Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-05-15
a Case Of Esthetics.

upon time lion wandered from his
native jungle and entered the city OF
Athens. Of course there was a SIAM
pede OF the citizens in all directions 10
reach safe retreat, and the king OF
beasts was left unmolested to take in
the sights at his leisure.
Passing by painters window he
saw a picture representing \ man and
a lion in mortal combat; but the lion
had fallen to the earth and the man
with uplifted sword was about to give
the finishing blow. The story goes on
to say that the royal sightseer roared
hearty laugh, exclaiming Ha, ha! but
had lions been painters the man would
have been PROSTATE and my brother
would have been on top of him"
Now there is painting in an Olym-
pia show-window representing a noble
stag, wounded by the hunter and
brought to bay by the hounds. The
beautiful denizen OF the forest is pos
ing in painful attitude, with lolling
tongue and protruding eyes, while its
almost visible painting and hot breath
strikingly evidence that final dissolu-
ton is near. Now while the picture
would doubtless be voted by connois-
seurs faultless work OF art, it is a
painful scene to contemplate, and
from our standpoint of view wholly
lacking in the true genius of esthetics.
We would not tolerate such picture
in collection of our own even though
it might have descended from the
studio Of one of the masters; and like
the man and lion in the fable, it is
safe to predict that had stays been
painters the tables would have been
turned, most assuredly. Now the SCI
ence OF esthetics is only the science of
Soou eoSeCS VI III OthCA Woiuoi thde
which cultivates genuine love for the
true and beautiful.
A lady once asked lis how she could
entertain true and beautiful thoughts,
and we replied, "Contemplate none
other than true and beautiful things"
Surely, there is no food for true and
beautiful thoughts in the sight of a
painful death scene o! the humblest
of Gods creatures.
When will artists learn to eschew
subjects OF blood and carnage and
agony for those which lift the soul to
heaven and to God? Cowper said he
would not write in his list of friends
anybody who would ruthlessly tread
upon helpless worm. So neither
would we count among our favorites
the artist who is prone to exercise his
or her skill in depicting upon canvass
scenes of cruelty and pain. And the
favorite subject OF amateurs is the
picture of sportsman (heaven par
don the namely who, having shot a
bird, his hound has picked it up and
is carrying in his great jaws the poor,
bleeding, fluttering creature to his
master who it is supposed wrings its
life out by deity twisting it's neck,
and then reloads for another victim.
Then there is model representing
q dozen or more horsemen with their
hounds and liveried servants in full
chase after hare or rabbit; the flee
ing animal is but a speck in the dis
lance and is resorting to all the maneu'
vers accredited to its race to save q
life as sacred to itself as that OF any OF
its pursuers.
Battlefield scenes constitute an
other favorite subject with many
artists; but we would once and for
O'Ch IuiC tuCuA Ous Us uttCity uC-
moralizing to refined taste.
II artists wish to represent thrilling
scenes, let them portray the warning
of the elements, as q storm at sea; the
terrific throes OF an earthquake; the
eruption of volcano, or the wonder
full landscape tracery of mountain
Gus districts. Now TO all artists, old
and young, professionals and am.
ateurs, we would say, give US radical
and abiding change. Don't give us
any more murders under the simili-
tude of sportsmen's brutalizing
achievements; no more deer stalking;
no more stays being torn in pieces
by bloodhounds; no more bird shoot
ing; no more hell.smoking battle
scenes. None OF these, but choose
such subjects as blend music and
poetry in your canvass delineations !;
in a word, as Beecher used to say,
make the earth and all it contains
as near heaven as possible.
Portray the image of God instead of
a demon; paint bird instead of a
serpent; lamb instead of q tiger;
sketch flower in place of q sword |;
the symbols of peace in place Of the
paraphernalia of war. When artists
unite good talent with good taste,
then shall we have enobling pictures,
but not before.
When an Athenian nobleman asked
Aristotle how he could beget
beautiful children, "Fill your house
with noble statuary and beautiful pic.
tures," replied the old philosopher;
and here was the whole truth in q
single precept.
II the golden age ever comes to this
distracted world of ours, it must be
through the m:nistrations of the
social amenitiea hrouoht ohout hv tho