The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-20
THE PROPYLAEUM PICTURES.
What Close Observation DiscIOses-
MIR. Steele's Technique.

The unapproachable charm of sketch is
found in Mr.. Starl's small pictures called
THE Mist" THE Dawn and THE Rising
Sun. In the first is seen the earliest flush
of red coming through the pale vapor of a
chilly morning, a faint stain of green is
growing in the upper sky, the shapes of
trees begin to loom in the gray stiffness and
a few motionIess red clouds hang over the
dim world. In the second is the glimmer
of a pale salmon streak along the horizon
where the sun is going to rise, the firma-
ment is overlooking with faint rose color
which is reflected and intensified IL a sheet
of water; the water also reflects masses
of blue-green trees slowly merging from
the darkness of early dawn, while the near
er bank has already sprung into the SAT-
from light, and shows it's bright green leaf
age. In the third sketch, 1.-The Rising
Sum- dawn has fully appeared, a flame of
richest yellow fills the great vault of air,
crossed with pink; floating clouds that
change to soft green, lilac and helotrope
while the forests, haystacks and morning
fields are still of a dark dun color. Two
more morning sketches are Days Awaken
ing" and THE Beginning of Day." in which
gigantic fantastic clouds hang in rags of
buff. violet and royal purple over fresh
glad of these pictures, but they are for the
particular pleasure of those who do not like
to get up in the morning. Another early
morning sketch, but of larger size, is will
low Brook" in which is plainly seen 1.-The
June rise" of this climate, the full stream
and the overwhelmingly rich foliage of ear
~ summer after the plentiful rains of May.
MIR. Stark exhibits portraits of Mrs. John
N. Carey, Miss Lavalette Davidson Mrs
Morris Ross, Mrs. Lanier, Mr.. Milburn and
others.
Among the water-colors is a portrait of
Mrs. Forsyth. in picture of a young girl
sitting on garrett floor looking over a
trunk of old letters. Anything like origi-
nality has hold on the world. Mr.. For
originality. His two Rock Haven (Ky)
views We're painted when the November
earth presents its lghtest and most deli
cate hues TO the sun, and therein he has
painted luminosity itself The tops of his
gray hills catch perfect flare of sunshine.
Mrs. Weissenburger' Road to the Creek
is taking specimen of wash drawing 1t
has distance, space and fine color, and is
drawn with tirmness and rapdity. Mr..
i 5 Cartersburg, by the, side of
the last mentioned, is contrast Of frank,
deep green's and clear shadows Miss
Comingores black-browed guitar player is
to be commended for its off-hand dash Mr.
Sickler'S still life, a little luncheon of
cheese, smoked behring's and a pipe, set
forth on red napkin, with a lustrous jug
suggestive of beer is judiciously chosen and
arranged, and has no small flavor of that
ineffable quality of interestingness which
makes a picture attractive a quality never
yet explained
Sooner or later every one comes round
TO the technique of the paintings in a col
lection. Take the picture by Mr.. Steele
called Gordon HILL" Out of this picture a
joyous ray of light has penetrated many a
heart 1t is absolutely. perfect Gayly the
second growth of a hillside timber lot is
streaming its October reds and green's upon
the sight. The grsss-grown country road
is wet enough, the air is wet with late
rain, the brook is full, the cows are wag-
ging along the track in comfortable con-
tent. But go close to the thing and
see how il is painted. What splashes of
paint, what smuts, what smears what
streaks. have produced this effect, The
wire fence. decked with a rich harmony of
Redeemed woOdbine, was made by the acct
dental dropping of the brush along one cor
ner of the picture; lump of paint
dropped and then smashed. If not absolute
~ "squshed" in the center becomes, at a
distance, a gorgeous maple; thumb mark
comes out as a stream. This looks like
Fortuny's work. The portrait of Mrs
Westfall, by Mr.. Steele is another absorb
ing piece of technique. The brow, the bright
lips, the pretty slender neck, the shining
round shoulder the warm ear half buried
in soft hair. the clear, deepset eye and the
costume of profuse white gauze over red,
make up picture of early youth. Look
close at the painting, and you find il a
curious experimentation of strange dyes,
mostly green. Not for nothing was the small
tuft OF sycamores put into the large paint
| Ing OF Whitewater Sands" il has a
| pungent felicity and effect, sdTives the dis
lance back and the foreground out.