Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-11
COPYING PICTURES.
HOW THE OLD MASTERS GREAT
PAINTINGS ARE REPRODUCED.

Scenes in the Art Galleries Of the Old
world-Artists at Work-Methods Of
Copyins-Ladies Who Study High Art.
Restrictions.
Whether it is preferable to purchase IN
original picture for certain sum, or fur the
like money to obtain good copy of mas
terpiece of ancient art, is question admit
ting of much debate To many the word
copy is held in detestation. There ara
others to whom the old masters are marvels
when seen as originals in the galleries Of
some large city, but who do not think re-
production of much value. Again, there are
a few lovers of art who, unable to have the
actual picture they admire, are willing to
pay handsomely for good copy. Occasion
ally wealthy tourist, also is struck by the
wonderful correctness with which a certain
| picture is being reproduced, and offers the
| artist a good round sum for his work. Ii not
already sold, the money is gladly accepted
| and the tourist goes on his way rejoicing
and ever afterward tells the tale of how he
knew good picture when he saw 1t. Besides
these two above mentioned buyers, dealers |
are the men on whom copyists have mostly |
to depend.
ON A COPYING DAY.
It is a very curious sight on copying day
at any of the large European treasure houses
to wander about the galleries and observe
the numbers engaged at their work. Not
less interesting is it to study the character
istics of the crowd. Old men and maidens,
Young men and few children, with an
occasional old maid or two thrown in, are all
to be found there. Here an old man-maybe
n disappointed artist-with rusty clothes, is
doing his best to nuke a telling picture
from Raphael Before another great work
a sprightly young artist has planted his easel
and canvas, and by the vigorous work he is
, doing shows that his life will not be doomed
. | TO a perpetual existence of copying. He
| probably, like that young girl over there
transferring a Veiasquez TO her canvas, is
working two or three days a week to make
| money either to continue his studies or
supply models for his own pictures which
: are TO take honors at Burlington house, the
r Salon or elsewhere. Then there are the
:. regular copyists who make this reproducing
o | of pictures their sole occupation of life,
= having to sell mostly to the dealers but ever
l. ready to make a better sale with an outside
l. purchaser Children, accompanied by
d adults. are also to be found trying to copy
|, in pencil and occasionally in color, and these,
I with those who study for pleasure or instruc-
, ton b. copying from the great masters,
close the list of the many beings who thus
1t pass some of their time
If A large number of people think that to
If COPY a picture is comparatively an easy
If thing and requires no great amount of train,
80 | ing. To give an idea of color and drawing
il in ones own style of painting may not be sc
to | difficult, but to reproduce a subject in ex
no | actly the same manner the original arts
or PAINTED it means a great deal more. There
es are two ways of copying First, by Using
IS pigments which will give the color Of TIN
re- picture as il now is; and second, by trylni
to imagine how the subject really looket
when it was fresh and new from the paint
er's hand and treating the copy so, then b
~ | means of glazes and varnishes, etc, maxim
,as it appear quite as old as the original In tn
bo | first instance many colors now in ordlnar
"a use have TO be discarded and the few know
.oI of in those DAYS used But knowing, G
,ra rather understanding, both these method
n means but half the battle The copyist hs
his to study the technique of the artist who's
,cb work he wishes to reproduce, that is, how |
dc got his effects handled his brushes and oth'
md ninutia Some few can imbibe so much
ore the original painters technique that we
five they to paint portrait or some such pctu
ica the finished work might almost be taken
NO coming from the hand of a man dead loi
YES years ago
nd FOR A LIVELIHOOD.
+ Among the many copying for their live
md hood there are few who spend the great
v is part of their time in reproducing one or "
pictures They have acquired the necessa
lifa pecullar brrshwortk and color for these pit
q nres, and their work when finished, exec
INV for its freshness and being on smaller cs
He vas could hardly be distinguished from I
s,da original Generally, these copyists are not
ling and their productions bring them good pric
7pn. But apart from the monetary side, tn
htIv lives must be wanting in interest. \
.be chanically they draw, working always
bie, SQUARES mechanically they paint, ever us1
WITH the same quantity of this or that pigme
the As a machine, they take no notice of any {
,ver around them, and if they are Interrupt
, the or questioned they mechanically reply.
of a AS directly opposed TO the old stagers,
nted us glance at the many ladies who come
GARD these galleries TO STUDY anu TO ENJOY tn'
and selves. There are few very regular at1e
cold. ants, grim old maids, with whom, for
Now | present we will have nothing to do. W
,ouse we want to see are the pretty young g
n for well dressed and wearing becoming Ii
this aprons, who wrestle with Turner or ST.
N IL gle with Raphael, and between whiles
and off to each others places to have little G
Of if who like to get into difficulties and b
wing charming young artists come and c
!, i'm. to help them out of their troubles and
d the with them just little to repay them
boy their trouble. 100 thuch Oh 'his SUIT u u 4
New cannot be INDUCED in as there are guard
ALWAYS about who have to see that those
make use of the privilege of copying in
gallery do not abuse it. 1t is undoubted
privilege, and not every one can obtain
mates To enable one to do so an application
IS oc- to be made to the proper authorities, s
lie dis specimens of previous work submitted,
very if foreigner, letter from the embass
Aoned or consul, asking admission on behalf %
every aDplicapt This permission once obtain
utfer- available for a wkole lifetime, subjec
prin- course, to the strict adherence to all
estedl and regulations relating to copying.
! with only one need draw particular attentit
1t will is the one in force all over Europe to pre-
nee Of against any picture being copied on
ork of lar sized canvass to the original MAJ
detail the foreign galleries do not permit of
idered than one copy being made from a pic
d end and that being finished the ticket is {
of ex- more use.-London Cor. San Fran
y fora Chronicle.