The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-03
In TADEMA'S STUDIO.
A Dutchman, Yet the Most Pop
ular Artist in England.
SHORTsiGHTED, BUT GLAD OF
His Wife Paiuter-yay His Reautirn,
Model-Phe Present school of
Art in Holland.

:
colors life" This inscription over one of
the doors attracted my hrst attention as
entered the studio Of Laurens Alma Ia
dema, K. A.-at st. Johns Wood, London
who IS lauded for his ideal representa-
tons OF domestic scenes of ancient Greek
lie wherever modern English art is
known.
The studio was spacious hall, the CELL
ing of which consisted almost entirely of a
square skylight, and not only the
walls, with their cornices and painted
iestoons OF iOwers, We're reminiscent of
classic taste, but also the entire equip
ment OF the room There were water
vases, skins of wild animals, writing tab
lets with silver stylus, piece OF Tyrian
drapery thrown over a huge water vase,
limitations of ancient armory, few green
bronzes OF genuine Grecian workmanship
and any amount of Tanagra figures and
plaster casts.
Strange" thought, "for Alma Ia
dema, full blooded Dutchman, Che was
born in Dronijp, Friesland, as the son of
notary,) to be the most popular of Eng
hsh artists, painting scenes from Greek
life. Why, the world is getting quite cos
mopolitan."
stairs leading into the adjoining room.
lie was in undress-white shoes and
jacket, in strong contrast to his ruddy
complexion. His mustache and goatee
were trimmed la Louis Napoleon, only
not quite as heavy and pointed, and his
hair, parted in the middle, did not quite
conceal scar which he received acct
dentally during school life.
He oh Ill Al,
said to young lady with Greek couture,
sitting reading behind screen, whom l
had failed 70 see: Mag, you might get
dressed in the meantime" The lady dis
appeared.
Zone of my models" he smiled, "and a
very good one, by the way. Perhaps you
bathing scenes.'
Il hope L do not disturb you if she has
come TO pose for you"
"Oh, shall work by-and-by."
''She has a remarkable profile" re-
sumed, referring again to the model.
ooh, it is not so much for her physical
beauty, but for certain suggestiveness,
something that cannot be easily defined by
words. But she continually gives me new
lines of beauty. But won't you be
seated?"
And he felt for his glasses to look at my
card.
Are you shortsighted ?''
Eyes, and | am thankful for it."
"Thankful?' l repeated with slight
curiosity.
He nodded az consider it blessing
for an artist to be shortsighted. Take for
instance a scene IN the open field-natur-
ally. every blade and every stump has its
beauty; but, what are those close, micro
scopic characteristics to the large features
of a landscape?'
But the outlines in your pictures are so
clear and sharp"
For outline drawing 1 always put on
my glasses, but take them off as soon as
l make studies for light and shade"
His speech was slow yet animated and
only bore a slight accent. The broad jo-
Vitality of his Dutch nature was always
breaking through all artificial restraints.
which he may have adopted in London
society.
Look, how beautiful" he suddenly in
terruped our conversation, pointing to
block of speckled porphyry. on which the
sunbeams were playing. Look, there is
fugitive light which summons and ex-
hausts the entire skill of an artist"
He had quite a collection of broken mar
bic slabs-green, yellow, black. ETC., but
among all the marble of the Pentelicum.
white and glittering as snow, from which
the ParthenOn was built, was most con-
spicuous. And who can surpass Alma Ia
dema IN representing colOnades, flights OF
stairs, rotundas of marble in all its yari-
ETY. Of luster and color, streaks, veins and
wayes-as transparency and polish and the
brown marks of decay and on the slabs at
the point OF )Uncture!
Unlike most artists he is a most indus
trious worker, using every spare moment
to give it to his tavorite pursuit. and he
often rises from the dining table before
the rest Of the family to hasten 10 his
studio and finish a sketch. As boy.
wishing to rise early, he tied string 10
his toe and asked his mother to pull il in
the morning. OF late the eager ambition
and courageous perseverance Of his youth
for he had 10 overcome many vicissitudes
III his time, have sobered down a little
by success. But one can still see in
him the boy of whom the following story
IS told
One night his mother heard him sobbing
In bed. She was woman Of considerable
artistic taste herself and could feel for HIM
when he conhded his grief 10 her He had
read in q biography OF Murillo mention of
Spanish painters studio, who, AT the age
of IL, painted portrait with such skill
that Il even astonlshet his master. This
was the cause Of the grief of Laurens, who
had never known great painter or visited
a picture gallery, for they lived in the little
town OF LceuWarien, and he had tried 10
draw something 70 please him and was al
ready H.
Alma Tadema opened one Of the huge
portfolios, filed with drawings, all show
ing the thorouehness and sincerity OF pur-
pose. which Is one of his leading charac-
Teristics There were the 1irst sketches for
The Death OF the FIRST Born waiting
an Audience With Agrlppa," Reading
Homer Anthony and Cleopatra plays
and ces ic1s for the stage scenery Of The
Merchant Of Venice" and Tennvson' :
The Cup" for the Lyceum, which
must have cost Irving q handsome
sum: an outline drawing OF several
pictures, now IN the famous Walter collec-
non IN Baltimore. wAich contains eight
Alma Tademas. All his studies Of figures
are made from Imagination, not from
models.
Alma Taiema Is pupi! OF the Belgian
painter LeyS, who enjoyed the reputation
of being Gn excellent teacher. and must
have been OF considerable influence on
Alma Iadema during mis- thirteen years
stay IN Antwerp. And, though he i more
refined than his master. he has that GER
tain ph,egm and dryness OF conception,
aud coo.ue>s OF co.orinc which can lie
noticed IN all the historical paintings Of
LeyS
Then he LED ne into the adjoining rooms
hang with pictures. among which 4 few
Of Mos3ag. the well-kn0wn DutCh marine
PAINTER, Mas conspicuous. Alma Taiema.
n great skater. never fails 70 90 10 his
native country during the cold weather. Is
Holland, with It's numerous canals and