The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-08


of nature reaching out after thepure and
beautiful.
A picture around which great crowds
were always gathered at the fair was
Hovedon's Breaking Home Ties" Copies
OF this picture have been on sale In near
ly every art store in the country, and
you are doubtless all familiar with IL.
II is not a great painting, perhaps, but
there is touch in 1t that appeals to ev-
cry heart; there are tears in It, there
are sorrowing hearts, there are mother,
love and home love in 1t, touches of ma
ture that make the whole world kin and
find response in every human heart.
Hovedon, the painter of this picture,
met tragic and heroic death two years
ago. In attempting to save the life OF
little girl who was crossing the railroad
In front of an approaching train, his
own life was crushed out
An entire evening would be insufficient
to pay even passing tribute to Ameri-,
can artists, and | find l am expected to-
confine my talk principally to American
Illustrations. | believe you will agree
with me that 1t is time for me to get
hold of my subject, and as preface
to that subject l would say that 1t is one
in which every American should be in
terested, for in the art of illustration we
excel, and in this work our artists are
known and appreciated, as well abroad
as at home. We know that as a rule
Englishmen do not enthuse over us very
much in the lump; they are slow to rec
ognize our many engaging qualities, but
they appreciate the work of our illus
traitors, for they buy our illustrated mag
azines. 1t is said that Harper's Maga-
zine has a larger circulation than that
of any English magazine published.
The demand for illustrations has been
so great the last few years that this art
has pushed its way to a high state of
perfection, and today our best illustrators
will rank with our best painters in mas
terly conception, and in the technique of
drawing; and, indeed, the former has
more versatility, more imagination and
superior tast in grouping, so as to get
the best effects. than the latter
When authors first commenced to have
their work illustrated, they selected their
own characters and situations for Illus
tration; the illustrator was more of a
workman than an artist, and there was
little encouragement for creative ability.
AS result, his work was stiff and char
acterless, but for the last few years the
author has allowed the illustrator full
scope to sketch as fancy bid, with most
beneficial results to author and illustra-
tor; in fact, the illustrator has become
an iluminator, and the author hardly
recognizes his own text after ii has been
illuminated by the artists touch. His
clay figures have had the breath of life
breathed into their nostris: his wooden
horses have become war chargers, main
tossing and sinewy; his tin soldiers sit
like centaurs, those sabers are gripped
with iron fingers, rowels are pressed hard
against hot flanks; there is a devils
light shining out from under those souch
hats. Why! he had been describing
cavalry charge, but he never realized 1t
before, and he stands with bated breath
waiting for the crash of battle.
ADORNS THE AUTHORS ART.
The author tells us some sweet little
Arcadian story of youth and love. He
has made eaVes-droppers of us, and what
Is more natural than that we should wish
to take a peep into the face of charm
ing creature who could say "Yes" so
coyly, and the illustrator introduces her
to us. She looks just as we thought she
should, laughing eyes, a saucy face and
pouting lips; the author says the fellow
kissed her. Well, that must have been
a pleasing thing to do. The author takes
us with him through meadows, sweet
with clover blossoms, through sylvan
shades where woodland stream winds in
and out, and the illustrator brings the
blossoms to us; We can almost catch
their fragrance; we fancy we can see
zephyrs playing at hide and seek in his
real foliage and the stream ripples at
his will. And so throughout the fields of
literature, through romance and reality,
the illustrator beauties and adorns the
authors art
Edwin Abbey is the leading illustra-
tor of America. His illustrations of Her.
rick's poems for Harper first brought
him into prominence, and gave him a
worldwide reputation. He is at present
residing lin England. His greatest work
is his frescoes in the Boston public Ii
brary. These compositions represent the
u of hn nf 40 In1U rni
have seen this work, but it would be
superfluous for me to say it is mastery
in conception and beautifully executed,
for we all know that Boston would not
long permit an unhalowed touch to re-
main about her pet institution.
Charles Dana Gibson is another illus
traitor who has made a great reputation
for himself. His Gibson Girl is known
as well abroad as at home, and she rep
resents us well. Gibson has portrayed
her in innumerable situations but she
is always the same type of girl; clear
cut, well-bred, intelligent, bright and
interesting; a typical American girl.
The work of w. l.. Taylor is recognized
and appreciated everywhere. 1t has style
and finish. There Is a great deal of
character TO his figures, and his concep-
tions are mastery and poetical
Too much cannot be said i'm praise of
the work of Alice Barber Stephens. Mrs.
oltpHtHS Is the foremost
draft-woman in America. Her illustra-
tions have a character all their own,
and are easily recognized There is
personality and charm about her women
that arouses our enthusiasm as once.
Her subjects hardly need a text, for
they tell a complete story; her concep-
tions show a subtle analysis of human
nature and a keen appreciation of the
refining influences of life.
Howard Pyle has produced some of the
most scholarly drawings which have ap-
peared in the books and magazines of
this country. He has been a close stud
ent of history, and his illustrations are
mostly historical.
Robert Blum ranks next to Abbey in
decorative work He spent several years
In Japan, where, under the influence of
Japanese art, his fine sense of color at
tanned its full development.
A. b. Frost has no superior in the line
of character drawings. lie is humor-
ist and his sketches show a lively sense
of the ridiculous.
There are many others worthy of men,
tion, among them being Irving r. Willis,
Maud Cowles, Fowler and Frank Small
All of the illustrators whose names l
have mentioned, and many more, are rep
resented here tonight in this beautiful
collection of pictures Every picture is
a masterpiece i'm its way The originals
of many of these pictures cost the pub
Usher hundreds of dollars and the re-
productions are as fine as anything that
has ever been put in the market in this
line.
| said early in my talk that there was
only one way by which one could get a
knowledge of art, and that is by study
ing the canvasses of great artists. | will
have to qualify that statement. There
has been such progress made in the art
of reproducing pictures in the last few
years that the reproductions of black
and whites can hardly be distinguished
from the originals; and these are put on