into the Exterior" world of manliness
and friendship are added, Mr.. Gulick
may safely say to posterity, "There am
as was The Minister truly lives on
canvass. Strong is a portrait painter,
and has no right to squander the abilities
with which nature has 80 richly en-
dowed him in remaining where those
talents are not sufficiently appreciated.
The months passed on these Islands,
had he remained art-faithful to his
Munich tutors, would have placed him
pean artists. He begins to realize this,
as do all, at length, who worksfo unap-
preciative employers. Before he goes,
however, let us hope that he may leave
behind him on canvass the faces of the
men, Kings, rulers and officials who
have raised this little Kingdom from
barbaric insignificance to its present en-
lightened position. Historical scrutiny
demands the face of the man to interpret
his words and acts, and not n mere fiat
Photographic picture. Strong's best work
in this line may be seen in the portrait
sketches of Fred Somers and Max Tau
bles which hang upon these walls. To
those who enjoyed the friendship of these
men, the canvass brings back many
pleasant memories, for the men are
there in all save life.
While portrait painting is his forte,
Strong can faithfully interpret good
landscape, and his progress in this line
has been very marked, but his land
scapes without his figures, in depicting
which he has a remarkable talent, would
be somewhat tame and effeminate, too
pretty, and too pleasing and too Stod-
dard-ish in Hawaiian sensuality without
the bold virility which still somewhere
clings to the Islands He has several
beautiful canvases of this ''happy-hanl-
mock MISUNDERSTANDING" life,
which ought at once to be removed to
the walls of our rich mems charming
dolce-far-niente cottages.
Ills black and White, coming WITHIN
the purse reach of all, are the most pop
ular, and in some respects, as will be
seen by any one who can spare the time
to drop into West, Dow & Co.'s, and see
the exhibition there, the most meri-
torious Into them he throws life and
vigor and catches the impulse and inn
preston of the moment with a very
faithful hand. Mr.. John A Palmer Is
acting as Mr.. Strong's agent for the sale
of the pictures at West, Dow & Co.'s.