Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-07-02
IN THE LOCAL FIELD.
G. H, HIGBY'S WORK,
An Artist of the weird.
A Highly Complimentary Magazine Ar
ticle---IIis Unique studio and His Tn
conventional Idea Of Art.

metropolitan Magazine lot July tI Nldl i''
II. Highly. a former Bratueburo boy The
text is illustrated 10y several half-toue en-
cravings one shows Mr. Highly In his
studio: three picture his mode. posing
amid gruesome surroundings one shows
decorations lu the studio. There Is also "a
typical picture of Highly in which all is
hazv except the central figure. and Two of
his striking decorative effects iu black and
white. The article is of peculiar Interest
to Hlgby's old friends here. because news
has come this week of his serious illness
at Moors junction. y. y. Ii l- under
stood that he Is suffering with consumr-
ton. and his mother. who has been spend
Ing the summer with relatives ln Halifax
was summoned to see him because OF his
failing condition. The following is the az
tIcle III part
$40 G.. II. Highly belong, She dIstinc-
tIuu of having invented a school of paint
ing all his own, and his weird creations, in
which are always introduced a snake, or
curves representing the sIuuous, graceful.
motions OF these reptiles. have gained for
him hali.canuy celebrity.
"His odd pictures, iu which reds, vel
lows. and green, are mingled IN daring
contrasts. are distinctive OF his methods /;
and while these pronounced tints appear
strange to those accustomed TO more con
ventIonal color schemes, these fantastic
conceptions, with their writing serpents
and irldescent hues, take a curious hold Oh
the fancy. and fairly compel attention
His studio is located Oh Fourteenth
street. near Fifth Avenue, in one OF the
big office buildings which line that thor
oughtare. Here he lives in one of the
,,.,-t paor,.fttfI arI frrri,ue efutlfos IN b4
found in the country.
"Mr. HIgbys ideas on art find a reflex
in his scheme of decoration, and the eerie
effect OF the apartment is heightened 10y
the presence OF score or more of the ser
penis III which MI. Highly processes TO ind
the primal elements of grace. They are
not closely confined, but wander often
times through the rooms. twuiug over
strange objects or COi.iu- ID some comfort
able corner for nap They form the tu-
Isulu- touch 90 the whole and inspire one
with AN instructive feeling OF dread. not
withsJaudue MI Higuys assurance tina,
they are harmless
lin ms decorative scheme Nj HIEug
mas followed largely the Eastern fashion
and the place aUUuuis In low, s0t, dIyau.
and c.lu-ug drapere- of cauiy Eastern
cO.ors
He has an ease. gilt lu urmo.u witt
the heads of lions iulaid with emerald eyes
and scattered around are "a plaster skeleton
of a winged child wearing q wreath of
myrtle and drapea with black gauze. q
bust OF woman III green bronze with
FURNISHED silver eyes which strangely reflect
the soft colored lights. the wniiened skull
of a horse draped with a sunUouuet. form.
al
hideUus idols quantity fashioned vases iI
the curious haudiwork of the artisans OF
centuries long since past, each filled with
/ flowers OF symboLcal significance.
"Gauze draperes shroud quaint corners
and render still deeper the air OF mystery
which hangs over all The walls are GOV.
cred with objects of interest. and a shrine
/ once dedicated TO the service of some Hin.
doc deity now serves as a temple on who's,
altar are burned, a. incense, Turkish
Cigarette
An alcove is favorite posing place OF
his. and here he delights to pose his model
in the glow OF softly tinted lights which
play upon her, while the serpeuts glide
and writhe around he,
"HlgDy's art Is not III accord with tn,
ethics of Max Nordau. but 90 him !, is AL
svmbolical The color schemes. The poses
and the use OF snakes all lend certain
significance TO the composition and tell
each It's own story In person bee is thor
oughy in harmony with his apartments
tall and slender. with heavy black main
| which heightens the effect al the pallor o,
his skin. He is a typical artist. and by JIG
means the least interesting object in the
room. He stout!v contends that his idea.
! ra q & raasons bI4 as tb,-a Dt tho c,r,-a,.
/ tionalist. but 10 those not familiar witt
| his work they appear the creations OF q
/ painter who carries hl, eccentrIcitv AL
/ most 10 the point of madness,
.Mr. Highly also strongly tavors the DOS
/ ing OF models against natural hack
/ grounds. and during the summer frequent
/ Iy takes ms model 10 the woods WHERE in
/ some picturesoue nook ne can naiut wifi
/ nature for his inspiration.
/ "He is well known As a DESIGNER and m.
/ fanciful decorations of mos. \ov yorl
| theatrical nrorrans hear his signar,lrs
/ Indeed he NAV na said IN auio, a ,no,,or.
/ DIV of this work These DESIGNS are rati
/ or more conventional than ms more am
/ birious work Inn, they foo paar IN.
marks of his peculiar style and are readii,
recopnizabIa as his
at is considered nv some 10 he an ayo
/ lutiou of the Aubrav BeardsJey tvDs ma,
withstanding the worl, of the Two MOI
bears only a very faint resemblance II,
seldom emDiovs solid masses of color f.
secure desired erect and his DRAWING /
far more correct Than is GENERALLY the 20 .,
with the ENGLISH artist He Gains hi
contrasts Inv odd desionino and cDrion
combinations of color rather than by dis