El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-18

we're exhibited at the Paris salon
Upon his return to California he con
tinued to paint pictures OF the
Yosemite valley.
Mr.. Hills first painting OF the
Yosemite valley was purch ed by the
late Charles Crocker for s., 600. The
white Mountain Notch" came next,
and was purchased by Mr.. Hamltn, OF
Boston, for $5 900.
At the centennial of Philadelphia in
1876, another yosemite Valley" was
awarded the first prize, the TIE mple
medal. II, together with "Donner
Lake." was purchased by the late
Senator Stanford for 81 200. Il 1s
now in the Stanford house at Palo
Alto Another pain ting of the "Yose-
mite valley which was finished in one
month was purchased by Mrs. Mark
Hopkins for S., 900. One of his best
works is in the gallery OF Mrs. E. Il.
Croker, in Sacramento. 1t 1s the
! Great Canyon of the Sierras," for
which he received So, 600, and the New
York Palette club medal.
THE Heart OF the .Sierras" was
painted for Lucky Bald win, and
built into the end of one OF the rooms
in his palace. 1t was exhibited at the
New Orleans exposition. Mrs. Bald
win sent IL east when she broke up the
home and it was badly damaged. 1t
was alterward returned to the Pacific
coast and fixed up by its painter. II is
Francisco, of which Mr.. Hill was one
of the earliest members. Mr.. Bald win
paid $4,000 for the picture.
The picture which, perhaps, created
the most comment WAS Thriving the
Last Spike.'' This picture was ordered
by the late Senator Stanford and por-
trays the driving of the last spike in
the Central and Union Pacific rail-
reads. The painting represents Sem
ator Stanford in the foreground in the
act of striking, with his silver ham,
mer, the last spike, the stroke which
by electric current notified the world
of the completion of the first traDscOn-
tinental railroad. 10 the picture are
the portraits of some 300 men, who
were connected with the building of
the road. The painting of the picture
cost Mr.. Hill something like $40. 600
and caused him a severe nervous pros
tration. The painting is now in the
museum at the Golden Gate Park. in
San Francisco.
Among Mr.. Hills other paintings
are 1.-THE Grand Canyon of the Colo
rado," the yellowstone Glacier" and
"Muir Glacier" Altogether be has
received thirty-one medals. He Is
representedI IL every important gal
lery in the United States.
His last great pain ting, just finished,
is a huge canvas, ten by twelve feet.
1t shows the Inspiration Point, the
Bridal Veil Falls, the Three Brothers,
the Three Old Maids and the Mercer
river.
A critic said recently: ''There is no
man who knows the valley SO we'll as
Tom Hill does. He knows all It's moods,
knows it when the first rays of the
early morning sun make roseHte it's
high mountains, and when the rays,
descending still lower, make the |
streams dsrkeued by night alive with |
flashing brilliancy. The MONDAY is as |
familiar to him ss when the valley |
sinks to slum Der with the setting sun,
and when the pale stars shed their |
soft lightnes5 on the fertile mesds |
by the circling mountains.
Hill Is poet and an artist. There are
others who have painted the valley. |
but none has given on canvas the
peculiar charm which belongs to the
valley alone"
Mr.. Hill was asked yesterday If he
contem plated trip east On his return
from Mexico. He replied: mo. 1 am
getting old, and while [ should greatly
enjoy it, could not stand it's fatigue.
1t has been something of trial to me
TO have been separated all these years
from the men and the art atmosphere
Of the east, but have had my noun
,ains and they have compensated me-"