The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-02

ton poster show over all other Ameri.
can competitors. II must have been
great pleasure to Mr.. Rhead, also, that
the gold medal for the foreign section
should have been awarded TO the
Frenchman, Grasset, as he considers
the latter his master.
In writing of one of these poster ex-
hibitions william Martin Johnson has
said that the simplicity of Greek de-
sign, the fiat color Of Egyptian wall
painting and the exquisite fancy of
Japanese art have undoubtedly in
fiuenced the end-of-the- de-
signer; but these are solid foundations
upon which has been built a structure
essentially unique and OF to-day.
mo matter what the individual taste
of the beholder may be, he must ac-
knowledge the two qualities OF novelty
and effectiveness. and taking into con-
sideration the limitations of mechan-
ical reproduction, the modern poster
expresses vivid imagination, ingenuity
and positive IDEAS"
This is the best characterization of
modern poster work that / have yet
seen, and IL conveys a clear idea of
what that work is to the mind of any
person who has had an opportunity
10 see examples of the posters them
selves.
Mr.. Rhead's posters have been more
widely distributed through the country
than those of any other poster de-
signers. Some of these designers con-
fine their work to the publication of
one firm, or to one periodical, but Mr..
Rheads designs are so much in de-
mand that II occasionally happens,
as In the case of this years Christmas
magazines, that posters by him adver-
Using three or four different periodi-
Gals are displayed in the book store
windows at once.
One trouble with these magazine
posters has been that they are usually
too small TO give the poster artist room
for broad and striking effects. The
Century magazine has been the first
periodical to realize this, and to plac-
ard the country with posters four to
six feet high. The famous Napoleon
poster, or the woody horse" as II is
called by Grasset was one of these,
and IT made a tremendous hit.
Quite recently Mr.. Rhead has de-
signed a large number of posters for
newspapers, and papers in every large
city in the Union have given him or
ders. His posters advertising stories
in the newspapers by Kipling, Conan
Doyle and other leading authors have
become the subject of common remark.
and collectors have invaded the news
paper offices in search of them.
one OF the TnOSl eIIcCllNt pOSltTS Il
have yet seen was that designed by
Buffalo artist for last seasons exhibit
ton of the Buffalo Society of Artists.
This was a three-sheet poster and is
considered a special prize by collectors.
1t is a pioneer of its kind.
In a chat with Mr.. Rhead the other
day i learned that he drifted into pos
ter work by accident. He has had
more than usually interesting career.
He was born in 1858 at Etruria, Staff
ordshire, England. a village founded
by the famous manufacturers of pot
terry, Josiah Wedgewood & Sons. and
comes of a family of artists. Oddly.
enough. Rudyard Kipling, for whose
stories he has made posters, was born
a few miles away from this place.
George Eliot also wrote most OF her
novels there, and John Wesley and
whitfield commenced their preaching
in the same neighborhood. His elder
brother is a member Of the Society Of
Painter Etchers and has been the
friend Of Rossett @. +. Watts. MADDOX
Brown and other leading English art
lists. and has executed many large
plates from their works. one of his
uncles Is also a well known portrait
painter.
Mr.. Rhead's father was an extremely
strict disciplinsrian. and while Louis,
as youngster, was exceedingly fond