The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-15
HENRY lBSEN.

-
The Great Poets Ambition to Paint Pie
lures Described in Enslish Books.
y appears to be q Kind Of p~sycholog cal
law That q special artistic talent often
appears connected with other minor
ones In the same individual, and that the
smaller one develops itself irst. Such
Was the cnse with the famaus Norwegian
poet Welhaven {1S07- '73). who was
fairly launched upon his cureer as q
portrait painter, when the outbreak of
his polemieat feud with Wergeland
QS0S-'45) reused his literary genius into
uctiou. TO the exclusion OF all other pur-
suits.
The dramatic works Of Henrik Ibsen
have gained such universal attention,
that many American readers. especially,
Will be surprised to learn OF his earlier
ambitious and achievements Ia the pic
came across an old Eualish book, Har-
rison's History of London illustrated
With enRragings. which fred the young
Scandinavian with the ambition to be-
come ar artist. OF this youthful anu
bition there is q d~islinct "Reminiscences In
the third act of Ibsen's "Vildanden,''
where he makes Hedwig say;-"Mv
greatest desire is to learn to draw such
pictures as those in the English books
Without receiving any Instruction in
drawing, Henrik Ibsen commenced to
sketch aud paint in water colOrs. After
his confirmation. when he was appren-
tieed to an apothecary ID Grimsta..t. his
greatest grief was ae being prevented
from following the study of art. Never
theless, he endeayQred to keep on trying.
An acquaintance OF his at this period ra-
lates That Ibsen's forte was undoubtedly
caricature. II remember today" be
says, "the success OF his collection OF
drawings illustrating some verses rally
lag one OF bis friends who owned a horse.
The various misunderstan Jugs be-
tween the animal and lis owner
furnished the motives of the pictures.
The horse looked almost human, and the
man bore u kind of ludicrous rescm-
blsnce to the antmal.a But during this
period Ibseu also produced come land
scape paintings. one being q view of his
native place, Skten, the fate of which Is
at present unknown; also o smaller one.
which may 10 seen at the apolhecary.s
house IN Grimstsdt. It represents an old
pilot sitting by his ireside, gazing out
| DOE the ocean.
When he became . student and began
his literary career Ibsen Was still reluc-
tant TO lay aside his brush. He continued
making SKETCHES and painting pictures
even after he had become director of the
Chrtstianta Theatre; and several Of these
prodpcl ions are still in existence ia that
city. One as these (reproduced herewith)
shows q country seat on q ford in Mite
dalen. Four landscapes ia water calers
were presented as u wedding gift to bis
friend Schuilernd. the pictures aecom-
| paying this article are owned by a gen
| tleman In Christianfa, where another
friend is the fortunate owner of his
aketchbook.
As theatrical manager Ihsen has had
many costumes and stage decorations
copied from his W designs. One OF the
latter 10 Reproduced as u oolored supple
ment to the first number OF an "Illustra-
ted History OF Norwegian LlteraSure.''
He has never, perhaps. passed the limita-
lions of the dilettGnte in painting, but
the beat of his pictures snow uudouuted
talent. II he had had the opportunity to-.
cultivate bis tastes Ia this direction he
undoubtedly might occupy a place 10 the
annals of art. Fortunately for literature,
this was not so ordained. As ii Is, the
pictures reproduced are full OF interest as
"docunIents' illustrating the life of the
great poet.-George Hoist in Fronk
Les.fe'S for September.