The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-01-13
IS A GRAND WORK
Mural Painting By Francis Ia.
llND Born 10 Hawai-
TINE LIGHT or the WORLD
Cree, suriaee Area -Deslsn and
lnserlpuon-most important
Decoration Figures

\ b' sons ~ ih' lal' Ut. lstlh"IH
George Parsons, and Francis we're
born an these Islands Dr, l,athrop
after acquiring a fortune here, settled
in the city Of New York Ne was not
fortunate In his business Investment
MIR. Lathrop possessed remarkable
social gifts, and under favorable cir
lumstances became a social leader.
George Parsons l.athrop married Rose
hawthorne. He has an excellent repu-
ta,ion in the literary world. Francis
l.athrop has obtained some distinction
as an artist
4 private view was given in 81
Bartholomew Church, New York. re-
Gently OF mural painting The Light
of the World" boy Francis Lathrop,
which has been executed on an order
from the brother. children, aud wife
of the late George Kemp. Since the
order was given Mrs. Kemp has died.
The painting. which has occupied all
Mr.. Lathrops time and attention for
nearly two years, was completed last
summer. II nils the entire wall space
Of the chancel above the altar and re-
redos. and has a surface area OF nearly
500 square feet, with q semi-cirCular
border around the top IL measures 30
feet in height and rs feet In width,
and is painted ON canvas, which has
la fha
wall. a process now extensively used
in interior decorations. and which was
employed In the Hotel del VILE and
other public buildings In Paris, In the
Boston Public Library, and the AS
toria Hotel. The picture has a mas
siye frame OF Arabesque design, with
the subject text from Mark kill, 20. 81
The Son of Man coming In the clouds
with great power and glory In Goth,
letters. This frame was designed anC
modelled by the artist and was cas-
under his supervision.
The picture Is not only the most i'm
portant work that Mr.. Lathrop. witt
has achieved deserved fame for hi
decorative work, has produced, but vii
take high place among the more i'm
pOrtant mural paintings of the country
The artist did the interior decoratio
OF st. Bartholomew several years agt
and he has made this last painting t
complement the church decoration
There are rs figures or heads In tn
composition, and most OF these, eve
in the remoter groups, are above III
size. The figure of Christ, which
the centre OF the composition, is G
heroic size,
The scheme OF color of the picture
white, gold, and purple and the pic
uure is so placed that the side light
OF the chancel illuminate it even on
dark day and invest it with a joyou
atmosphere. The keynote OF the con
position is one of triumphant rejoicin!
The figure Of Christ, draped in whit
garments falling in fine folds, advance
In a cloud of light, with arms eXtende
in a gesture of protection and welcome
while numerous figures of the cleo
and saints, robed in white, purple, an
gold. are massed in the foreground 81
either side of the figure of Christ, Tw
angels holding palms, one on the RICH
and one on the left are the marshals o
this heavenly host, some Of whom ar
kneeling in attitudes OF devotion am
some OF whom are praying. Others
again, stand or kneel with downcas
eyes and bowed heads, but all SHOW
awe and wonder in the attitudes AM
expressions. Above this host two an
gels, Faith and HOPE, are depicted a
about to place crown on the head q
Christ, and on either side are group
Of trumpeters. on the very top an
figure another group OF angels look
upon the scene below. Two seated an
gels are below the figure OF Christ o
either side, and on the right and lei
are still two angels, one bearing har
and another Tyre.
The treatment Of light in the pictnr
is both mastery and effective. Tn
figure of Christ itself, which is tn
central point Of the light mass,
modelled out OF the light, the rays con
yerging and forming the lines Of draI
cry. In looking closely at this centrs
point, 1t is seen that the figure {
Christ, with the lights above and be
low, forms the upright OF great eros
the angels holding the crown formin
the arms. The outlines OF the dral
cries melt imperceptibly into the SUI
rounding cloud Ike setting. II Is in
possible to describe in cold type u
beautiful color and light effect and IL
strength and power OF Mr.. Lathrop
painting. 1t should he seen and studie
by all lovers OF art and decoration.