The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-23
PORTRAIT UNVEILED TO VIEW.
MISS MARY TELFAIR's PICTURE
HUNG IN THE ACADEMY.

and That they ShOuld Also race
There Portraits of Mrs. HOdgsOn,
John Mcpherson BerrieR, and Di-
rector Carl l.. Brandt-The People
Enjoyed viewing the New Picture
and the Other Works of Art.
The picture of Miss Mary Telfair was
unveiled at the Telfair Academy of Arts
and Sciences yesterday shortly after Il
O'Clock.
Hundreds of people gathered at the re-
ception, many of them having known Miss
Telfair before her death, and many others
who were too young to have remembered
her even though they had seen her in life.
Nevertheless they were all interested in
art and all took occasion to inspect the
works of art which the academy pos
sesses.
The reception, though informal, was
most interesting one, and in addltlon 10
the entertainment Of those present
through the works of art which I'LL the
academy, there was an orchestra present
which added artistic music to the beauty
of artistic work. The reception began at
II o'clock, but it was u O'Clock before the
address was delivered by Gen. Henry K.
Jackson, and it was half an hour later
when the picture was unveiled
The academy possesses many famous
and interesting works of art, and all OF
those present were glad of tie opportu-
nifty to view them. Those who had seen
them several times were glad 20 see them
again. and those who had never seen
them before were glad to learn, though
for the first time, that there was such a
magnificent art gallery in Savannah. But
there were few there who mad not seen
the Telfair art gallery before, neverthe-
less all found something to attract their
attention
In beginning his address Gen. jackson
said IL is recorded that by picture placed
upon the market, Rienzi aroused the Ro-
mans to revolution. He hoped that the
unwilling of the picture of Miss Teltair
would arouse savannah TO some mahsAes S7
tatioI of gratitude 10 the greatest OF al
her DenefactOrs In one sense ner Dene-
factions eclipsed even those OF great mir
ionares, he said, because she gave her
large fortune almost wholly TO puDnc char-
tiles, reserVing only enough TO make saIe
the vault where she was about 10 reJoln the
family of her fathers, and to make attrac-
tive the home of her father, Whom through
life she so proudly loved.
He spoke of the fact that to the Geor-
gia Historical Society, Miss Teltair lett the
legacy bequeathed to the academy, and in
accordance with the bylaws he said he
was present to make brief review of the
discharge of the duty of the society, and
make suggestion as to that duty in the
future.
The idea in his mind, he said, was why
had the picture of Miss Telfair been with
held SO long from its proper place, he
attributed the fault not to the fact that
the picture had been withheld, but that
the artist had been withheld To Mr.. Carl
l.. Brandt who painted the picture, he said
the work was not only one of beauty, but
one of love- and he never would have been
withheld in painting the picture, had it not
been by the officers of the Georgia Histo-
The cost of this picture, Gen. jackson
said should not come from the treasury
of the trust left by Miss Telfair IT
should be paid by the people of Savan-
nah, to whom she had been a benefac-
tress. If there had been any wrong in or
dering such picture, he said, he was the
sinner and was still hugging the sin to
his breast. The picture should be a pres
ent from the people of Savannah to the
Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences.
There is still time for the money to be re-
he believed it would be restored Gen
Jackson referred to the cost of the pic
board OF managers have paid such a price?
he asked. HOW could the painter have
had the face to make such a charge? If
there is sin. he said, the sinner stands
before you, and is still unrepentant The
painter he said offered the picture to the
society as a donation, but the president
of the Georgia, Historical society refused
1t as such. and almost rebuked the prof.
fer of it. In this he said he had trans
cended the powers of a trustee and, had
become responsible for the pecuniary OBJ
legation himself, and such obligation could
be enforced in the courts, though there
would be no occasion, he said, for any ap
plication to the courts.
THAT money will surely be returned 10
the treasury of the trust" Gen. jackson
said, mot by me, for alone no citizen Of
Savannah has the right to monopol.ze
honor RlTf L lnnIz Il -
men of Savannah to the men of Savan-
nah, to do their duty, and l say we need
not be uneasy for the money will surely
| the trust"
Gen. Jackson said he spoke in the double
| capacity of president OF the Georgia His
vannah. He wanted to make two or three
motions. The first was that there should
| be painting of Mrs. Hodgson made and
| placed alongside that of her sister Miss
! Telfair. After speaking a few moments
| of Mrs. Hodgson he moved and suggest
ed that there should be painting made
torical Society, John Mcpherson Berrien.
/ and placed alongside the others he
/ spoke very highly of MIR. Brandt who has
been, and still is, the director, and who
| academy, he said, would never have been
| the success ii Is to-day had it not been for
the. versatile genius of its, director. His
/ last suggestion was that there should be
painted portrait of Mr.. Brandt, which
| should be hung in the academy along
! with the other benefactors of that insti-
1 tuition and of the people of Savannah In
concluding, he said: Let the picture be
unveiled
With this, little Misses Sarah Cunning
ham and Florence Barrow advanced and
| drew the cords which took the curtains
| away from the portrait of Miss Telfair
| which exposed II to view. Gen. jackson
| in closing, again suggested that a por-
trait of the master artist be hung upou
! the same walls, and the motion, he be.
lieved, would meet with a second from
| every one present.
At the conclusion OF the address. all
| those present gathered around the por.
trait. and there were many expressions OF
| admiration of the beautiful work of art
| There was not one present who had seer
| Miss Telfair in life, but who congratu.
| lated the painter on his most successfIi
! effort. and indeed his congratulations wer,
! deserved. Those who were too Young ~
| have seen or to have known her were
| Just as enthusiastic in their expressions
| nNon the successful work of the artist
| for all considered it a handsome picture
and there was not one present who did mo-
/ admire It,
| Mr.. Brandt has reason to be very prouf
/ of his work. The portrait in addition IL
| being a handsome one is also accordine
TO those who knew Miss Telfair n mos
/ excellent a speaking likeness OF her n,
| she anne AIRED at about 6 years Of doe