The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-08

largest art gallery IN the wOrlO. IL
was luilt substantially, the artists
who contemplated exhibiting insisting
upon having a building where the
works of their lives might be reason
ably safe from fire.
The art building lies in the northern
part of the worlds fair grounds, within
that part which was the improved por-
ton before the exposition company
took charge of the grounds. 1t graces
the north bank of pretty lake which
is surrounded by the buildings of the
various states of the union and foreig
governments.
1t is a building of severe simplicity.
almost plainnesS, in pure classical
style. as far as this was compatible
with the practical purposes which the
building had to serve. The interior is
arranged with view of having as
much wall space as possible for hang
ing pictures and as much floor space as
can be had for statuary.
The applications for space have been
extraordinary. 1t goes without saying
that all applications could not be acted
upon favorablv. There must be dis
erection used in admitting exhibits in
this department more than anywhere
else. jury is now at work making
the selections for the exhibit. A great
many artists will naturally be d1sap-
pointed, but this is inevitable. Great
secrecy is observed with regard to the
applications. The names of the appli-
Giants for space are not given to the
public, as it is considered that it would
he an injustice to those whose work
might not be admitted The names of
he successful ones only will be made
public.
Among the pictures that will come
here from abroad arc many of renown
in the artistic world. Wealthy con-
noisseurs and ruling 1nonarchs have
la1 81 l,a
ures of their private galleries and pub
lie museums to be brought her for
hibition. Works of art that have not
been moved from their present places
for many years, almost centuries, will
be shipped to this city and exhibited to
the visitors at the fair. In this way
the collection bids fair to rival even the
magni ficent exhibit at Paris in 1889.
The fortunate position of the United
States in being at peace with tie whole
WORLD, having no enemies to feir and
no diplomatic complications with any
nation, proves of great benefit in this
connection.
There has been quite little talk in
this city of late concerning certain
picture which Queen Victoria will loan
to the exposition from her private gal
lcries. 1t is the work of one of the
most popular artists of England, Lady
Butler, formerly Miss Eliza beth
Thompson. Her work is popular in
England moro than anywhere else, for
the very natural reason that her sub
jects are largely patriotic, the ones
entitled 'Balaklava, Listed for the
COnnaught hangers, 'Quatre- Bras"
Scots Grays Advancing" etc, all be-
ing military in character. and several
Pictrring the glorious scenes, from the
Englishman's point of view. of the
Crimean war.
But her popularity depends not on
this fact alone. On the contrary. her
work has been pronounced excellent
by some of the best critics and is rec
oenized III the art world as being of
very high order John Rusl1in spoke
of it as amazon work" The London
Art journal said of the picture w ich
will be exhibition in Chicago:
There is painter who can treat
subject demanding expressional
force in a more temperate and reserved
spirit and who can seize accurately up
on sudden phases of individual character
and com bine the various motives of a
varied group in such way as to
r-1re the effect of harmonious conpo-
sition. In this line of soldiers worn
out with conflict. some wounded, 9TH
ers fallen with their dying faces cleav-
ing the snow. there is the terrible
1uietude and passionless severity of
abSo.ute fact The supreme merit Of
sile work. an ~ artistic sense. lies IN
This ssry quality OF perfect seii-eeus