The morning times., 1896-02-23
He Is a New York Artist,
and He Works Three
Months on Each
New Bill.
Cnnvripht. 1S9s.

In a quiet spot in New York city. little
suggesting money, there lives an indi-
ridual TO whom the bond issue and the
bringing out OF silver certificates and
new bills is OF more importance than To
any collection OF people or Wall street
syndicate.
This is VIII II. Low, the star OF the
government artists and the designer Of
the new money that will appear upon the
street in April
The making Of a dollar bill is 10 him
the work OF months, without consider
ing the final engraving Of the bill in the
Treasury. All the year around he is busy
making money, and, though he makes it
in a different sense from the mon ey-makcrs
in general, it is no less a business with
him.
The getting out of bond issue is a
different matter from the designing OF a
bill. but il all requires the hand OF an artist
before the bond is ready for presentation
60 the public.
Mr.. Low requires, when there is bill
20 be designed. the commission from the
Art Department of the Treasury. He is
engaged 10y the job, and he is TO get up
bill OF such aud such denomination after
given him, but he Is TO DO it as soon as
he can. The design takes the longest
time.
With a piece OF dra wing paper before
him, two feet by one foot, or as large
as a good-sizetl writing pad, the man who
makes the money for the Treasury goes
10 work upon the bill, recalls historical
sketches and finally repudiates all and
invepts a picture from his own head
an original conception.
In the new one-doIlar bill that is now
being made in the engraving depart
ment OF The Treasury the design is a fig
ure design. The title is History in
structiug L Aoufi' isn,sie g, r. tu'1'ts
60 Youth, who stands beside her, the
growth of the country. In the distance
IS the Washington Monument and the Cap
ftoI. and upon slab at her feet is the
Constitution OF the United States.
The dra wing for bill takes three
months, If The artist works upon ii in
d-striouSlv. Nr. ow once. VI en- rushed
with outside work, did a design in two
months but he did not enjoy the work.
Three or even four months is none too
much time.
The bill is complete when it leaves his
hands 1t is like a mammoth note and
would deceive a color blind person at
a distance. The color is lacking. That
4 >
when the engraving is made 1T is printed
upon greenback government paper and
the seal is done in deep red. Many or
the completed designs are in oil cOlors
done by the artist. and are exquisite
works OF art.
The fine lines that an artist must draw
can be noted by studying greeDhack.
Every mark upon it must be made by his
hand, and made carefully. IL there is a
careless stroke. the Treasury Department,
which is very able and critical one, Will
reject Il: and the man who makes money
viii have TO make il over again.
The recompensC for the designing of gov
ernment bills is very small. 1t is a great
deal less than an able artist could earn at
doing other kinds Of work. In three
months he could fresco a large wall or
paint picture for the Academy That would
bring in its thousands. But the designing
of bank notes is a matter OF pride with
every American artist. and he would rather
do ii al paltry sum than paint pictures
for a fortune. Unless necessity compels
an artist to paint for living, he viii do
bank notes whenever the government shall
commission him. The pay is sure and
good. but it is no such fortune as great
artists get for their pictures. Uncle San
is not niggardly. but he cannot be expected
10 nav fancy prices for his currency
II is only a few years since that great
artists began designing bank notes and
limited States bonds Formerly q good
stock portrait would be made OF a states