The record-union., 1897-02-21

The Philadelphia committee appoint
ed to award the Walter Lippincott prize
Of $500 established by Walter Lippin-
cott, the publisher, given for the best
figure painting in oil by an American
citizen, Mr.. Lippincott to have the OPP
ton. for one week after the announce
mnet of the award, of purchasing the
painting at the price named by the art
list in the memorandum of entry, have
awarded the prize to Albert Herter for
picture entitled lie SCir."
Already writes the Paris CORE
spondent Of the London Times" Pa
risians who are interested in art and
letters are anticipating with the dis
persion, in accordance with the famous
will constituting an academy, of the
remarkable collections made during SO
many years by the brothers Goncourt.
Only a privileged few had ever been
admitted to the famous and delightful
little museum, when even the habitues
finally were almost to be numbered on
the fingers of one hand, being confined
to the faithful little company of Aca
demic candidates But q much larger
number have learned of the riches
which the 'Grenier' contained through
the Gonoourt's book La Maison dun
Artistic and even the public have had
their curiosity aOused by the discus
sions which went on for some time in
the press as to whether the sale of their
treasure, upon which the brothers
counted in conceiVing their scheme of
an academy, would really make it pos
sible for the objects of their choice
to enjoy the annual income of 5000
francs which they seemed to think
necessary to secure such freedom from
anxiety and such liberty of spirit as is
required for literary work. The cata-
logue of the first sale will, as is evil
dent be in itself volume of unique in
tersst, and will be eagerly sought after
by photographers and collectors. BY
reproducing much of the best work it
will in itself be work of art"
February Century,: One of the most
Interesting in all the minor forms OF the
graphic arts is the monotype, which,
by reason of the element of accident
in the result sometimes reveals an un-
expected beauty of effect. The pro-
cess is simple. 1t consists in painting
a picture with plate printers ink on a
metal plate. Tia plate is then put in
a press, a sheet of moistened paper is
laid upon it. and the roller is applied
The ink painting is directly transferred
to the paper. and the print gives the
artists drawing reversed. Unlike
essays in etching. or any of the pro-
cesses of engraving, mezzotint or lith-
tools he is accustomed to-brushes. 1t
is in no sense a reproductive process,
for the painting is entirely transferred
to the paper in printing, leaving the
plate blank The name "monotype"
was given to this form Of art print by
Charles A Walker of Boston, who, in
1877, with no knowledge of the fact
that the art was known and practiced
by painters in former times, discov-
cred the process Independently by an
accident in proving a plate al his etch-
ingtable. The sheet of paper upon
which he was taking an impression
slipped in the press, and produced a
blurred print which resembled a
roughly indicated landscape. He took
up blank copperplate painted a
rough sketch on it in printers ink with
his fingers and rag, and, putting it in
the press, produced his first monotype
Mr.. Walker has devoted a large part
of his time in the last eighteen years
to making monotypes, and his work
has been exhibited in New York and
Boston. William NJ Chase, James
Mcneil Whistler, Robert Blum, Otto
Bacher. Frank Duvenack. Henry Sand
ham, Joseph LAUDER, A. H. Bicknell
and other American artists have at va
ricus times produced monotypes. but
have worked only ntermittently. Jo-
seph jefferson, the actor, became in
terested IN the art when its possibili-
ties were shown to him by Mr. Walk
er, and he has made a number of
prints. From time to time in recent
years other painters have experiment.
ed in the art. Hubert Herkomer. the
English artist, is on Of those who were
favorably impressed by the results OBJ
tanned in working in black and white
by the monotype process.
II may be asked, What is the use of
making monotypes. inasmuch as they
are only transferred impression of
an artists drawing or picture? To
answer this question. one should see
good monotypcs themselves: for they
loose their peculiar charm in a pho
tograph or any other kind of repro
duction. In the printing on paper eff
fects are obtained of which there is no
suggestion to the inexperienced eve in
the painted design on the plate. The
thickness of the ink in one part. its
thinness in another. strong accents
here and there. are factors that the
monotype artist understands and reck-
ons with as he works but of which he
can see the full result only when their
transfer 10 the white paper surface is
effected. The element Of accident is an
ever present one, and from plate pre-
pared even BY the most experienced
worker some unexpected effect NAV re-
suit in the printing. Sometimes such
accidental effects add much to the
beauty of the printed picture: again.
they may sufficiently mar IL to make
1t necessary to do Il over again Evi-
IDENTIFY experience brings assurance.
and an old hand knows better what the
printing viii show than a beginner.
In 1903, while war was raging ever
the continent Of Europe. William Penn
published remarkable Essay to-
wards the Present and Future Peace
OF Europe" He proposed a general
union Of the nations of Europe. with
a tederal Diet or Parliament. as the
only sure means OF attaining and pre-
serving peace; and he worked out his
scheme in careful detail. 1t was the
flrst plan known IN history for inter
national federation, save only Henry
Tvs "Great Design" anticipating
kants 'EtSslal Peace" by hundred
years The essay attracted much at
tention at the ti4ns hlIf III has hano,,a