New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-03

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For the past few weeks advertisements have
appeared In the daily newspapers OF firm stat
Ing that It was prepared to make a portrait
practically lfe-size for one dollar. Naturally
such a statement scattered CONSERVATION among
the "old line" artists. caused much comment
among expert photographers, and surprise to
the public generally. Everybody knew that Won
derful developments have lately been made in
the art Of photography. The public was pre-
pared to believe almost anything from this
source since the successful portrayal by the
camera of a streak Of lightning in a thunder
storm and the marvellous reproductions Of prize
fights by the biograph and similar inventions.
But it was something more startling when it
was announced that photography and freehand
art had so closely met as to produce lfe-sze
portrait In colors and do 1t for dollar. The
concern that made this announcement was the
Standard Art Manufacturing Company OF NO.
142 West Twenty-third street, near Sixth ave.
nue..
Mr.JH. Melrose, manager Of the concern, was
Of patrons and inquirng visitors. Artists were
at work in the rooms on the upper floors toucn-
Ing I'D the enlarged pictures from smallest
photographs and even tintypes. The air or IN
dustry about the place suggested the activity
Of q beehive Along one side OF the main paror
were strung dozens Of very large portraits moro
clear and vivid and lifelike than the photo
graphs from which they were taken, and Nam
aeer Melrose was trying 10 explain to a largo
audience Of visitors how he could mako them
for one dollar apiece.
"It's all In knowing how" said he facetiousiy.
Calcium lights and electricity from our own
plant enable us to get the cearest possible
print as a basis for charging. Freehand work
does the rest"
When asked how he managed to get such
animation and soul into the faces thus copied
Manager Merose went to a corner OF the work.
shop. picked up a mass Of discarded portraits
which looked like the ordinary productions or
enlarglng artists. and said; These are mute
witnesses which tell the whole story. They are
from the hands OF artists who were tried here'
They were inferior. and the men were told their
services were no longer required Art Is ono
thing. daubery another We don't want
daubers here. We want artists, and when
we find one we take him and keep him.
enlarged portrait, just as it takes an artist to
hurl sunlight over a landscape. With truly
talented men behind the easels we are enabled
to produce pictures"
Mr.. Melrose explained that he has been IN
the business of enlarging portraits for ten,
years. He found that the high prices narrowed
the business down TO the richer classes He
saw that the man who solved the problem or
how to make these enlarged pictures moro
cheaply would have secret that would bring
q fortune Six years ago he came to New YORK
He has been at his present place or business
No. 142 West Twenty-thrd street. four years.
One year ago he announced for the first time
that he would make an almost life-sze portrait
I'm either crayon water color or pastel FOR S1.OO-
There are a number Of studios In New-York
City offering to make pictures for little or noth-
Ing but when the patrons come 10 get them
they are compelled TO buy frame. which costs
them five or ten or twelve dollars. Mr.. Melrose
does not require the patron 10 purchase a frame.
SO widely known is his work that nearly all
NJ the big department stores engage him to
make the large portraits displayed in their
windows on occasions when the American pub
lie is engaged in hero worship. and his por-
traits of Dewey Schey. Mckinley. Bryan, Fitz-
hugh Lee Miles and others who figured in tho
late Spanish American have become re-
nowned throughout the republic on occasions
OF patriotic demonstration.
Mr. Melrose shows how he is enabled to make
these large portraits for dollar. He says his
business has grown so great that he was COM
PEELED TO put in a plant with which he could
make all OF the material necessary for the en-
iargement OF photographs. In this way he does
not have to go outside OF his own building for
anything TO be used in the work Having thus
arranged for cheapness OF materials. he is en-.
abled to employ the best OF artists to finish tho
portraits. Whenever family gets one they
como back for more, send their friends.
YES there have been some marked improve
ments In this work." said Mr.. Melrose. "A few
years ago Il was an art that few could pursue
Now O life-sxe portrait is within the reach Of al
most the poorest families. Il has been such .
startling revelation to the people that hum
drsds Of them crowd into our place every day TO
get work done-to get large portrait for SlO0s
Mn Meirose says the process by which an en-
larged portrait can be made for S100 is one OF
the greatest successes OF the age and 10 Judge
from the crowds In his store at No. 142 West
Twenty-third street MIR. Melrose u net fal
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