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

AT HIS EASEL.
age. Laurens was the darling of her
heart; but she refused to allow herself
to be convinced of his genius, fearing
no doubt the glamor of her partially.
Circumstances had made her extremely
practical, and she would not listen to
the prayers of her son that he might
| study art. 1t was decided that he
should make lawyer, and he did his
utmost to submit cheerfully to the ca
reer Which maternal love had marked
out for him, although every moment
he could steal from work was devoted
to drawing and sketching, and his tasks
were often neglected in the pursuit of
his passion for art. He was educated
at the public school at Lenwarden; but
the routine of his work was intensely
irksome to him, and among all his
studies the only one that appealed to
him was Roman history. He induced
his mother to wake him every morn
ing at daybreak-by means of jerking
a string fastened to his big toe-and
worked at his drawing with untiring
energy till it was time for school.
In 1851, when he was only Is, without
having ever received proper tuition, he
sent a portrait of his sister to one of
the Dutch galleries, which was duly ac-
cepted and hung. But the fearful strug
gle between the Unborn passion of the
lad and the desire to do what he re-
garded as his duty to his mother, was
more than his health could bear His
strength gave way completely, and the
doctors who attended him gave it as
their verdict that his days were num-
bered. Anxious that his few remain
ing months of life should be as happy
as possible. his mothers resolution at
last gave way, and young Tadema was
given his hearts desire. The fierce
struggle was over and under the NEW
conditions he soon regained his health
for though the future still held many
difficulties, they melted before the in
Vincible determination of the young
genius.
But Holland was not to have the
glory of training her brilliant son, for
strange as it is to tell, the student
failed to obtain admission into the
Dutch schools, and he decided to go to
Antwerp, where he entered the art
academy and studied under Wrappers.
He Iabored without ceasing to make up
for the time he had lost; but none of
his work of this time remains, for he
destroyed everything that he felt did
not attain to the standard of excellence
he had raised for himself.
After leaving the art school. the
young artist entered the studio of the
great historical painter of Belgium,
Legs, who exercised q deep and lasting
influence on Tadema's work; and it was
when studying with Legs, at the age of
23, that he assisted that famous artist
in painting the frescoes of the Antwerp
guildhau On the death of his first
wife, the mother of his two daughters,
in 1869, he took up his residence in
Qrit iSh SI1Io
few years later In 1871 he married
Miss Laura Theresa Epps, whose Strik-
ing features and wonderful red-gold
hair we have admired in so many of
her husbands pictures, and whose
clever painting would have, made the
name of Tadema well known even if it |
had not been illuminated by the genius
of her great husband.
TADEMA IN HIS STUDY.
Mr.. Tadema is one of the neatest |
Of men; his study is always the pic
ture of order. no spot Of paint has ever
fallen upon the parquet, never does a !
paint brush lie neglected upon the |
floor. His brushes are like new in |
their absolute cleanliness, and he is |
so particular on this point, that even |
his artist daughter is scarcely to be |
trusted with the labor of cleaning |
them. ''Pere always says 1 make
the handles greasy" she laughingly |
tells you, he can't bear anyone to
wash them but himself"
One of Mr.. Tadema's recent and fin ,
est pictures, is one on which he was
more than three years, and |
is called Spring "a vast procession of |
girls laden with spring flowers, brilli- |
ant hued scarlet anemones and yellow |
narcissus and softer tinted blue bells. |
10 rrol IA
side, the crowd look down and shower |
flowers upon them as they pass by. |
Among the throng you can recognize |
faces that tell you that the artist does !,
not go, only to professional models for |
the faces he paints. There is Ellen |
Terryr-with the flowing red tresses of |
CordeIa, gazing upon the flower laden |
while from above the prof1les |
Of Mr. and Mrs. HenschilI watch the |
Of youth and spring.
Mr. Tadema's work is already
fraught with sadness to his friends, for
each Of his pictures is the grave of |
many others. He never makes |
sketches, and could we but peel the |
paint in layers off each completed pic |
ture, we should find many a change Of |
scene. The procession Of spring time |
once moved under a wonderful domed |
ceiling, but it did not satisfy the art |
st, who had a feeling for the blue
sky, and the ceiling was painted out. I
% the bitter chagrin of many friends.
Nor would they cease their lamenta-
ions at the destruction of this exquis-
te piece Of work, till Mr. Tadema |
that they should see 1t again
Ind 1t was to this promise that "TTn-
conscious Rivals" owes it's origin. The
ceiling was painted once more. and the
wo girls We're inserted as subject.
rADEMA'S PERSONAL PECULIARI-
TIES AND VIEWS.
Mr. Tadema is very strongly against
he idea that art students shouIcsa
raxeI and sturdy the works nf The 80.