The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06
Mr.. STEELE'S WORK.
Summer Canvnses of This Master In
diana Painter.

This week, in the Lieber gallery, is being
shown the collection of oil paintings the
work of Mr.. Il. c. Steele, the acknowledged
leading artist OF this State and one of the
notable painters of the West. Mr.. Steele
possesses two marks OF distinction in his
art: his power for portraiture and his genius
for landscapes. There are twenty-eight pic
lures IN the exhibit and five of these are
portraits Being, as they are of persons
well known in this community. they attract
attention first. There is the portrait Of Miss
Katherine Merrill, which is satisfactory
first to the artist, then TO the members of
Miss Merrill's family, and, lastly, to her
friends. In it Mr.. Steele has caught the pure
Intellectual expression, particularly in the
eyes, the complexion and the general ap-
pearance as her family and friends best
know her. 1t is really remarkable likeness,
and after the exhibit it will grace the rooms
of the Katherine Merrill Club, for which
it was painted. Another very fine portrait
is that of Mr.. George Merritt, of the west
side Of town, where his face is always so
welcome. Mr.. Steele has put the kindly
eyes behind glasses that are clear, the hair
and beard have peculiar soft quality, and
the flesh and general tone are the result Of
an artists genius. There is a full-length
portrait Of John Jameson, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. 0. B. Jameson, picturesque in garb,
and it is painted with skill that gives the
right quality to the materials as well as to
the face and hair of the boy There is
portrait of the late L. S. Ayres and one of
Mr.. Steele's younger son Shirley, that are
admirable. The portraits of Miss Merrill
and Mr.. Merritt are as excellent as any Mr..
Steele has ever done.
OF the other canvases, there are two that
will doubtless be the favorites of the gen
eral public. One is Whitewater at the
Hermitage" (No 2l.) The Hermitage is the
home which Mr.. Steele and Mr.. j. Otis
Adams, of Muncie, have built at Brookville,
about thirty miles below Richmond. by the
River Whitewater. The picture is one which
shows the river in the foreground. Upon
hill at the right is the Hermitage, and
stretching far back, and to the right and
left, are the hills. Mr.. Steele has touched
a harmonious tone in his selection of this
particular spot, for it lends itself readily to
his artistic treatment. 1t blends the blue
of the water, the green in the lowlands, the
color in the trees. the haze of the hills and.
above all, the distance is there. One may
travel every step of The way, for it leads
into another country. The artist has put fine
feeling and life into his work, and there is
completeness in the picture that is salts
flying. Mr.. Steele's correct eye for color
and his dizziness with sky effects and his
true artistic temperament have brought out
beauties in this canvas that make one linger
ties. The other canvas, which is the largest
he has ever painted, being four by five feet,
is in direct contrast to the first. To the
second he has given the name The Coming
Storm (No. 81 Rolling up from the hori-
zon are the dark blue threatening clouds,
which are pushing the masses or broken
clouds above. On these upper clouds the
light falls and makes the dark cloud all
the darker by contrast. The same light falls
on the front of the landscape, repeats itself
in the bit of water to be seen, and makes
the autumn coors of the trees and shrubs
stand out in golden, reddish brown. patch
Of new wheat in fresh green, makes me
across part of the picture and 1t, again, is
in direct contrast to the duller colors OF au-
tumn Mr.. Steele has given this picture a
touch of imagination that adds to It's
strength, and hanging, as it does, opposite
the first picture, the value OF each Is ac-
cented.
There are other charming pictures in the
sheep Craze on hillsides, where there are
trees for shade, and a stream of water flows
in a winding bed at the base. There is "A
Frosty Morning at the Edge of Village,
the village being Brookviile. in this Mr.
Steele has given to the atmosphere a crisp
effect that would make one see crystal par
ticles sparkling if the sun were out, ana
there is a view OF the Hermitage garden
and "A Rainy Day View Of B BG{,o6 e
Country Road with Cattle" while taken
from Just north of this city, shows a wagon
road, with tall, halfdead grass, that leads
trees t So A view Of "old Mills at Brookvile',,
shows where light and shadow play, and
the half-rotten log still serves as IoOt
bridge over the mill race. Then there is "A
Frosty Morning." where there is a delicacy
of atmosphere and everything is bathed in
the peculiar whiteness of frost, and the only
dark thing is the line Of black roofs to the
low buildings that are near the front.
coax Ridge in November shows q splendid
sky effect in dull, lowering colors of late
in the year. Mr.. Steele has given this
new tone from what he uses commonly, and
of new wheat which is part of the same
field shown in another picture.
Mr. Steele has utilized his own picturesque
surroundings at his home, Talbot place, at
the corner of Pennsylvania, Talbot avenue
and Sixteenth street. He has a Winter
Frost "Green and Gold,' which is rich
study in color, Across. the Commons,
The Across the Commons" is peculiarly
study in light and shade In the front is
the shadow cast by the great trees in front
Of the artists home, and beyond is the full
s1lnlieht which has fallen on several naples
in full autumn foliage. An occasional
streak of sunlight through the foreground
is very effective Mr.. Steele is asked what
he confesses with pride that they are close
to his home-two alleys, with their barns
and sheds in such uneven rows and OF such
varied colors that they are commonly passed
nv for no one looks down an alley for a
picturesuue view. "They are often much
prettier than the Streets" says the artist,
and as he has put them on canvas the Wis
they are pretty as he has made tnem me
exhibit will be open to the public all the
week.
WOMEN as USURERS.