The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-01
A Kansas Boy
Gains Renown in
ltal v as a Sculptor.


Abraham Lincoln Hanson of Kansas,
is another American artist TO go abroad
and achieve distinction. Additional inter
est is added to this fact in that the artist
is full fedged negro, the first American
colored man who have ever gained prom
inence in the art of sculptuary. Born OF
poor parents he early manifested talent
for sculpture, and. through the kindness
Of those attracted to him by his skill,
he was enabled TO study under competent
masters.
Abroad, particularly in Belgium, his
work has attracted general attention, not
able among his productions being the bust
of the king of Belgium. Mr.. Hanson has
all the artists eccentricities, and makes
a speciality of appearing in strange cos
tunes, a tendency which Gas aroused
general discussion. his favorite masquer
ade being an Indian costume.
In discussing his work recently Mr..
Hanson said: 'I was born in Leaven-
worth Kansas, in 1867. My parents were
poor slaves, owned by a wealthy plan
ter in Parkville, Mo. When he released
them they moved to Kansas, and, owing
to their very stringent circumstances.
was put to work on the farm to help
exc out living The work was very
distasteful to me, and soon received the
name of poor lazy Niger on, account
of my neglect of the tasks set me.
az shirked the farming at every oppor
tunity and spent every moment I could
steal in making figures and animals out
of clay and mud. One day when my
mother took me to visit some friends in
Kansas l found a peculiar kind of soft
rock that somewhat resembled marble in
appearance. In a few minutes I was at
work with my knife and in few hours
had carved out a bust Of one of the noted
characters in the town, so life like and
true to nature that I was considered a
genius by the people, and orders for busts
came thick and fast I was able to give
up the distastefuI farm life and devote
my time almost entirely to modelling.
IAN exhibition which I gave in Kan
sas of marble statues Of Washington,
Cleveland, Mckinley and fictitious char
acters attracted much attention. and it
was through this exhibition that 1 was
enable to have some of my work shown
at the Worlds Fair.
while in Chicago I gave several pri-
ceived very t1attering attention. At one
of these exhibitions 1 had the good for
tune to meet a noted Belgium artist,
who EXPRESSED great interest in my work.
At the close of the exposition he offered
to take me to Belgium with him and Sc
cure instruction for me under the best
masters. OF course I accepted. and seven
years ago 1 left America and commenced
studying abroad.
while working in Italy was present.
ed to the royalty and requested to carve
a bust of the baby of the royal house
a little four-year-old fairy, and the idol
of the entire household. 1 made a full
figure of the little lady, which proved en-
tirely satisfactory, and won for me the
gratitude and favor Of the King of Italy
and his followers.
"I studied in France for awhile, and
then came here and I have been treated
most kindly by the people of Belgium.
have given a number of exhibitions, all
of which have been very encouraging.
1 have just recently completed bust
of the King of Belgium. His Majesty
graciously sat for me, although it has
been a labor of eight months. l feel full
ly repaid for the hard work spent upon
it by the approval it has met with. The
King is delighted with the statue and
has offered to give me an exhibition in
the royal palace. All during the work
he took an active interest in its prog
ress and watched every step. often offer
ing valuable suggestions
AT the last sitting I entertained him
by modelling clay busts of Dewey, Presi-
dent Mckinley and other noted Ameri-
| cans. Clay modelling has always been a
fad Of mine, and always before attempt
ing to carve figure or head 1 first model
it in clay. / usually destroy these little
plaster images long before the marble
statue is completed, but my studio con-
tains a queer collection Of studies in clay
subjects which have appealed to me, and
which have nodded and put aside until
1 can find time to make them live IN
marble.
There is seldom a day passes that I
do not model one or more little clay fig
ures and by doing this I have galped
great speed in producing these plaster
casls. After the marble bust of the King
was completed I took up a piece OF clay
and in ten minutes had finished another
likeness Of his majesty. The King was
delighted and would not hear Of me de-
stroying the little plaster model. He de-
clared that il was as life-like as the
marble statue which expresses eight
months labor. aud the little clay figure
occupies a place of honor in the royal
chambers.
Il have been urged by the King Of
Belgium and others who are interested
in my career to enter some OF my work
at the Paris Exposition, and I have also
received encouragement from America
in this respect. Il has also been sug-
gested that ! enter the international mod
cling contest at the Exposition, and If I
do enter. ] feel confident OF success, as
have already won the championship
three times for the quality and quickness
OF my modelling.
~ have frequently been called eccentric
on account Of the different styles Of dress
I adopt acknowledge it may be a
foolish fancy, but ! seem to work more
easily and accomplish better results II
dressed in the gar5 OF the character
am working on. also change the furni-
turc OF my studio II possible ard surround
myself with pictures, draping and gar
nishings Of the times in which my model
lived.
Il expect TO remain in Europe until the
close Of the Paris Exposition. and then
very likely l shan return 10 America and
/ commence work on a large group OF his
toric hg1res which I have been planning
! for some years"
A REPUBLIC IN CHINA
When his steamer comes 70 anchor in
| the Hwang-pu River and the traveller gets