The morning call., 1893-04-16
JOHN VANDERLYN.
The Man Who Painted the
Landing of Columbus.
A Work Made Familiar by Its Repro
duction on the Two-Cent
Postage Stamp.

Ever since the issue OF the Columbus
postaRe-stamps discussion has been going
on in the newspapers, in every portion of
the country, in relation TO the marvellous
growth of the great discoverer's beard, dur
ing the short interval occurring between
the time OF his first sighting land and the
date of his landing. In the one-eent issue
he is represented as having a smooth shaven
face, while the next rate, the two-cent
stamp, represents him as wearing a full
beard. As there were no hair restoratives in
those days promotive of capillary growth
this transformation within The short space
of twenty-four hours certainly partakes of
the marvellous.
Perhaps no celebrity has ever lived whaee
portraits eXtant present so great variety
in point of feature. Many of the pictures
of Columbus, as shown by the numerous
engravinss copied from them. represent
him as smooth-faced: others with full
beard. The figure in the group of marble
modelled by Larkin W. Mead, the noted
Vermont sculptor, which ornaments the
rOtunda of California's Capitol. epiciing
the ardent explorer, with globe in hand,
explaining to Queen Isabella of Spain the
fact that another werld exists on the other
side, represents him with a smooth and
even feminine face. This group, which is
OF what it styled heroic size, near twice that
of actual life, would have formed a most
admirable design for one denomination of
the stamps ordered to be issned by the late
Postmaster-G General of the United States.
But as John Wanamaker did not accom-
panY President Harrison and Secretary
Rusk on their visit to the State Capitol this
oversight is eXcusable, inasmuch as he
never saw this group, for which the artist
received tile mnnliicent sum of $4,000.
1t is stated that the cost Of complete set
IL 80. fra9
amounts to the neat sum of SIG; but as the
writer has never been so we'll liked financially
as TO rise above tie 2-cent deuomin alton, it
IS of the designing of this that he desires
to state few facts. This design is taken
from the large painting filling one of the
panels of the rotunda of the National Capt.
tol in Washington, and which was painted
about Ealf a century ago by John Wander
lyn, native of New York, who in his
palmy days held high position in the front
rank, not only among the artists of his own
country, but of the world at large.
There is a rather remarkable Incident
connected with the history of this artist,
On one occasion when Aaron Burr, then a
prominent figure among the nations celeb
rites. was travelling in the interior of New
I ork, he stopped al a wayslde inn TO dine,
leaving the carriage and horses In charge of
the c0acbman. Before entering his vehicle
10 proceed on his journey, his attention
was attracted to a perfect picture OF his
chalk upon an adjarent board fence. Upon
inquiry at to whose work ii was, young
VaDderlyD. country boy, was pointed
out. Upon inquiry rs to his circumstances,
learning that this native genius was poor
country lad, he took him In hand. and after
course Of study Of art in his own Country,
furnished him The means to go TO Italy to
complete his art studiss there. After a
thorough course in the art center named, he
set up q studio in Paris, and one OF his
wnrks aYacuLpd while in tha French metrn
polls was representation of Marius amid
ton of the Paris salon, bore away the palm
of these premiums ever awarded an Ameri-
can artist. This painting. which has been
handsomely engraved. yentually came into
the possession of the late Bishop Kip, and
undoubtedly still remains among the collec-
tion of the deceased prelate.
During the writer's sojourn in Washing
ton in 1S5l-o2 the writer's attention was
called by an ancient clerk OF the Treasury
Department to an old man singing song
in cracked voice in the midst of group
in bubiic barr0Om.
do you know who that is2" quered the
writer's companion. Upon receiving neg
-aiive reply the answer was, That Is John
Vanderlyn. the celebrated artist and
painter of the magnificent picture of the
landing OF Columbus, which fills one of the
panels of the Capitol"
The 2-cent stamp, admirably engraved as
ii is. gives correct idea Of the painting of
which 1t Is the miniature representation.
Il. r. G.