The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-05

contribution to the art world. The we'll
known New York landscape painter, who
was few years ago elected national acad-
emician, is native of Mobile. Miss How
ard Weeden of Huntsville is revolutioniz-
ing thought in the north in regard to the
old time negro and the devotion that ex-
listed before the war between the slaves
and their owners.
Mrs. w. r. Lowell of this city ranks with
the best miniature portrait painters in
America. Her illustrations have appeared
in the best magazines. Miss Louise Lewis
also of birmingham, is an artist of more
than national reputation, having studied
in Paris for several years under the best
masters. Miss Alice Duncan of Montgom-
cry Is another talented daughter of Ala
bama that has forged to the front as a
painter of portraits. Mr.. William Parish Of
Mobile ranks second to none.
The display at the state fair will be an
art stimulus. pervading even the most
obscure and outlying sections developing
original and poetic thought in the small
er and quafnter hamlets of the state. In
such places a more intimate association
with nature, and a less sophisticated view
OF life should naturally develop original
plastic conceptions.
From the smaller village of Europe, I'M
contaminated with the conventionalities of
life, the ideal has sprung up in a freshness
unseen in the inhabitant of the great cities.
Malet was a peasant from small village
and, after having advanced far in his art,
was still not unfrequently seen with his
hand to the plow. For though art Is the
flower of civilZa ton the Individual stalk
on which it blossoms is from the lowly and
humble plant whose roots penetrate into
the virgin SOIL The stimulus of the pat
ronage and cultivated intercourse of an art
center are necessary to the full develop
ment, perhaps, but the seed is generated
in the mind of the unsophisticated and I'M
worldly. The higher faculties are not the
product of dollhouse education, but, in
spite of obstacles, 1t would almost seem on
account of them, develop in the most I'M
expected and neglected corners. The prim-
tive position of much of Alabama which
is well fitted for this harvest, may yet pro-
duce a goodly crop of this fine flower of
civilization.
That such anticipations are not unrea-
sonabe will be shown by the history of the
great art period of Italy. 1t was not Rome
Florence nor Venice that produced the
great artists of the Renaissance, Raphael
DeVinei Titan, and, with the exception of
Michael Angelo and few others, the ma
jority were from the obscurer villages. The
wealth and patronage of the cities was
necessary only to their development and
Alabama, in Birmingham, eventually be-
come artisticaly on a par with the ma
terial greatness and the muses., reluctant
to abandon their accustomed haunts con-
secrated to the triumphs of generations,
may finally find with us their most con-
genial abiding place. Slowly We are at
tanning an honorable parity with the older
civilizations in all their aesthetic develop
ments, and already many of our-American
exhibitors abroad are demonstrating their
right to be considered along side of Eu-
ropean masters of art
In the fullness of our growth we will
verify the closing lines of Bishop Berke-
ley's verses on the migration of the arts.
times noblest offering is her last"
ALMA RITTENBERRY.
Member Press Department Woman's Board
Alabama State Fair.