The sun., 1895-03-03
IN ARTISTIC POLAR TRIP.
The Explorer Payer Proposes to Take
Some Painters to the Polar Regions.

One of the two men who made themselves
famous by discovering Franz Josef Land is now
organizing n new Arctic expedition for an en-
tircly novel purpose. 1t is too early yet to say
whether julius Won Payers proposed expedition
will actually start. but the Austrian explorer is
doing all he can to put the enterprise on its feet
His idea is particularly worthy OF notice be-
cause 1t has never before been included in any
Arctic programme.
Payer wants to take party OF artists to the
Polar regions, and as he is planning the trip on
an ambitious scale be is trying to get the Aus
trian Government To invest in the undertaking.
lie says many people have the idea that there is
nothing but snow and ice in the Arctic regions.
But Payer is an artist himself, and he says il Is
n great mistake TO assume that the north Polar
regions are merely trighttGl desert, devoid of
every artistic charm. lie asserts that draughts-
men in London and New York, who have never
seen the Arctic regions, have given a most in
adequate idea OF their scenic aspects lie be-
lieycs the Arctic SKY alone would cnrapture the
painter: and he tells of the fine twilight
effects of spring and autumn; Of the blue sea
ice tingel with red by the setting sun; of the
midday arch of light that gives glory 10 the
winter night: Of the moonlight effects turn
ing the waters beneath into rivers of silver; Of
the giant ice blocks that loos lie tall pillars or
ruined towers; OF the false suns grouped around
the true sun, displaying prisna,lc c"iors in an
atmosphere hiled with ice needles ard frost
nebulI; Of the pastures in june that supply
food to herds 0f reindeer and muss oxen. aHd OF
many other scenes that have n yer been de-
piCLed by an artist, Rnd Of which We have lti lc
more idea than We would have N tEcA belonged
to HE moon instead OF our planet
Mr. Payer evidently has the IDEA that IN CX-
pl"ration by the pant brush would b" little less
glorious than The disc oNrry Of new laud- lie rs
hlled with the project OF making q pici u:csTuc
exploration Of the Polar regions, lie says Er>t
Greenland in particular is a region ut greet
beauty, aud this district Will be tue ne!u ut the
expedition he proposes to lead,
His plan Is to have a new slcGmCrOt 100 tons,
manned With UHlmBtinu StdUCu, with thtvr
qualified officers, besides engineers, Iyruicsc
narksmen, and su on. 20 carry uut the main
object, painting, he will inke also twO landscape
PAINTERS, ono animal lutEtCr, AID a phplOg-
rapher. A central studio VIII To rItCirH At
the proposed Winter quarters, tapr Franklin ~
the entrance % tho little known Kaiser
iIAn2 Josef Fiogd Here Payer himself has sreu
herds Of any tn u hundred reindeer. For mile,
around, Ia thr summer, the country il covered
with short grass The explorer says that no
where else Ia the Arctic regions Is the chase ~
productive as az the mouth ~ this lnrd, A bear,
reindeer, n musk OK or walrus, or perhaps al
four are often met In the course Of n few hours
stroll and there should hr no 'nck 1i fresh meat,
The cost of the tSptditiuu, which - scheduled
10 start in June, nCAt year, has only been partly
subsC rtbed. and IL wlll not be slight; hut a,
usual there IL no lack of volunteers, and
painters OF r. pUtAtiDn willing "a share In the
dangers and hardships which sHeh an eApcdi'
ton involves,