The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-25
MEXICAN SUBJECTS.


Coming now 70 that domain Mr..
Ottinger has made such a specially,
there are so many works, novel and in
teresting, both from an artistic and
historical view, we are at loss TO make
a selection. We will merely mention
those most familiar to the public,
through exhibition and press notices,
such as The Last of the Aztecs, +" The
Gladiatorial Stone" "MonteZuma Re
ceiving News of the Landing Of CorteZ,"
and others, referring more direct TO
those less kno~n. OF these, "Montezuma
Called to the Throne" shows the future
monarch, standing on the steps of
huge pyramid, where he has been
officiating at a sacrifice; the courtiers
kneel before him, making offer OF the
insignia OF royalty. 'Quien Sabe
is a gem we never tire of seeing.
A tomb stands amid the luxuriant
growth OF tropical forest. An
Aztec warrior and child, inspecting il
yonderingly; who is buried there
Quien Sabel or who knows, is the
answer. Lost or Saved. is in the collec-
ton of S. P. Tessdel. Two Aztec
figures, male and female, stand before
grotesque Mexican idol. The female
holds in her hand q silver cross, the
present of her Spanish lover. She
holds IL up as the emblem OF hope, but
in her companions mind there is q
lurking suspicion.
Isit honor lost, OF heaven won?
4 bitter satire on the boosted civiliza-
ton of Spain, as compared With Old
Mexico, was a work called tersely
mexico 1920" a Mexican girl has
fallen captive, two Spanish soldiers and
a priest cast dice for the prize, and
fortune fayors the latter. a more
telling blow against that expedition Of
rapine, superstition and lust, the inva-
sion OF CoTtez, was never painted. ~.
Southeyis poem of "Tehalaba"
furnished Mr.. 0ttinger a subject
congenial to his taste. It IS when the
Princess finds the child hid away in
cave amid the tropical woods. We
believe this picture was q special
fayorite with the artist the coloring was
especially pleasing; the brilliant colors
on the dress of the princess, shown
against the deep green foliage, gave
those contrasts which the artist loves.
one of the most novel Of all the Mexican
subjects belongs TO a group recently
painted, Invoking the Rain God.
The priest decked out in fantastic
fnery Of plumes, golden ornaments
and precious stones, goes stalking
along a mountain path, playing 20 a
musical instrument, q sort of hAgeolet.
His invocation in this case has been
successful. Dark clouds gather over
the mountain SUBMITS dropping the
wished for rain. Belonging TO this
same group Of productions, IS picture,
one OF Mr.. Ottinger's best. The incident
portrayed is the meeting Of Young
Aztec Warrior and an Amazon
Princess. 81 the termination Of 8
battle. The vanquished Amazon lays
down her spear in token OF submission.
bur in the very moment Of defeat has
gained a victory. The art OF love Is
woman's sphere, not the art OF war. So
the artist intends TO tell. There Is some
sklIIfuI grouping in the figures. The
Amazon maidens on one side, the Aztec
warriors on the other. IL we may be
allowed TO give such Judgment, this
Is the representative picture OF It's
class. Subject and execution are
equally pleasing. Its originality is IN
Questionable. Mr.. Ottinger has made
this field OF painting quite his own
Had he pursued his studies IN some art
centre. where mutual aid and en-
-, --ovf1 have assisted him