Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-23
GIRL ARTISTS SUFFER,

Edwin A. Abbey, the artist whose
 mural paintings illustrating the Quest
 of the Holy Grail have given the
 Boston Public library international
 fame, arrived in this country in Janu-
 ary with the last ten paintings of the
 series MT Abbey came over to super
 intend the installation of the paint
 ings, which were exhibited in London
 and later in New York 'sThe Quest of the Holy GraiT' has occupied Mir Abbey's attention for nearly eleven
 years. A studio was built on purpose for this work in Gloucester. England,
 where the light was, as much as pos sible, as it was in the room in the It. brary where the paintings have found
 permanent home. When the artist was engaged to decorate the delivery room of the Boston library, he was told to choose his own subject. When
 he was asked how he came to selecr as his subject ''The Quest of the Holy Grail he replied, Because it was the earliest romance that appeared to all Christendom.' Then he added: T wanted something popular and TO- nance seemed the most appropriate. A library is a place that belongs to ROORA(s chosen with this in view He went on to say that it was difficult to choose the subjects for the many pictures as there was enough material in the leg end to decorate the walls of many Ii. braries. Mir Abbey was born in Phil adelphia in 1852 He remained in that city until he was twenty years old when he removed to New York. where he won distinction as an illustra for. Later he went to England and illus trated series of old English ballads With such success that he was wei comed with enthusiasm into the very highest artistic circles of London. MT
 Abbey is very much interested in his own work; he finds time to do his nart also in the whole field of art. He is very anxious to have an American l School of Arf, and since he has been in this country, has taken active meas ures toward securing money for that end. He hopes to have it located in | Philadelphia. Mir Abbey is very dis I couraging in regard to the American student in Paris. He says that there are over two thousand American st1,- \ dents in the Latin Quarter buf that the Latin Quarter is more fascinating Ill name than in reality It is sordid and dismal in the extreme. If is full of wrecks who meant to be artists. and the worst of it is. that so many of the sufferers are girls s.In the frs. place" he says. they are told that if Is possible to live on next to nothing
 which is not true. They oftentimes do not know the French language. and consequently are swindled right and left, until the struggling artist becomes the starving girl. Resources and cour- age give out vet pride will keep them
 rom turning back home with failure
 Written across their lives. Besides there is not one girl in five thousand Who has the strength for the battle for success in art They don't realize
 what it means. No one must be less of student than an artist. I used to think when I was working hard that by and by things would come ] easier, but it is not so. One must study always Mir Abbey has been commissioned to paint the coronation scene ill Westminster Abbey It is an , unlocked for honor and an exceptional ! tribute to American art from the. Brit ish crown The Brown Book. of Bos- I ion rs is sSs