Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-09-07
EXCELLENT ARTISTS IN JAPAN
Illustrations of How Conscientious!
They do Their Work.

In olden days, long before the intro
duction of European civilization into
their country, most of the artistic work
ordered by the lords of the land of the
mikados was done on their own prem
ises either by artists who lived there
continually and formed part of their
retinue or by specialists who were
called for the purpose and remained in
the house as guests of the patron until
the work was completed.
Whether the artist was member Of
the household or not, he had every
thing he wanted while he was working,
even to the finding Of his clothes and
pocket money and painting materials,
and when the work was finished he
had a gift of money corresponding with
the size of the picture and the excel
lence of the work done, the latter being
determined by the praise Of the critics
who came to inspect 1t.
The artist worked when he chose,
as he does now; he had free liberty
given to him, and he went hither and
thither, out and about, without being
questioned-a license which has yet to
be found given to anybody of any rank
in Japan.
A native nobleman Of great power,
wealth and influence once invited to
his house a celebrated artist to paint a
picture for him, the subject of which
was to be a flight Of certain native
birds winging their way across the face
Of the full moon. To show that the
gentleman meant business he inclosed
money, doucer Of $4,000, as a guar
anty Of good faith
Such commission as that would be
equivalent to wealthy Britisher send
ing an artist like Munkacsy or a
MISSIONER a request for picture ac-
companied by check for about S25,-
900, for the ambition of the Japanese
nobleman was to have a picture
painted by the first painter in the en-
pire and which would be regarded most
valuable in the land of the rising sun
The duke waited for nearly year
for the reply from the artist, and as
none had been received from him up
to the expiration of that long period he
he wrote again, inclosing a further
$4,000 as a gentle hint that reply was
wanted and eagerly looked for.
The artist wrote Immediately, retain
ing the money that had been sent and
saying that ever since he had received
the favor OF the communication from
the duke he had watched at the period
of every moon for good opportunity
to make the requisite study from ma
ture, but had not yet succeeded in do
ing so.
1t was impossible to say when he
would be able to do it; it might take
him five, ten, fifteen years; it might be
that he might never see flight OF such
birds in such way as to be able to re-
produce them correctly. and he there
fore returned the dukes most magnif-
cent present.
This illustrates how very conscen-
tiously Japanese artists work, their
idea being not 10 paint subject I'M
less they are closely bound up in the
story OF the picture they are planting
and versed in all the details connected
with 1t.
Another powerful noblc-a member
of the court circle of the emperor
DESTROYS of having a sword case of gold
bronze made, invited to his house an
artist who was celebrated in that line
1t was to be ornamented with an aut-
umn landscape and an OK in the fore
ground. 1t was after the usual festi-
val in connection with the new year
(when nobody works for nine days.
that the artist arrived. He went to
work with will, mixed his metals
made his designs, passed on to the en-
craving and inlaying and in three or
four months had his sword case nearly
completed. In fact, with the excep-
ton of the figure of the OK to be inlaid,
1t was practically done and to the sat
isfaction OF the courtier.
But suddenly the artist was seized
with an apparent fit OF laziness. In
stead of finishing the work he took Up
his book, pipe and tobacco and day
after day went out in the green fields
and did not return again until evening.
Months passed like this. but, being
an artist. as has been pointed out ear
lier, nobody questioned him or inter-
fered with him or his liberty.
But the imperial courtier wanted his |
fancy sword for special occasion at