The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-01-31
Miss Everhart Talks of
Her Artistic TriumphS


Universal interest centers at present
around Miss Adelaide Everhart, now of At
lanta, but formerly of Montgomery, since
she has been given the commission to paint
a picture of the late Senator Crisp for the
state of Georgia, mention of which was
made in Sundays Age-Herald
Miss Everhart, as is well-known, is
sister of Mrs. Robert Cunningham OF Bir-
mingham, and her friends in Alabama nat
urally feel an unusual pride in her artistic
achievements. The Constitution of Sunday
contained an interesting interview with this
gifted young woman.
Il am very happy in having obtained the
commissin," she said in modestly discuss
ing the matter, land 1 feel that the fact
that a woman artist is to paint the portrait
will not only be an advantage to me per-
sonally, but that 1t will be of far-reaching
advantage to the women of my profession,
since 1t will attract general attention 10 the
merits of woman's work. and assure them
better opportunities on competitive
basis.
There is too often that spirit, born of
conventonality, l dare say, to Judge of
woman's work as such and not to judge of
1t on a comparative basis with MANS" con-
tinued Miss Everhart. 80 often woman's
work will be glanced at admired enthusiast
tically and passed on with the observation
Very good for a woman The very fact
that it is womans work seems to deprive 1t
OF even just and careful scrutiny and a
woman's friends frequently make the blum
der of laying stress on the sex of the artist
rather than bringing out the merits of her
work.
Gould art competitions of all kinds be
conducted in way where mans work
would not be a distinctly labeled or atten-
tioh attracted to that of womans as such,
believe the results would place premium
on merit and be of untold benefit to those
devoted to the artistic profession"
MISS EVerhart expressed these philo-
sophlcal ideas in the sweetest, gentlest
voice, and, seated In the center of her stu
do, she was the most interes ting of pictures
herself Though the type of woman dis
tlnctly feminine and charming and thar
type apt to tempt to admiration the chival-
rous nature of man before merit could at
tract his Judgment she expressed the key
note OF the problem that the women of the
day are trying to persuade men to solve.
Ihey desire his investigation of what they
are doing, while they appreciate fully his
admiration or what they are, or ought to
De- The woman artist, as we'll as any other
woman earnestly working for success. real
ICES that from mans judgment must come
the recognition of the merits of her work
and that her achievements will not be rec
ognized as great until man makes I'D his
mind not to judge of her work merely from
the standpoint that she is perhaps desery-
ing, charming gentlewoman, but that the
merits of her work, regardless of her per-
sonality, demand and deserve Judgment
based on the competitive merits of the work
of men and women alike.
Although I made application for the por-
trait" resumed Miss Everhart, when the
bill was first introduced in the Georgia leg
islature, had little hope of obtaining It, as
the committee appointed to act in the mat
ter had seen none of my work, and did not
visit my studio l learned that the studios
of many well-known artists had been Wis
tied and that the opinions of art critics had
been obtained as to their merits. l had
faith in the earnest work being done for me
by my friends, and yet my painting had not
been seen by those who had the power to
decide the competition.
FINALLY, one day in November, a gen.
tleman interested In the matter of the Crisp
picture as well as in art in general, hap
pened to call at my studio to see some work
i was doing in the portrait line.
HE was attracted by the picture of Mrs
Daisy Peck Blodgett," and Miss Everhart
here placed in the best light the picture
that in its artistic merit was the one that
finally decided the contest that gives to her
the painting of the Crisp portrait Having
studied the picture thoroughly" continued
Miss Everhart this gentleman voluntarily
wrote letter to friend of mine in which
he criticised the portrait, from an unpreju-
diced standpoint, and praised highly what
he deemed its artistic merits.
His letter was enclosed to members of
the committee appointed by the legislature
and they shortly afterwards came to At
lanta and visited my studio for the first
time.
"And they must have been pleased" con-
tinued Miss Everhart, 'for the result has
brought me great success and happiness"