Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-21
PAINTING THE EXPOSITION
John R. Key, the Great American Landscape
Artist, at Work.
TRANSFERS ITS BEAUTIES TO CANVAS
short sketch of the Man who Pre-
served the worlds Fair MnHniH-
cence and II Now ImmOrtnlix-
Ing the Transmississippi.

John r. Key, the great American land
scape painter, and a grandson of Francis
Key, the author of star Spangled Banner, .
who has been in Omaha for some time past
reproducing the beauties Of the exposition
on canvass, will leave in day or two for
the east, where he will make exhibits Of
his paintings as special commissioner of the
exposition. Mr.. Keys high reputation in
his profession and the magnificent views of
the Omaha show that he has painted will
give the easterners more adequate idea of
what the exposition really Is than any
amount Of word painting could possibly
convey.
This is not the first visit that Mr.. Key
has paid to Omaha and the change that has
occurred since his first trip in 1859 i'm
presses him most forcbly with the progress
OF the intervening years as represented by
the Transmississippi Exposition When he
first passed through Omaha he was on his
way to assist in making the survey for the
Humboldt route, and his party spent six
months in making the journey across the
plains that is now compassed in three days.
Some OF his first art work was embodied in
his illustrations OF the Humboldt region,
and few years later when he was sta
ticued at Fcrt Sumter he painted series of
during The bombardment. The first set OF
these views was purchased by Admiral Dal"
gren and furnishes a realistic reproduction
Of the scenes that attended this fight.
Among his later works his painting of
1.-THE Golden Gate which was awarded a
first medal at the Centennial. was one OF
the most generally noticed, but since then
his fame has become worldwide on ac-
count of his magnificent paintings which
illustrate the principal features OF the
Worlds Fair. These consist of four large
canvasses each twenty feet long and ten
feet high which are now on exhibition III
the annex to the Illinois building on the
exposition grounds. The motives that In
spired Mr.. Key to attempt this task are
best expressed in his own words. He says:
1.-THE object OF this work is to give an idea
OF the great exhibition of 1893. AS the
construction OF the buildings and grounds
grew in magnitude and beauty determined,
as far as possible in my range of art, to
aint series OF views to perpetuate this
most wonderful production OF our century,
whose fame became worldwide. 1t is gone
forever. and as we now recall its exquisite
proportions, its magnitude and it's perfect
symmetry, 1t seems as II a fairyland had
risen from the lake in crystalized spendor.
noblest work and greatest men to pay hom-
age to the newest city Of the world, so great
was its renown.'
Enthusiastically Endorsed.
How we'll the artist succeeded in his pa
trotic aspirations is evident when his work
is seen. 1t has called forth letters OF the
most enthusiastic approval from the Worlds
Fair officials and the unrestrained admra-
tion Of hundreds of thousands of people
who see on his canvas what seems like
living reproduction Of the scenes Of the Co
lumbian exposition. To study these paint
ings Is to see the great fair just as 1t ap-
peared underneath the simmer of the sum
mer sky and so realistic are the views tina
the observer might easily imagine himself
confronted with the real instead of the
idealized memory.
The first OF these paintings represents
the view from the Woman's building look
ing toward the south. 1t is an afternoon
effect in which the warm coloring of the
foliage across the lagoon is emphasized by
the darker colors which seem to come and &C
in the wake Of the pleasure craft that dot
the water Back Of this rises the magnif-
cent architecture Of the Liberal Arts, Elec.
tricity and various ether buildings anC
most artistic OF all Is the scarcely percept.
ible shadow OF summer haze that hangs
over the domes Of the far away buildings
and invests the canvas with all the charm
OF real landscape.
The view Of the Court of Honor from
the Peristyle shows the full outline Of the
Grand Basin with the imposing architecture
Of the Administration building in the dis
tance The buildings at the right and left
the massive statue Of Liberty in the center
and the terraced grounds that fill the inter
mediate space are wonderfully true to thu
original. There is less foliage in this paint
ing but more real life. So perfect has thu
artist caught the secret of realism that tn,
figures that throng the court seem really
alive and the observer unconsciously look.
to see them move and mingle in eccentric
figures as they did five years ago.
The view from the Electricity building
looking north is somewhat similar to the
first view but affords broader perspective
Here Is presented another charming foliage
effect in which the wooded island, which oc-
cupies the center of the canvas, presents
here and there trace of the coloring of early
autumn. 1t Is not necessary to look at the
catalogue to understand that the artist has