The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-11-03
SOME GUIDING LINES.


the more important because of the
limited time that may he given to it,
and the many difficulties in the way
of concentration. We naust answer
the question first of all, "What are
the exact objects of this new search.
ing and how shall | know when
have found them?' No one can chew
to the line" unless 1t be very clearly
drawn before the inward vision.
If we determine to trace the history
of painting our Van Dyke and Hoyt
and Radcliffe supply TO admirable q
method that it needs very little adap-
tation. The natural, logical way is
to study in the work of each Nation,
the land, the people ard the period,
the motive and technic, and in the
beginning, especially the material.
Then after we reach the classic age
we have the various schools and
masters and the details of their at
tainments.
But underlying all this it is well to
emphasize the fact that all this study
must be based upon characteristics.
That is the central idea, the one
thing ABOVE all othe rs that must he
clearly understood and carefully re-
tanned. We must learn just what 1t
is that makes the difference in diff
ferert people and how the painting
of each advancing or recediDg time
10 related to morals and religion, aud
the state of civilization. We must
also learn to distinguish and define
the mingled forces that determine
the various results effected by vari-
Gus masters, and to measure correct
ly the value and Influence of their
work. Whatever supplementary
material we may gather to fill in our
chosen outlines, 1t must be sorted and
adjusted by this simple factor, and as
we learn its power more fully it will
enable us to analyZe the very spirit of
this world of art and claim it for our
very own.
All these essentials must be also
wrought into the study Of our pic
lures. But we have here some Gle
ments and qualities which we can
mark perhaps more readily. Every
material object possesses five 'distiDct
properties which the painter must
recognize and portray. These are
shape, or form; size, or quantity; light
and shadow, or graduation; local
color, or hue; and texture. And in
putting these upon canvass his work
is based upon five processes of execu-
ton. These are drawing, or outline;
invention, or composition and ar
arrangement; relief, which is the man
sgement of light aud shade that sup.
plies the third dimension perspective
which brings in the mathematical
law in streets aud buildings and
which In it's aerial expression creates
atmospheric tone, and lastly, the
marvel of color which must be studied
in its harmony, its opposition, its
sentiment and truth. And color, &C
cording to some authorities who will
not yield the place to invention Is the
highest attainment of painting. We
are told also that its greatest perfect
ion and glory usually preceded de-.
cay and,since we-are debarred from di
rect judgment by the use of our repro
hanan1 ab
descriptions as we can find and Try
to make up our loss by closer con-
sideration of the other requirements.
But n picture must be also studied
In the light of its ideas. And IN de.
filming this kind of guidance we can
not do better than to follow the
classification used by Ruskin in his
Modern Painters. 1t is a list of five
again. First, Ideas of Power-let us
keep the capitals for proper en-
phasis, which he treats in the way
of general principles, in regard to
execution. and in relation to the
sublime. Second, Ideas of Imitation
which form an integral part of every
picture, however great and creative,
though imitation is the lowest form
of artistic expression. Third, Ideas
of Truth which underle all tone and
color, light and shade and space
Fourth, Ideas of Beauty, which as re.
vealed in the art OF painting, is always
typical and always vital. And fifth
Ideas of Relation which are largely
confined to invention formal, and
invention spiritual.
The comprehension of these things
is not difficult matter but a very
simple one. The connoisseur with all
his mass of minute details is still de.
~ lent upon the few fundamental
p'ilciples which the novice may fix
in the mind by an hours application
And the historian with all his wealth