Omaha daily bee., 1898-09-30
ART CONGRESS- In SESSION
Another Of the Years Educational Conven-
tiops Begins It's Work,
LoRAD0 TAFT THE PRESIDING OFFICER
Small Gathering of Lovers of the
beautiful Hear Ralph CInrlson
Tell of Criticism and Appre-
citation of Pictures.

Another niche in the educational history
OF the Transmississippi Exposition year is
being filled during the last half of this
week by the Art congress at the First Con-
gregational church. The first session OF the
congress was held yesterday afternoon and
the remaining sessions will be held this
morning, afternoon and evening and tomor-
row morning and afternoon. A program of
lectures by eminent artists has been arranged
for the two days Judging from the ini-
tiatory lecture yesterday afternoon the con-
gress will be full OF instruction and enjoy
ment for the lovers Of art Of the city and
can be i'll afforded to be missed by them.
When Chairman Paul Charlton Of the local
committee called the session to order there
was, rather slim audience in attendance.
Mrs. W. w. Keysor who as chairman of
the educational committee was largely in
strumental in making possible the congress,
welcomed the visiting artists and in the
course Of her remarks said:
zone would judge from the size of this
audience that there is no art spirit in Omaha,
but such spirit is here. 1t is coming from
300 and more school rooms, from at least
one private art gallery, from an art school
that is soon to be started and from the art
department OF the Woman's club. There
fore, in behalf Of the educational committee,
the art department OF the Womans club
and of all in Omaha who stand up for art
l welcome our visitors who have so gener-
ously given themselves for our enighten-
ment. 1t is an honor to have them here"
Chairman Charlton introduced dorado Taft
of Chicago as chairman of the
congress. Mr.. Taft made few
pleasing remarks in assuming the
position. He declared that he as we'll as
other artists of Chicago have had growing
desire to visit the western cities in the in
terests of art and therefore gladly availed
himself Of the opportunity TO come to ON aha.
He declared that in his travels through the
west he had found that there were many,
particularly women, who were yearning for
knowledge of the fine arts. To such In
Omaha he bid a hearty welcome to attend
the features that will be provided. He pre-
sented as the lecturer of the afternoon Ralph
Clarkson of Chicago, whose topic was How
to Judge a Picture and How to Enjoy It."
Ideas of an Artist.
Artist Clarkson declared that the present
attitude of the public is prejudcal to the
interests OF art as there is a tendency
toward superficial criticism-to pick out the
faults and flaws of a picture and overlook the
beauties it contains. Yet it is possible to
become a competent and intelligent critic,
but possible only through an intelligent
study of nature and of art.
People see objects of nature with the
eye." said Mr.. Clarkson, "and think that
they know them. AS matter of fact their
view has been superficial and is of the bare
outline. Little of what we see Is observed
The eye requires as much attention as the
10 ~ .l,a.
and neglect the artistic for the practical
Yet they dare to pass judgment on a pic
ture because 1t does not look like nature.
1t is necessary that you should study nature,
and observe nature under all its conditions
for 1t is never twice alike
You must cultivate your artistic tastes
BY beautiful surroundings After nature
study pictures. Be sure and associate with
the best. II you can, own picture at pres
ent beyond your appreciation. One thing
you must avoid. If told that a picture is
painted by great painter, do not think
to determine the qualities that make the
picture great. You may pick out what you
consider its elements of greatness, and
which in reality are its weaknesses Ask
what the qualities are. Seek to see how
the artist displays them. One picture thus
appreciated, learned, understood, will change
your tastes and elevate your standard"
During the remainder of his lecture Mr.
Clarkson pointed out some of the features
that go to make up a good picture, illus
trating his remarks with a series of stere-
opticon views Of paintings. He said that
1t was generally believed that a painting
must be an imitation Of nature, but he de-
clared it is impossible to do this successfully
on account Of the scanty material with
which the artist must work.
What nm Artist Can Do.
For examp e, II 100 represents tn brightest
white in nature and one darkness, it is pos
sible for the artist to reproduce upon the
canvas only from ten to forty OF this grada-
tion. Then the public generally believes
that the subject of the picture should tell
the story, whereas, as matter of fact, the
subjects of famous old masterpieces are often
unknown or obscure. The physical charms
of a painting come before the subject and
the picture itself should tell the story.
Another popular belief is that the details
should be worked out in a picture, such as
the mans features or the leaves of the tree.
The Lecturer pointed out that as a matter OF
fact such details in nature can be seen but
a short distance.
In much the same manner the lecturer
in making up apicture-perspective, proper
tion. color, composition. In criticising a
picture all must be considered together in
order to discover the artists idea to ascer-
tain what he is trying to say to the spec
tator.
The congress will convene at 10 o'clock
this morning. The feature of the program
will be a lecture by w. II. French of Chi
cago, director OF the Art institute of that
city. His topic will be "Analogies Between
Literature and Art" In the afternoon at
o'clock Charles Francis Bronze will lecture
upon American Painters"
Tomorrow evening the attendants of the
institute are anticipating an especially en-
Joyable lecture from Miss Anna Caulfeld
Of Grand Rapids, Mich. Miss Caulfield is a
new to the lecture platform, but has already
scored a great success. She is a brilliant
speaker and elocutionist and illustrates her
lectures with handsome colored slides. All
her material has been gathered in Europe
where she spent several years after attend
ing Harvard Annex. Her lecture is one which
she has delivered by request before President
and Mrs. Mckinley, THE Golden Age of
Italian Art"
Passes a Worthless Check
man who gave the name of II. v Kidd
passed worthless check at Schaefer's
pharmacy at Sixteenth and Chicago streets
Wednesday, Kidd purchased several small