Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
WRITTEN for rhs Evening star.
sOME GREAT PAINTERS


sOME GREAT PAINTERS
Ho~ ns.a<...h Proaus.a III. Wonderful
K1sets % Color
hi"s rsn'1 Scw PAID ZOE PTcTuRxs-LECrzE
ASp soSk OF ms woRxs-k TALK WIN ON cF
HIS PcPns-How Hx TOOK a WASHINGTON por
TO rrscH-eES. ExAsox's ExrEHnscEs
0N MY RECENT VISIT TO NEW YORK I
made my usual art pilgrimage to the
Aetropohaan GALLERY and the Lenox Library
and again refreshed my memory OF the MASTER
pieces OF art which Contained in those gal
ieries The Rembrandts in the former gallery.
hve or SIX OF them. are always a source Of great
pleasure, and on tins occasion was sero,n
panied by an artist friend. who explained 10
me the wonderful technique by which tins
great master produced the marvellous iIluniua-
tion on the face of The Glider" the picture
for which Mr.. Havermeyer paid shaas the large
sum Of $4,000. As he explained il that result,
was produced after years of study, for in his
early career Rembrandt WAS Whist is called in
our day an "impressionist." He changed his
style. and in his best day produced this and
other masterpieces, in which these effects
defy imitation The other masterpiece
in this great gallery would occupy
more space than can clam even
to enumerate them. have special favoI rates
there. before which stand enthused. Knav's
beautiful picture OF the holy mother child ard
ST Joseph is never without admirers. There
was the usual crowd before il when I was there.
This picture was painted TO the order OF the
Empress Of Russia. but the war raging between
Russia and the east and the expenses OF her
vast armies was the reason given for not taking
the painting when finished. Miss Catherine
Wolfe. however, bought II az the price de-
manded OF the eplpress-sso. 000-and IL L. now
one OF the attractions Of the Wolfe collection.
which this lady bequeathed to the Metropolitan
Art GALLERY. The great painting OF Columbus
Before the Court of Ferdinand and isabella"
by modern French artist. which is rendered
so familiar by the admirable engraving to be
seen In the art stores of Washington. is another
OF the great works contained in that gallery.
LEUrzE AND HIS WORKS.
Standing before Leutze's grand compost
ton Of Washington Crossing the Delaware
IN the Lenox collection. my friend remarked
casually, That is by my old MASTER and then
told me he was one of some fifteen American stu
dents at Dusseldorf. most Of whom were pupils
OF Leutze. Among them was the young
Washingtonian. William d. Washington, whose
pictures, painted at Dusseldorf. hang in the
Corcorau Art Gallery. The mention Of his
name. the sight Of the painting Of Washing
ton Crossing the Delaware. recalled an inter-
esting art incident William Washington was
q boy when Leutze brought this picture to
Washington, and il was exhibited In the ro-
tunda Of the Capitol Young Washington was
employed In the patent Office, and he took
sketches OF the painting and in colored crayon
reproduced ii on the wall of one of the base
ment rooms of the patent Office. Ii was
noticed as q display of artistic talent aud
Lieutze called TO see il and was SO struck with
the talent OF the young artist he in
vited him to become his pupil. Mr.. Corcoran
and other friends gave Washington orders aud
he studied under Leutze for some years. and
on his return TO Washington executed several
orders and afterward established himself in
New York Eastman johnson was a pupil OF
Leutze and l. Beaufan Irving and other
Americans NY companion in NV art pilgrim
age was Mr.. Alexander Laurie. who studied
with Leutze and afterward went to Paris.
where he studied ander Picot, to whom he was
recommended by AIRY Scheffer, the great French
painter. Mr.. Laurie was fortunate in obtain
Ing the friendship and interest of such an
artist as AIRY Scheffer, to whom for years he
submitted his work and was instructed and
governed by his criticisms. AIRY Scheffer
painted the portrait OF Lafayette which hangs
In the House of Representatives, from life, as
early as 1925.
This great painters Dante and Beatrice"
and Francesca da Rimini." and Others which
hang IN the Louvre, are familiar to all
lovers OF art from the engraylngs of them.
After some time spent in PARIS, MIR. Laurie
returned to Dusseldorf. and subsequently
found inspiration in Florence. The portraits
OF Gen. Warren, Gen. Reynolds and Gen.
Tower. by Mr.. Laurie. are at West Point, and a
very fine picture by MIR Laurie of Gen. Geo.
h Thomas hangs in the sergeant-at-arms room
OF the Senate. William Washington met with
success in New York. but at the breaking out of
the war went south and at it's close became pro-
lessor OF painting in southern university,
where ne died. / find In Mr.. Corcorans book
letter from Mr.. Huntington, for many years
the veteran president of the Academy of De-
sign at New York. fixing his price for ''Mercy's
Dream" which hangs in the gallery at WASH
ington. Mr.. Huntington says: Il hope You
'Mercy's Dream and 'Christiaua-' The
latter is the most interesting to many,
and especially to those who are critical
know that 5000 is a large sum for
two pictures, but if you reflect on the close
study and arduous Labor of many months be-
slowed on them, do not believe YOU would be
willing to cut down the amount" This letter
Was written in August, ls5e. and the prices OF
pictures had not then risen to their present
altitude. when s60.oo0, $4,000 aud $50 600
were paid within the last year two for the
Meissoniers. Debilie and Rosa Bonheur at the
sale of A. T. Stewards paintings and when
Eastman johnson obtains u. 900 for q portrait
tbis might almost be called the golden age of
art for the wealth of today expends itself in
purchase Of such masterpieces, and as in this
paid are presented to the Metropolitan Art
Gallery, where the public at large can enjoy
their instructive and refined influence.
GEN. MMAHoN's EXPERIENCE IN sou-H AMERICA.
met Gen Martin I. McMahon a few DAYS
ago, who had recently been elected to the state
senate, and referring to the warlike breeze
which was blowing from the Chilean republic
he spoke Of his experience with that section of
our hemisphere. He was sent to Paraguay as
minister by President johnson and was accom-
panied by feet, and on his arrival at the Ar
gentine Republic he met by numerous
diplomatic difficulties When he notified the
president of his desire to ascend the river TO
the resident city Of Lopez, to whom
he was accredited, he was informed |
they must consult the other states in |
alliance before granting the permission for /
our minister to proceed, as the country was In |
a state Of war and they doubted if it safe |
for the American minister 20 make the attempt. |
The general declined to wait response from !
the other states in alliance. his governments |
had not recognized such alliance. and his in
structions were to proceed without delay TO his |
and he requested TO be informed if \
any impeachment would be placed in his way in 1
carrying out his instructions. The general says /
all the forms OF diplomacy were exhausted which |
could be employed to cause delay, but eventu- |
ally he notified them he would proceed and |
then they made an issue by asking IL the feet |
was to accompany him and after that question
had been answered satisfactorily be proceeded |
on his way to the secluded capital OF Lopez
He was absent from the Argentine Republic
over o year, and while away he was the subject
Of constant Misrepresentation in the official |