New-York tribune., 1896-05-03

considered 10 have suffered under this regime. HN
Harrison had been exhibiting in the old salon since
$780, making after success. year AFTER year,
in fact some % the canvases that now rank among
his most important were produced before the Ex-
position Of s9 But up to that time he had receive0
an honorable mention only. After that success seems
to have come to him quickly. At this Exposition hls
exhibit which included one Of his best-known pict.
ures. lie Vague" attracted universal attention ana
the artist received a first medal and the decoration
OF the Legion OF Honor. Then came the famous
split in the art world Of France, and Mr.. Harrison
identified himself with the new movement.
Mr.. Harrison may still probably be classed with
the younger artists He is a little over forty years
old, but his appearance scarcely suggests his age.
He Is over six feet TALL with 1.-THE. athletic figure.
and perhaps the personal characteristics that would
impress most first meeting him are low.
soft voice and a certain air more suggestive Of .
man Of the world than Of artist. The long face
and strong Jaw indicative Of tenacity and great
strength Of character and his whole personality I'M
presses one as that Of man who would have been
successful in any career he had chosen in spite OF
his seventeen years residence In France he remains
an ardent and patriotic American. He Is born q
New England stock, but was brought up and edu.
Gated In the Quaker suburb OF Philadelphia. HD
first training that of a civil engineer. ana NJ
spent his early manhood a member OF the Coast
Survey service In America. Three OF these years
were passed amid the swamps and On the coast OF
Florida whence ne proceeded to Puget Sound II
is generally assumed that mans artistic training
cannot begin early in life but In the present case
these earlier experiences most certainly Contributes
greatly to the later artistic development. Thsse
wears spent by the sea Increased his natural love
for IT, and strengthened his powers OF ooserVauos
that have borne such good fruit ..
II was at Puget Sound that Mr. Harrison deter
mined to become painter. San Francisco waS
near offering certain facilities In Its art scnoos
and he ayailed himself Of these for two years. from
there he came to Paris. seventeen, years ago. en-
tered the Beaux Arts in the ateier OF NJ. Garone
and passed through the usual academic training.
Mr.. Harrisons Paris studio Is on the left bank OK
the Seine in that part OF the city which adoins the
old Latin Quarter and which has become honey.
Win bsre sne SoodIy stretch of floor an
mense skyilght and but few adornmsnts In the way
choice works OF art in the studio, nude by Collin.
q drawing by the owners friend. basteh Lepase'
AN Mr. Harrison's work in his Paris studio is the
finishing OF sketches or the painting OF large ess.
where The studio. in fact, is crowded with unnn'
ished sketches. for in ADDITION to the many sSsse. =
he Proposes to use day for decoratye purposes
Harrison Is growing tribe restless in the position Of
specialist that his success as marine painter mas
conferred upon him. The main part OF MI. Harrl'
sons work IS done during the summers and autumns
which he spends little promontory on tne COAST
OF BRITTANY II was solitary spot when hrst ne
lighted upon IT, some six years ago. but it has grown
now into something OF a fashionable resort
An artists method OF work IL always interesting.
and recently In conversation with Mr. Harrison. the
writer confessed feeling OF curiosity as 10
whether his moonlight effects could possibly b
painted directly from nature. x
ut is not possible" Mr. Harrison replied Il tried
the experiment Of painting by moonlight some years
ago but found that the light 80 changed the colors
on my palette that they could not be relied upon TO
give the Impression | wished ! rely now entirely
on mental notes. take long walks on the seashore
during the summer evenings. with a little model
ready at hand send him in swimming sometimes.
or he runs along the beach. Sometimes have two
or three boys running about the beach In the moon:
light and II see an effect ike I take caretW
mental study OF II and try 10 put II on canvas the
next day" - , A.
But must you not 60 back the next evening %
verify your impression?'
81 do il | possibly can. but might go back
hundred evenings without ever seeing the same
exact effect again" , ,, -.
The ne west canvases in the studio may be said
TO show an almost scientific tendency In the treat
ment OF light and shade In the work which will be
exhibited at the Champ des Mars there are some
curious effects Of lampght and moonlight in COM
bnation The impsh little boys Mr. Harrison s Is SO
fond of including in his seascapes are now marching
boldly into water with lighted lanterns on their
heads, or suspended from their outstretched handA
II less poetic than his pure marines they are no lees
interesting and artistic. ..