Evening star., 1899-06-24
ART AN D A R 7 s 5

To many Washingtonians the death Oh
Gaylord Sangston Truesdel in New YORK
last week brought q sense of personal losS'
and both the painter and his work are pet
ter known and appreciated here than III
any other city in his native land. In no
other city are so many of his works oWned'
and some of his best pictures are TO De
found in Washington homes. coming 10
Washington in 1889, he only remained d
year, but it was visit fraught with I'M
portance, as it paved the way for the meas
ure of financial success which his work SUB
seauently met with in the city. Mr.. Philip
I. Dodge, quick to recognize the close op-
servation of nature in the artists pictures,
was his first patron in Washington, and or
the two canvases that he purchased the
picture showing two girls carrying lunch
to the harvesters is work of rare truth
and fidelity. From time to time other men
indicated their appreciation by acquiring
works from his brush. The late Mr.. Gardl-
ner Hubbard purchased a notable canvas,
Mr.. Louis p. Shoemaker acquired three and
Mr.. George Truesde1l bought four pictures,
including one of the most striking things
that the artist ever produced, a composition
showing cattle under strong effect of sun
light. Mr.. James M. Johnston, Mr.. 5. H.
Kaufman, Mr.. Jerome Wilbur and Mr..
Stilson Hutchns are among the others who
have representative works by Truesdell in
their collections. The most important pic
ture owned in Washington is Going to
Pasture the large canvas purchased by
the Corcoran Art Gallery in 1891. 1t Is not
generally known that when this picture
was exhibited in the salon of 80 it re-
ceived the equivalent of a third medal, and
a statement of the facts will not be out OF
place at the present time. In the previous
year Truesdell had exhibited at the Paris
exposition picture of an old shepherd and
his flock, subsequently purchased by Mr..
Dol -t,ir,
ist awarded third medal. When the
picture now in the Corcoran Gallery was
shown in the salon a year later the jury
voted to recognize the medal that had been
awarded at the exposition, and the picture
was ticketed .Medalle Anterieurement"
Without actually receiving any media! in
the salon that year the artist was placed
in the same class with those who had al
ready received third medals. In '92 his
picture of cattle on the river bank won for
him the distinction of a second medal. No
one but a Frenchman has ever received
the first medal, and only three artists from
our own country have ever been honored
with a second medal. The other two men
are John Sargent and Frederic Macmon-
MES, the latter receiving his medal for
sculpture in the same year that Truesdeil
received his for painting.
Even after Truesdel had attained emf
nence through his honors in the salon his
life remained the same hard struggle that
1t had been when he first went to Paris in
strong lifelike productions they were but
not one person out of fifty wishes to be
painted just as he. really is and the un-
compromising truth that will make his
pleln air subjects live prevented his becom-
ing popular portrait painter He felt that
ne could express himself best In large pic
lures, and he frequently painted the huge
cahVases that are only suited for museums
or very large private galleries. and are
consequently difficult to dispose of Some
OF the artists greatest productions remain
ed IN his hands at the time of his death.
ana there Is movement foot in New
J. 1orK 70 purchase one of the best of these
Inc Shepherd at LUNCH for presenta. .
tlon TO the Metropolitan Museum MAN
Is being considered by which before the dis
persia Oh the hundred or more pictures left
py the artist the best of them are to he
brought to Washington and combined win
such good works as can be borrowed from
private collections in Thoroughly renre-
sentative exhibition, in which the scope
anu po"er VI his art Will be fully revealed
X
MISS Edlth Ogden expects to place her
recently completed bust of Judge Landor
on exhibition at Veerhoff's, and it will
prooably be on view there by the latter
part OF next week In portraiture she has
done nothing SO forceful and full of char
asteI as this pust and yet this boldness of
effect is united with very keen and delicate
observation of detail. AS a likeness If
leaves little to be desired and Judge Lam
dors friends are one in their commenda-
ton of it.
Mr.. Walter King Stones drawings in
black and white are familiar as yet to yery
lew Washingtonians, but as his work he
comes better known appreciation is sure
to follow. For his little landscape and ma
rine compositions have what artists sum
up under the one word quality" and Quail
ity is-well. it's quality, and that's about
the clearest definition that can be given.
1t Is a word that painters are apt to Use
when they feel in picture an artistic
charm that is difficult to analyze. and de-
fies expression in words. Whether depct
ing the breezy marine bits around Hamp
ton, Va, or presenting views of sunny
meadows and cool, shady orchards he is
remarkably skillful in seizing upon the yery
essence of the scene, and in giving a pecu-
iiarly vivid impression of the salient feat
ures So suggestive Of warmth and color
are his well composed little sketches that
the term black and white seems almost a
misnomer when applied to them. He is at
present devoting special attention to the
study of Aanimals, and as he is employed
at the Biological Park he has exceptional
opportunities for observing them at all
public a chance to know his work by send
ing some contributions to the exhibit of
the Water Color Club in the autumn.
lts& announced that the large picture of
th9 signing 81 the Spanish protocol, which
Chartran IL painting. and which was the