The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-02
GENEROUS GIFT.
Ex-Mayor Sprague Gives
the City a Handsome
Portrait.

If the ex-mayors of the city or their
relatives were as generous as Gen. A.
B. R. Sprague, the city hall corridors
and the mayors apartments would be
adorned with oil paintings.
Some months ago Mayor Dodge start
ed the movement with the hope that
these portraits might be secured before
it was yet too late. At first it met with
the hearty support of many and was
referred to the committee, which was
inclined to give the matter favorable
consideration. About this time it
leaked out that the local artists were
to be given a chance, and that an at
tempt was to be made to get the pic
lures done for one hundred dollars
apiece. This reused host of art au-
thorities who protested that the por-
traits could not be painted for any such
sum of money and be fit to hang. They
also insisted that no local artist was
competent to paint the pictures, and
they went farther and insisted that
they should not even be given trial.
The result was that the committees re-
port, "Inexpedient to act" was accept
ed by the city government, and the
matter dropped.
The announcement that the city was
contemplating having the portraits
done, brought artists from all over the
country who wanted the work. Among
these artists was H. f. c. Peterson of
New York He came after the matter
had dropped, but not daunted, he hunt
ed up some of the eX-mayors and asked
them to sit for a portrait under the
condition that if the result proved sat
isfactory it should be taken, and if not,
lit should be destroyed. Gen. Sprague,
who has been in sympathy with the
movement from the first, consented,
and when the picture was finished,
called in number of friends and per-
sons of artistic tastes to pass judgment
upon it. The unanimous opinion of all
was that it was not only an excellent
portrait and likeness, but also a work
of art. EX-Mayor Sprague according
ly purchased the picture, and in re-
Spouse to a request from Mayor Dodge,
presented it to the city.
The portrait demonstrates more than
ever the senselessness of the opposition
to the movement at the time, which
was based principally on the ground
that portraits could not be secured for
sums less than several hundred dollars.
Mr. Peterson was willing to paint the
portraits Tor sum not lar from one
hundred dollars. and he is willing now.
The mayor feels that the city ought to
have the portraits. The success of the
step just taken has awakened interest
anew in the project. The question of
Judging whether the portraits are right
could be left to an unbiased jury, and
good things would be assured at a price
within easy reach of the means of the
city
At first it was thought that the fami
lies of many eX-mayors would be glad
to contribute portraits. but it later de-
veloped that they would object to this
in many cases unless they were as
sured that the portraits among which
their gifts were to hang, were to be
good The mayor and others are in
favor now of having all the portraits
done at the expense of the city, and
thereby doing away with this unneces-
sary criticism. Good portraits of many
of the ex-maYOrs are in the city, and
there is excellent material from which
TO work UP those which are not on can
vas and can be copied The city hall
needs the pictures and the influence
that would come from them could not
be other than inspiring, beneficial and
helpful.
Gen. Sprague gave Mr.. Peterson
number of sittings. The portrait is
bust. life size The color is excellent
and the treatment vigorous. Mr.. Pc
terson has executed many important
commissions in Gardner. Fitchburg and
oIcaubere