Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-07-05
BANVARD'S PANORAMA
Romantic Story Of His Work on
This Famous Painting.
BANKS OF The FATHER OF WATERS
Travelled Thoasasds of Miles Aisas In IN
Open SkiG On the Mississippi
Weeks Together Without
Seeing numan Being


Barnard, printed in London many years
ago, the following romantic story of his
preliminary work on his panorama of
the Mississippi River Is taken. IL re-
minds one somewhat OF the adventures
of Audubon. in gathering the materials
for his great work:
One of the greatest difficulties he en-
countered WAS the preparatory labor he
had to undergo in making the necessary
drawings. For this purpose he had TO
travel thousands of miles alone in an
open skif. crossing and recrossing the
rapid stream, in many places over two
miles In breadth, to select proper points
OF sight from which to take his sketch;
his hands became hardened with con-
stantly plying the oar, and his skin as
tawny rs an Indians from exposure to
the rays Of the sun and the viscissitudes
of the weather. He would be weeks to-
gether without speaking to a human being
having no other company than his rifle,
which furnished him with his meat from
the game of the woods or the fowls of
the river. When the sun began to sink
behind the lofty bluffs and evening to
approach, he would select some secluded
sandy cove, overshadowed by the lofty
cottonwood, draw out his skiff from the
water and repair to the woods TO hunt
his supper. Having killed his game, he
would return, dress, cook, and from
some fallen log would eat it with his
biscuit, with no other beverage than the
wholesome water of the noble river that
glided by him. Having finished his
lonely meal be would roll himself in his
blanket, creep under his frail skiff, which
he turned over to shield him from the
night dews, and with his portfolio Of
drawings for his pillow and the sand Of
the bar for his bed would sleep soundly
till the morning, when he would arise
from his lonely couch, eat his break
fast before the rays Of the rising
sun had dispersed the humid mist
from the surface of the river, then would
start fresh to his task again. In this
way he spent over 400 days making the
preparatory drawings. Several nights
during the time he was compelled to
creep from under his skiff, where he
slept, and sit all night on q log and
breast the pelting storm, through fear
that the banks of the river would cave
upon him, and to escape the falling trees.
During this time he pulled his little
skiff more than 1000 miles In the lat
ter part Of the summer he reached New
Orleans. The yellow fever was raging in
the city, but unmindful of that he made
his drawing of the place. The sun the
while was so intensely hot that his skin
became so burned that it peeled from of
the back of his hands and from his face.
His drawings completed, he erected
building at Louisville, KY, to transfer
them to the canvas.
From the letter Of an officer Of the
navy who visited Barnard in Louisville
In 1916 the following extract il taken
ain company with travelling acquain-
tance. an English gentleman. called at
the artists studio, an immense wooden
building, constructed expressly for the
purpose, at the extreme outskirts of the
city. After knocking several times at
length succeeded in making myself
heard, when the artist himself, in his
working cap and blouse, palette and PEN
Gil ia hand, came to the door to admit
ms. He did not at first recognize me,
but when l mentioned my name hc
dropped both palette and pencil and
clasped me in his arms. so delighted was
he to SEQ me after a separation OF sixteen
years.
"My fellow traveller was quite aston
ished at this sudden manifestation, for
had not informed him of our previous
pany me to see in progress this wonder
of the world, this leviathan panorama
Barnard Immediately conducted US into
the interior of the building. He said he
had select ed the site for his buildinR-far
removed from the noise and hustle Of tho
town-thst he might apply himself more
closely and uninterruptediy to his labor,
and be free from the intrusion Of visitors.
Within the studio all seemed chaos and
confusion, but the lifelike and natural
appearance Of n portion Of his great pic
ture displayed OH one of the walls In q
yet unfinished state. Here and there
werc scattered about the foor piles of
his original sketches. bales Of canvas
and heaps Of boxes Paint pots,
brushes, jars and kegs were strewed
about without order or arrangement,
while along one Of the walls several large
cases were piled, containing rolls OF fn-
ished sections of the painting On the
tending its whole length. upon which the
artist was then at work A portion Of
this canvas was wound upon an upright
roller or drum standing At one end of the
building, and ~ the artist completed his
painting he thus disposed OF it."
TIE first night Barnard opened his
great picture for exhibition in Louisville,
not single person thought IL worth
while 10 visit IL. He received not a cent;
the Night was rsiny. The artist returned
10 his room with a sorrowful heart; he
sat down upon box and looked upon
fore, with high spirit. and cheerful heart
he had PIT the flashing touch to bis
task Of long Years Of toll aud hope. His
heart almost sank within him, but he
dii no, despair. The n~xt day he
ssllied out among tie hcstmsn by the
river and gave them tickets. telling them
they must So it, that IL was their river
he bad painted At nlaht the bcstmen
esme. and with them few Of their
friend. whs, they saw the accarscy -
shs painting they were delighted, sni
THAR Mid enthusiasm was rsis-i - one
eel anova ohiset sust seosh.r passed
BY them The i.sssns. ted shs ssfiscns
~ ~ss = srsna affair. thar y Wa cor.
r~esiS asIisessei. saa iss secafsss eoaia
b. relied spea FiasllT. tse rsl'lis t'~.
ssass COO vs.rsd thss ths pfstars ~as