New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
THE CAPE COD ART SCHOOL
STUDENTS LED THERE BY MIR. HAW-
THORNE FIND INTERESTING
THINGS TO PAINT


Provincetown. July 24.-Ths old town has
coached Just that stage in its decline where the
artist has only to come in and find things wait
ing to be painted Mr.. Hawthorne has stepped
in, and with him a little circle of art students.
1t is good to see the way in which this painter
has fallen in with the character Of Province
town in the selection of the studio for his pupils
This is old sail loft, touching the edge of
ProVincetown HarbOr. and paints the
entire world seems to consist of ships, seamen,
fishermen and salty things; and if the student
las sensitive makeup he must needs restrain
himself or be captured by the nautical talk.
Aside from its seagoing character, the town
possesses another charm. The New-England
village comes strongly to the front and one can
turn his back the harbor. and the eye is
met by quaint Colonial houses of dazzling white
less, relieved by the most stately trees Then.
again, there sand dunes. on the ocean side
and these are covered with beautiful grasses
mOsses and bayberry bushes.
This place having once been a port of no little
Importance. has naturally attracted people from
torelgn countries and among these many Port
uguese The Portuguese have retained the
manners and dress of their mother country and
.ie oiuer ones are unfamiliar with the English
i'"s udse' Ihey are a bane to the New-Eng-
l'nuers' but a delight to the students. for whom
they pose and form interesting spots of color in
the landscape
Ihere is still some shipbuildng going on, and
the unfinished vessel with its bare ribs DIaaeas
the eye of the painter
For those who have been abroad, and espe-
cialiy in Holland this place recalls NAM, Old
World scenes. The irregular nIacine Of tho
houses which were made to follow the line of
Ihe Shore. suggests the haphazard LAYING of an
olu european town. OF course the princiDaI
street was made to follow the line of houses
ana TINS necessarily winds like the shore After
d "hiie houses began to appear on both sides of
TINS narrow street, and these look as if they
SIMPLY sat down The turns that this street
takes make odd compositions
mere Wharves are the thing and there are
SIN hundreds OF them running out into the har-
por and their piers reflected by the water in
q most fascinating way. The owners of sail lofts
are also kind enough to allow students the rim
OF them Nets and tackle add interest to the in
teriors and there are mementos of the old
whaling days
The students interest the natives as much as
'he natives interest the students. and the best
people take advantage of the invitation to at
Irhu the criticisms. Criticism the student spells
with capital g" Much of his happiness de-
pends on the criticism. Every Saturday he or
she brings the weeks work to the studio where
Il IS placed on a large screen and every canvas is
commented upon before the entire class by Mr.
hd"thorhe. Enthusiasm is a vast factor and
1t IS certainly instilIed here From a tfmid hesi
tatlhg manner the student soon learns to take
bold steps
The Only outside element of Provincetown
consists in the student There is none Of that
Yulgarity which sometimes comes with the sum-
mer boarder The permanent inhabitants fit in
with the place, and there is no dscordant note
They welcome the students and do much to make
things agreeable. 1t is treat to go sailing with
some old sea captain, and still more of a treat
ii YOU get him to talk