The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-04
RUSKIN ON TURNER.
Subject Of Mrs. Chaffee's Second
Lecture at The TroCadero.
An Apt and Informing Discourse on a Very
Interesting Theme.

The second i'm the series OF art lee
lures by Mrs. Alzaida Brainerd Chaffe,
or Worcester, Mass, was given i'm tn,
Trocadero this afternoon before a cul.
tVated and appreciative audience, rep.
resentative OF the art lovers OF Provi-
dence as we'll as of the Women's clubs
The subject of the lecture was "Ruskin
| on Turner" and Turner in the Ma
uonal Gallery"
In commencing Mrs. Chaffee said: IL
take 'Ruskin on Turner because the
keen mind and silver tongue of him
who wrote Sesame and Lilies and
Crown OF Wild Olives could best see
INTO an exceptional genius like Turner" "
Continuing, Mrs. Chaffee said: After
reading Ruskin's Modern Painters the
general effect is to be more conscien-
tious, more sincere TO strip off all that
is merely external and catchy and look
at nature.
Il mean nature as she speaks to the
great of heart. Our eyesight is sharp
ened by his keen observance OF the
stems OF trees, their wonderful branch
lngs and arrangement of foliage upon
the bough. Our eyes are lifted to OBJ
serve the clouds, their masses of fleecy
whiteness; the ragged edges OF the
storm clouds and the brilliant clouds OF
sunset Ruskins SMILES and adjec-
tiVes mark his style, making his de-
scrlptions pen pictures full OF poetry"
Mrs. Chaffee then gave an interest
ing sketch of the boyhood of the poet
painter, and referred to some of the
struggles he had TO undergo before be-
coming generally known. His first
painting in oil was due to some ones
suggestion, and that which he did best,
had special genius for, he scarcely
attempted at all for years: this was the
painting OF pure landscape His genius
grew. fed by every event and accident
OF his life all seemed to add 10 its
nourishment He grew like n seed i'm
the ground hardly conscious what
manner of flower he would become. The
lack or home feeling in his paintings is
one OF the principal reasons why Turn
ers pictures have never been truly
popular in home-loving, domestic Eng
land.
Speaking of the brilliancy OF color |
ing in Turner's paintings Mrs. Chafree |
remarked that IL is a very interesting !
physical truth, that, when the being is |
N states Of joyful and healthful excite |
ment, the eyes become more highly |
sensitive TO the beauty OF color-sspe- |
,ially the blue and red rays. while in
depression and disease all color be-
'omes dim TO us. anc yellow prevails
'Ver the rest. Nature met with glad
'esponse I'm Turner's soul Mrs Chaffee
described many of the paintings of
Turner In the Turner room at the Ma
ional Gallery.
In this room thousands of people look
bout with indifference, curiosity or in
crest. inspecting the works of the
dumb poet who Ruskin says. "felt
us own power and felt himself utterly
lone in the world from not being nm
erstood. Men have been slow TO rec
gnize Turner's genius, but the time
as come at last when the obscure
arber's son in Maiden Lane is elevated
D the highest pinnacle Of glory. He
lade for himself path to glory, which
III any, can hope to follow
Inc next lecture Will be given on Sat
rday, February 1s and the subject
I'LL be Sir Edwin Landseer."