St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-23
lost in the crowd after a while, and
saw him no more.
THEY NEED A CATALoGUE.

Inc NOrWeglanS know more about art
than one would suppose. l saw one in
old country costume with the emigrant-
car odOr still clinging about his gar
But he surprised people by being able
to recognize good pictures and talk art
by the yard. Lo! the simple emigrant
is sometimes savant-Only sometimes.
''I've seen that chrome Often" was
the tart remark which reused me from
a rapt admiration of ''inspiration."
'How refreshing to see an angel with
out wings and fiowingdrapery instead of
just his skin," was another irreYerent
comment.
What wise precaution it is to check
umbrellas and canes for visitors to this
department. If hat pins and pencils
were also on the list it would lessen
peoples capacity for scraping paint off
the canvas. Then so many people like
to paw picture over, in order to be
sure that it really is picture and not a
Pigment of the imagination. Visitors
can be everywhere at once, while at
PENDANTS can't. Wouldn't artists rave
in fine frenzy if they could see their
precious productions handled and criti-
cised by the multitude?
One picture in the Norwegian collec-
ton shows black cock and ptarmigan
hanging against an old door. The effect
is so natural that many have to touch
the canvas in order to be sure that the
painter didn't accidentally leave back
ground of rough boards.
The highly tinted ideal of st. Antho-
ny Falls, in the youthful days, caught
my attention Immediately on entering
the room. The picture has that merit
at least, that it forces even the most
careless to give it a passing glance. Ii,
as a rustic, may be permitted Sug-
geStion, it seems to me that the result
would be quite as effective if there were
less autumn foliage and more falls. But
reference to the catalogue sets one
right as to the artists intent.
There are number of paintings
which seem to possess magnetic force,
compelling notice and admiration even
from those who neither understand nor
appreciate art. Pm afraid l belong to
that order myself, and would have
plenty of congenial company in the class
if people would only be honest. But l
was a little shy of expressing an opin-
ion, keeping in mind the aphorism:
''They only affirm who do not know"
But it was more amusing than comic
opera to hear people call such pictures
as Ready for Action" and 'Mount
Whitney" "real pretty chromOS, jest
sech as we get with our family paper"
Another party will grow enthusiastic
over the beautiful frames, not minding
the pictures at all.
By the way, Mount Whitney is only
seen to good advantage by standing in
the archway of the third room from
where the picture is hung. Anybody
who has ever lived in mountainous
country invOluntarily admireS the won
6rnlIS nlnn6 nffnntc t1GtQfnIIU
trayed in this painting.
LACK OF APPRECIATION.
Of course, couldn't think of spend
ing less than half day among the old
masters. Under the pretty attendants
charge | went through them reverently
and Systematically, but said never a
word. The lady in charge has so much
enthusiasm that it seems almost wicked
not to appreciate the "old masters"
However, | saw real genuine live
artists, who looked around and shrugged
their shoulders. Didn't evince the least
admiration. To me the pictures were
wonderful as opponents of customs and
fashions that have once been, but will
never be again. At least, l hope not.
That portrait of Voltaire gives
student of human nature material for
study. This likeness of the great cynic
and philosopher is said to be the only
authentic one in the country. Who
could doubt either attribute after
glance at the thin and finely chiseled
lips, the long straight nose, and, lastly,
the massive forehead. One almost
those thin lips part to utter some bitter
Jest. But their mission has long since
been finished. One may wonder and
criticise without fear of rebuke.
l have two pages of my note book
filed with description of Titian's
'sMagdalen." All | remember at pres
ent is that it must be Titan because
no other artist ever did or ever will
paint such a hand and elbow, or attain
that peculiar shade of red which distin-
cuisines the drapery. That's consoling
outlook for the coming genius, who as
pires to stand with the elect.
WOeVermans in his Conversion of
st. Humbert" shows white horse hav-
ing a saddle ornamented with red,
which proves conclusively that the
white horse of that day had already de-
yeloped a prediction for red in some
form or other. So the red-haired girl
NAV comfort herself with the thought
that perhaps his SiSterhOOd of former
DAYS had to listen to the same stale
Joke that now makes life burden to
her.
The port raft of Rembrandt and 1.-THE
Jewish Rabbi'' from his brush are
paintings that alone would repay the
time spent in this department. AL
though the Rabbits face is not the typi-
cal Jewish countenance, yet the
strength and earnestnesS portrayed i'll
every lineament seem to grow and
gather force from each moments study.
The peculiar light upon the face makes
it stand out from its background in
most realistic manner.
THE ARTISTIC KINDERGARTEN.
Just for the sake of contrast next
visited the amateur department. MI.
III. Jay Smith wasn't to be found so L
couldn't ask him if that amateur display
wasn't given space just to serve as
foil for paintings of acknowledged
merit. Now, l think that department
ought to be of much interest to Mime
apolis people. 1t has large quota of
local talent for so young city. Artists
are proverbially poor and ambitious.
Appreciation of their early efforts makes
the road to fame seem less rough and
thorny. Some pictures by local artists
are hung beside those loaned from
abroad, and compare favorably with
them. Fruit and flowers seem favorite
subjects. Being country girl l adj
mired them much; many city people
did, too.
When it came to landscapes or noun
tain scenery there wasn't so much toad
mire. Minnehaha appears under various
guises. Several other places of local
fame are shown. Some attempts at
Oriental scenes are certainly ambitious,
but distinguished by few other redeem
ing qualities. At least, that's what
everybody says, and everybody ought
to know.
Amateur work in still life forms a
pleasing study. Some of the models are
both ugly and difficult of execution, but
the paintings show careful and accurate
work. These bits are much admired by