The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-19
ARTISTS AND THEIR WORK.
Wielders of the Brush Who Supply the
Local Market with Pictures.
Nearly Thousand Persons in Indianapolis
Who Paint for Pay, and Find Ready
Sale for Their Work.

diaDapolis. there is but one place to begin and
| that is with the beginning Jacob Cox has been
painting in this city since l840-forty six years.
His eve is yet bright. his cheek ruddy, his step
elastic. He is great walker. and speaking OF
his health-he is now seventy-six years old
says he has not been sick for half a century. He
takes long walks in all seasons and may often be
seen along the streams and in the fields and
meadows of this vininity, sketching. He is al
ways cheerful and always at work. He has a
reputation both portrait and landscape paint
er and his coloring is lively and sunny as his
own genial nature, though at times he
paints nature in her sad and somber moods. In
his studio he shows number of paintings of In
diana scenery, some views taken near this city;
others IN Montgomery county and elsewhere.
He has recently painted Holy Family that is
remarkable for the admirable arrangement of
the figures and its luminous coloring. Among
the landscapes he has recently painted and sold
are the country seat of Theodore P. Haughey,
near this city; the birthplace OF John G. New.
near Vernon, this State. and "Sherman's Mead
ows" near the State fair grounds. The last
named painting is the property of Thomas NJ.
Bassett
Theodore G. Steele, who is taking rank among
the best artists in the country, now that he is
becoming known has received the highest price
ever paid to an Indianapolis artist for a single
painting. He received 81. 900 for painting the
family group OF Stoughton j. Fletcher. At the
recent exhibition at the Academy Of Art the few
paintings he exhibited there attracted great
notice and enthusiastic comment. His pictures
were HING ION the line" and he sold one, a
medium sized painting, THE Moor Near Schleis-
HEINZ" for $500, and another also a German
scene. for $3.50
r. b. Gruelle is now doing some excellent
work For time he was in Florida and while
there made many sketches of the wonderful
semi-tropeal scenery Of that far-south land
These there is no demand for in this city, though
the paintings. those he has made from his nu-
merous sketches, have been greatly admired
and he Is now having inquiry for them from
abroad. He recently sent number of them to
a dealer at Detroit II took great pleasure" said
Mr. Gruelle, lin sketchine Florida scenery, but
a matter of fac. Indiana presents
more delightful field for the painter. Mr..
Steele has this opinion, and has made number
OF charming pictures. Among them are two on
the Muscatatuck. one near Irvington and some
others. / have done considerable sketching
near here and intend to do more here and in
other parts of the State. Up and down Fall
creek is beautiful sketching. There is nothing
to surpass the sycamores, those 'white-a armed
daughters of the Forest as they have been
called" Mr. Gruelle shows. among other
paintings, beautiful and novel pict-
ure, which he calls IA Blessed
Contemplation" 1t represents the in
terror of his own studio, with two
sisters of St. Francis in their plain but quaint
habits. One is at the easel painting picture of
the Immaculate Conception while the other Sis
ter has turned from the book lying upon her
knee, with devout contemplation, to the picture
that is developing on the easel. The scene is
real one in every respect. and the artist has
finely worked II out in all its details. He is
painting portrait of Major Anderson the hero
of Fort Sumter, for Major Anderson Post. g. A
H., of this city. The post had some trouble to
secure an authentic photograph. but finally got
one from Gen. NJ L. Anderson. of Washington
City, a nephew of the late Major Anderson.
Frederic Primer. the iuguist, who is also an
artist, has recently opened a studio in the
Ingalls, Block. He has hardly got fairly to
work, but shows number OF creditable
sketches, piece of work. illustrating his
skill in portraiture, being a charcoal head Of
James N. Greene, which is certainly very strong
indianapolis has two young artists abroad,
studying in Germany, Mr.. Forsyth and Mr.
Metzner, who are said to be making great prog
ress. Both are indefatieable workers, and in
art, as in almost all else in lfe it is industry
and perseverance, that achieve success.
Journal reporter asked the question as to
how many ladies in this city were painting either
china some other branch of the iimners art
The person addressed, who has long he connected
with art matters. answered about thousand"
Twenty five per cent off will not be far from the
number. st. Johns Academy alone has during
the past four yeas had over 800 students in vari-
Gus departments of painting, most of whom como
from this CITY, and there are fully dozen lady
teachers in painting outside of this instit ution,
some of whom have many pupils. Among these
is Mrs A. E. Ferry. busy woman who, since
fhn 81 0f Ion1 n civ I
Mrs. Ferry not only teaches, but does a good
deal of work in all kinds of artistic painting.
we'll as portraits and landscapes. She has re-
Gently been doing great amount of china paint
ing Some Of this work sells here but the
greater part of it is order from the wealthy
little cities and towns of the State.
When any dealer in china any rich foreign
ware has anything broken in shipment he finds
no difficulty IN having his painted ware replaced
by the artists here dealer short time ago
had broken in shipment a number of beautiful
pieces of Limoges that he had specially i'm
ported He furnished plain ware for the broken
articles. and skillful painter soon supplied the
loss
Among the lady artists of this city who do
excellent work and find sale therefor are Mrs.
John Jnlian, who IS also noted as a teacher,
Mrs. Mary Culbertson, Mrs. Ingraham, Miss
Alice Ross and Miss Matte futile. The last
named lady makes a specially of delicate water
color work. and is making reputation in that
line
1t would be almost impossibiity to give
list of those who really deserve notice, together
with the specialties they affect Among those
who may be mentioned who do excellent work
in one or more lines of painting are Mrs.
NJ. A Phipps. Mrs r. p Craft
Mrs. Morris Noel. Miss Jameson, Miss
Harvey. Miss Jessie Fisher, Miss Agnes Beissen-
herr, Miss Maggie Staub. Miss Mary Renhan
Miss Della Seibert. Miss Hannah Roberts, Miss
Carrie Russell, Mrs Dell Benson, MISS Minnie
Hatfield, Miss Katie Staub. Miss Mary Elbreg,
Miss Susie Todd, Miss Blanche Miller and Miss
Lulu Ryan.
The encouragement to art and artists In In
dianapolis Is growing stronger all the time
There is no sale here for large panoramic
pictures, but there is demand for good work
of all kinds, portrait and landscape, as well as
for various kinds of decorative work
Clay and Calhoun,
Ben: Perley Poore, in Boston Budget
Ciav IT,