The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-17
Mr.. STEELE'S PAINTINGS
SUMNER AND FALL WORK OF THIS
WELL-KNOwN ARTIST EXHIBITED.
A Collection That Undoubtedly Rep
resents His Best landscapes
Whitewater Valley scenes.

T. c. Steele, whose work in the last few
years has brought him to the front of Amer
lean painters, has opened his studio at Six
teenth and North Pennsylvania streets for
a display of the pictures which he has been
painting the last summer and fall in the
Whitewater valley. Each afternoon until
Dec. % they may be seen by any lover of
art. There are about thirty canvases and
they bear the imprint of true genius. They
are undoubtedly the best landscapes Mr..
Steele has ever done. They are so true to
nature that they have life and breath in
them.
One that Mr.. Steele himself likes the best
is named High Water" There has been
heavy rain, and the stream has swollen
until it spreads far beyond its usual course,
and only the tops of grasses and weeds are
seen. Just at the edges the water has
seeped UP through the sod and through its
clearness may be seen the soaked earth.
Tree roots lift themselves here and there.
Reflected in the water is the cloudy sky,
with it's light and dark gray patches. Be-
yond the water course is the field, and the
entire scene is bathed in the dampness of
the day. The artist has given such a clear
translucent quality to the water, such
murkiness at the edges and such ''wetness''
to the atmosphere that one can feel, as well
as see, the scen9 the artist had spread be-
fore him by nature. In another picture are
the river bottoms, with sandy stretches,
yellow and gray, and at one side willows
growing rank with their full supply of wa
ter The deep, clear, blue sky is that of a
late summer day, and its vivid color is
fiected in a bit of clear water framed in
the sand and stones of the river. The day
is so clear that scarcely faint haze shows
even at the horizon. In another there is
a view of miles and miles over meadows
to distant hills clothed with diaphanous,
lavender haze. 1t is a scene that would
tempt one to go on and on over the undula-
ting country up hill here and through
vale there, with still further miles to go.
1T Is picture whose perspective is in itself
exquisite art. Another picture shows road
near a canal at Met Amor;i. At The extreme
right is a meadow with trees. Just to the
left of that is the clear-0lae water of the
canal and at its other edge are trees. The
road leads close tn the water, and the yell
lowish brown of the dust struggles with the
green of grass and weed. Several figures
pass along the road anc the sun throws
long shadows, alternating with its pure yell
low. The undulating waves of heat can al
most be felt 1ui the scene is a good study
or light and shade.
Another picture is IN the Garden 1t
is late summer, and there are shocks Of
yellow corn standing in ssa ely but irreg-
ular rows. The deep green OF the weeping
willows that edge the garden are in sharp
contrast with HE ripened gain and beyond
group of naples is the peak of the gabled
house. A egstDtie bed occupies one part
of the garden ana there IS suggestion If
comfortable living for the Cwner of the
place In the surroundings. sc ordon Hil''
IS an autumn scene. Cows laziIy feed along
the grassy elges of the road or drink at the
small pool nearby. A broken fence and a
narrow path show that they do not contine
their strolling, but seek other pasture up
the hill. Fhe hill. with its trees and bushes,
is in the ;'lusn Of autumn Natures deft
coloring in ricn reds, golden and orange
yelloWS, ripe browns and touches of LEAKAGE
yet moderated, still in its summer green,
make haopy medley. Mr. Steele has found
the art of making pigments initiate nature.
His heritage is real his scenes Picturesque
his atmosphere wonderful and his skies so
true that as one connoSSeur said: ''Show me
a patch IF MIR. Steele'S SIX Y az q / will tell
you what kind OF a Gay the remainder of
the picture VIII show" In each of the pic
lures there as a glimpse of the beaut full
country, where he passed so Ilany We SIS,
with brush and canvas. ting at early
morn to catch the misty atmosphere over
hill and snaa'io'g, through the monday heat
to find the golden sunshine flooding every
thing; at late afternoon to find the long
shadows, ct evening to catch tt Q aftergl)1V
of a fine Sil1Se-, t1r)ush duh cloudy davs
for their study of grnys and through tic
rain TO feel the drops beating against the
face while the canvas was shielded with
an umbrella 10 win from the clement lis
fearful mood