The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-09-16
THE ART OF MARCUS.
A QUAKER HOOSIER WHO COULD
PAINT OR MAKE A MATCH.

Eariy Struggles with Talent That Could
Not BE Suppressed One OF His Best
Known Plctures-How He Brought About
Happy Marriage.
One Of the unique characters of the
state is Marcus Mote, the veteran Qua
ker artist of Richmond. He is now 70
years OF age and is very feeble His
memory OF things that happened in his
youth and prime is keen and true, but
the events of the day pass as the sum-
mer clouds. 1t was he who first defied
the Quaker antipathy to art in oil and
brush, and he secured the petition which
caused the legislature to provide that
the public schools Of Indiana should
teach drawing. The petition was pre-
sented by Senator Baxter, since de-
ceased. Two years previously the Qua
ker artist had secured the teaching Of
drawing in the public schools of Rich
mond by ordinance.
Marcus Notes talent was born with
him. It is said Of him that when only
~ years old his mother came home
from meeting one day and found him
scratching rude picture on the foot
board Of the bedstead with piece Of
charcoal. The Quakers held that paint
ing was Of the devil and savored Of
idolatry. The boy was rebuked, with
remark, ST do believe this mischief
was born in thee"
There was no relenting as the lad
grew up and the propensity to draw
and paint developed. He was forbidden
to indulge his talent, but he could not
met with encouragement and aid, in
stead Of rebuke, fame and fortune would
have crowned the artist with their rich
est laurels As it was Marcus had to
take to the woods for his colors. The
primaries he derived from red root, or
from red ink, the yellows from yellow
root, and for blue he was obliged to con-
tent himself with bluing from his moth
er's washing tub
"The only stealing have ever DONE"
he said to Journal reporter, twas in
taking bluing from my mothers bluing
bag. For brushes I used the hair in the
squirrels tail, and nsed to accompany
my father when hunting so as to get the
tails for my painting At first all my
work was done with the pen. When I
secured my first box of water colors I
worked as late at night as could and
then spent the rest of the night awake
picturing what would do. -
AS the boy grew to manhood he be-
came more assertive of his art and per-
sisted in painting landscape and por-
traits in spite of the grumbling of mem
bers Of the meeting. He lived then il
Warren county, o., and, attended quar-
terly meeting at Waynesville. He was
chosen clerk Of the meeting at one time,
which led to the protest against his
work rising to the surface. He would
have been disowned had not Thomas
lers Of this city, used his influence to
prevent it.
Marcus Mote lived in Lebanon, O.,
for many years and personally knew the
great Tom Corwin, whose portrait he
painted for the state of Ohio. 1t hangs
in the statehouse at Columbus, marked
"By an unknown artist In speaking
of this painting the artist said:
"My daughter happened to be in Co,
iumbus and went to the statehouse. She
discovered the inscription. Corwin came
to me one day when he was at home
from congress and said that the fellows
down at Washington seemed to think
that nobody in Ohio could do anything,
and that he had refused to sit for por-
trait for an artist there for that reason.
He wanted the work done at home. He
sat for the portrait number of times,
and became we'll acquainted with him.
"He had daughter, Eva, who was
his great pride, and, together with her
mother, he was very ambitious for her.
There was q young man then teaching
in Warren county who was poor in pock
ct, but had strong will, clean
heart and first class ability. He was
modest, however, and his ability was
not known. He showed Eva Corwin SO
much attention that her father finally
forbade her seeing the young man, and
the girl was seriously affected by the
breaking up of the friendship. She was
kept closely at home in her fathers
suburban residence, and her friends no.
ticed that her health was beginning to
be affected. She had friend named
Jennie Hardy, since Drake, who had the
confidence of Eva's parents. and one
day met Jennie and asked her to bring
Eva to my studio on the next day at l
O'Clock sharp.
"What for?' she asked
Never thee mind, said, but do
as I tell thee. Now, want thee to
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