The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-24

years salon won unstinted praise from
art critics-including Yriarte. no Yields
such trenchant pen for the Figaro-is a
cousin Of the young San Franciscan. but
with this exc option no relative is engaged
in art work Of any kind.
1t was refreshing to listen yesterday to
Mr.. Pelxotto while he paid his tribute of
gratitude to his earliest teacher. So often
when vOung men attain a measurable de-
gree of success they show an inclina n
to bash in the sunshine Of fortunes favor
without thought of the patient care be-
slowed upOn them and which made sue
cess possible.
sat the Art School," he remarked. Il
was one and half years under the tuition
of Emil Carlson, to whom | owe debt of
gratitude for putting me in the right track.
am sure most of his pupils will believe
with me that any success which we may
have attained or will attain can be at
tributed largely to the early training which
we received from him. Four of his pupils
are now doing excellently well in Paris.
and" added Mr.. Peixotto with pleasant
smile, II am not entering any complaint
on my own behalf.
"1I 1888 went to Paris, and the charm
which then seized upon me has grown with
the years. l studied there under Lefebre,
who is an academical painter and may be
classed with the old school. l was excep-
tionally fortunate, however, having facili-
ties for visiting the studio of Benjamin
Constant, receiving from him individual
criticism; no slight advantage. be 1t re-
membered, and one craved very ardeDtly
by many students in Paris. In 1890 l had
picture in the sal0n-a peasant interior
which is now in Chicago. The following
year l had larger work hung on the line,
and l was very pleased at not only es-
~, IL
istne critics, but at receiving quite num-
Der of favorable notices.
I'm 1891 returned to San Francisco, since
which time, am sorry to say, have done
studio work in only desultory kind Of
manner. The city is so backward in an
artistic way that artists-inasmuch as they
must eat to lve-are compelled to do
other work which will bring an imme-
date return. About the 1st of September
l hope to hold an exhibition, mostly of
small canvases, and a month later will
return to Europe"
While MIR. Peixotto hardly claims to be
disciple of what is ordinarily known as
the impressionist school. he yet iucIines in
that direction. and spoke in favor of his
people ''hip and thigh"-not for their
Ignorance, but for the culpable neglect of
those who by force of position, wealth and
social standing might, IL they would, do so
much in behalf of art and art study among
the masses.
my idea is to paint what see," he be-
gan. land all the emotions raised in my
soul by grand landscape try. by means
Of The brush, to- reproduce in the onIooker
at the finished picture. Let meillustrate.
If gorgeous bit of sunlight appeals to
me. that-being the predomin ating charac-
teristic Of natures painting. l consider the
artist perfectly in order when he sacrifices
drawing. composition and tone to get the
requisite effect of sunlight"
"But that is scarcely what the public de-
mand, Is it?" was asked
I'm Europe" was the reply, 1.-THE public
are quite able to discriminate and appre-
ciate more or less readily an artists eff
fort TO convey an idea or a story. In
England, however. largely. and in Amer
lea, the middle and lower classes, and 1
think l may safely say in this city ali
classes. are so lacking in knowledge Of art
that pictures such as have alluded to are
absolutely tabooed., l must qualify nv
remark concerning San Francisco" added
Mr.. Pelxotte. "for there are q small
cOterie of people in this city. who. having
20 great wealth, use any surplus money
they may have in adding to their precious
store OF art treasures. They are doing a