The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-23

rangement of composition and the in
telligent rendering of the drawing of
detail in its relation to the unit, the
whole or entirety, to be seen in nearly
every one of his pictures, combined
with a simple technique and keen feel
ing for character come very close 70
forming a complete reconciliation Of
scientific draughtsmanship with true
artistic presentation.
1T is rare that an illustrator com
bines the fancy to invent with the I'M
agination to invest and clothe, but the
quality of establishment Of the page
with that of Interpretation of the text
lis Mr.. Clarks in an unusual degree.
He has, so far shown himself to be
almost equally at ease in drawing the
laborer or the man of society, the child
OF the woman, the sea dog or the land
lubber. A. period spent on a United
States training ship has probably left
the mark of the water upon him. His
gentlemen have all les manieres no
bles which Chesterfield could have de-
sired; his women, matrons or maids
are no less thoroughly modern and un-
conventional than feminine and Iowa
BILE It is owing, however, to the sound
composition and good drawing which
have enabled the artist to express him
self clearly and forcibly, that most OF
the charming Quality of Mr.. Clark
work is secured Without the means
for such complete expression % ne
shows himself the possessor OF, MS eL-
forts would have remained obscure ana
meaningless, however clear his concep-
ton and deep his appreciation of char
acter. His compositions seem to be CIV
en- all the power they are capable Of
receiving, and the placing and ar
rangement of each succeeding piece OF
work appears an improvement upon lis
predecessors. In his pictures is placed
a quality beyond the black and White
of inustration-a quality of painting
reduced to monotone which, with all
color eliminated, yet possess all need
ed color. 1t is an adjustment of value
in the draughtsmanship which presents
everything worth considering without
sacrifice of anything considered IN
deed. so we'll are values arranged, that
one feels that if the drawing were
touched the sensation would be Sc
cured of placing the hand within an
other atmosphere; and DIT Oh tlpt
added to some detail of composition,
a practice which the artist frequently
INDUCES in, appears to fill the entire
drawing with iridescence.
+ ''Mr. eCIark's manner of work is as
simple as it is. thorough He INDUCES
in no tricks of the st udio, mo recipes
for rendering difficult passages, but
brings into play the workings OF
natural strength of character when
meets requirements honestly, fearless
" and directly Each problem encoun-
tered is considered anew and by Itself
the answer for one question not doing
service for another, and, irrespective
of whatever store 81, school precept he
possesses, he seems to keep clearly IN
view the fact that, in art at least,
memory is too apt to remind one OF
things possessed rather than objects TO
be attained There is no contingency
of demand which Will induce nun
to neglect even the smallest detail,
and I have seen him-when every mo-
ment of granted time for the compile
fion Of a drawing had eXpired-make
alterations and changes in what seemed
TO be all that was desirable, which
would require days to complete. re-
member once. when he had almost mn
ished the drawing for a child story
which shows the boy captain IN con-
.sultation with his crew to plan the cap
ture of a certain French frigate, that
he could not find a suitable character
for the bo'sn Model after model was
tried until. as a last resource, Mr.. Clark
took to visiting the docks along the
river fronts and the. parks, where the
loungers mostly are, for a type. rms
conscientiousness brought its reward,
for of course he found the desired type
and he finished the drawing, and what
a bo'sn it was which he created That
bo'sn seems the epitome of all the
bons of romance. This is a charae-
teristic instance of the thorough search
and study which he gives to all re-
quirements, for sometimes days are
spent in adjusting, arranging, addlng
and eliminating detail which many art
lists would hardly consider.
ct is a matter for cOngratulatlon
that Mr.. Clark and his work bear evil
denee of the strength and clearness OF
the native view. His art is essential
.ly of this country Here it has been
awakened and here it has developed.
While restless students have focked to
The famous centres of learning else
where. here he has remained content
and faced conditions which at times
must have appeared discOuraging. His
faith in the soundness Of the opportu-
mites for art study afforded in this
country. however, seems never to nave
been shaken. and it might seem to JUS
tifv such a belief that one now sees
american students returning from
abroad. disappointed that a training in
these studios. hitherto supposed to rep
resent the end Of all that was desirable
in instruction. has not made artists OF
them. While Mr. Clark has conscien-
tfously Travelled the routine of the class
rooms. one feels. however, that it has
been isolated example which has had
more influence with him than general
precept He has chosen the narrow
path Of sincerity. where company is
seldom met and where there is lack
of that forced individuality which US
ually attends pronounced early sue
cesses based upon strong eccentrtcity,
which so often marks the decedence OF
achievement. There Is in his work
mach that suggests methods Nrhiah u