The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-16
SUNDAY FEBRUARY l8 saasI1FEE

4
masters They should wait till they
are artists, he says. Then they viii
| be better able to understand the mas
ter pieces they see, and to profit by all
/ that they reveal to the artist eye.
Mr.. Tadema himself has not travelled a
great deal, and has, curiously enough,
never visited Greece and Egypt, the
countries he SO loves to paint, and
which his brush brings so yiyidly be-
fore US.
One of his little bits of sentiment is
connected with the number seventeen,
which he declares has always been a
lucky one for him. As the most strik-
ing proof he tells you that his wife
was IL when he first met her Then
the number of the house to which he
took her when they were married was
II; his present home bears the same
number. The first spade was put to
the work of rebuilding. it on August
18th, 1856. He had been in possession
OF it for three years, that time hay
ing been spent in designing and MAX
ing plans and sketches, and it was on
November 18th, of the same year, that
he and his family first took up their
residence there.
AN INDEFATIGABLE WORKER.
With the knowledge that the artists
taking into consideration those which
he so ruthlessly destroyed in his youth,
it is not surprising to hear that he is
an interchangeable worker. 1 remember
questioning him once as to his favor
lite amusement. Painting" he srnil-
ingly replied. Every moment of day
light spent away from his easel is
regretted. In the evening he rests, or
possibly plays game of billiards, at
which he is, an adept. He cannot read
much, for his eyes are very sensitive
and easily grow tired, but he loves his
books, and many a pleasant hour is
spent in arranging and classifying
them. Then there is his correspondence,
which takes g good deal of time, for
he will not employ a secretary, and all
his letters are written in his own
hand Even his daughters are not al
lowed to help him much, though they,
like their father and mother, are hard
working maidens. The elder, Miss
Laurens Alma Tadema, is very rarely
idle, and her pen is almost as busy as
her fathers brust Her latest novel,
1.-The Wings of Scarus,'' is very well
known, and she is at work on a bio
graphy of Nine. Eleonora Duse, of
whom she is a warm friend and adj
mirer. She spent several months in
Italy with the great actress, in order
to collect material for the work
All the family are ardent lovers of
the drama, but it is an enjoyment in
which Mr.. Tadema does indulge but
sparingly; for when he goes to the the
atre he throws his whole soul into the
play, as he does into everything that
interests him, and he finds that the
excitement, the bright lights and bril-
liant colors combine to affect his eyes,
and to render him unfit for work
next day. But this does not lessen his
interest in things dramatic, and he has
on more than one occasion consented
TO make designs and dresses for some
special production. Some months ago
Mrs. Tadema's studio was the scene of
a delightful amateur performance,
when a clever little play of Miss Ia
dema's was acted. Although the. scene
was laid at later date than that
which usually attracts the artist, the
Stuart period. it will easily be believed
that he spared no pains in perfecting
every detail of the miniature produc-
ton.
A GENIAL AND HOSPITABLE MAN.
Mr.. Tadema is the most genial of
men, and is great favorite in the
artistic world and he and Mrs.
Tade1na are extremely hospitable
Evidently he has no belief in the ar
tistic temperament which can only
work in certain moods. and which can
not bear to meet the eye of a fellow
man when in the mood for work. The
desire is chronic with him, but he
does not allow it to interfere with his
social duties. Mrs. Tadema is at home
to her friends on Monday afternoons
and Tuesday evenings, and Mr.. Tad
ema does not follow the example of so
many husbands. and absent himself
from his wife's receptions, but is just
as genial and full of welcome as she is.
On Monday there is only tea and Cos
sip, but gossip of art. music, the drama
and of all things interesting. Mrs.
Tadema receives in her studio. and
after chatting with her for awhile and
move upwards to the great studio, to
talk with their host and enjoy his |
work. This is one of the points on |
which husband and wife differ, for |
while Mr. Tadema's pictures are al |
ways ready for the inspection of his
friends, Mrs Tadema's work is put
out of sight, for she does
not like to have it viewed while in |
course of development. The evening
which are quite as informal
Is the afternoon "at homes" but
which are, as rule, more numerously
attended, are held in the larger studio.
Music and recitation given by the most
amous votaries of these arts, are often
heard. NJ. PadereWski, Mr.. and Mrs.
Madam Duse, Miss Ellen
Terry, Mr.. Irving, have all assisted in
Mr.. Tademas guests. But
here is no prearrangement,a and while
sometimes the brightest stars may
combine in an irresistible programme,
occasionally conversation unaccom-
panied is perforee the order of the
hight.
Even the refreshments are spread
orth on the ordinary commonplace
ines. The buffet is dispensed with,
md the long, narrow dining table is
arranged in the most fascinating man.
ler A huge bowl piled up with mag
lificent fruits is always a feature:
here are countless little dishes of
hackers and sweets; and, at the same
ime, more solid provision is not want
ng. Flowers are everywhere, f0r who
mong the artists admirers has not
-een touched by his deep passion for
hem. His infinite skill in their por-
rayal is striking note of his genius,
nd he seems endowed with a veritable
instinct for their Introduction into his
ictures. 1t is the same with his house
nd gardens. OF course he has his
and a great treasure is a
5onderful BLOSSOM from Brazil, which
e fancifully compares to an artists
rush trimming over with brilliant col
r. and which, he says, is therefore
1st suited to him. Whether he gives
much thought to the arrangement of
is flowers, or whether he knows by
intuition how they should mingle T
annot tell. 1t may be that nature has