Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
THOMAS MAST, ARTIST.
Work He Did to Show That He Was
Not Only Cartoonist.

From the New York Tribune.
Friends here of Thomas Mast, the we'll
known cartoonist, who died recently in
Ecuador, have interested themselves in a
bill to be introduced in Congress calling for
the appropriation Of $4,000 for the pur-
chase of his historical paintings. While
Mr.. Nasts reputation in the popular mind
will perhaps always rest upon his cartoons,
to those who knew him well he was not
only cartoonst, but painter. 1t was his
ambition to be some time recognized as one
of the great painters of his day. Villa Fon-
tana, as Mr.. Mast styled his home in Nor
ristown, N. j., is veritable storehouse OF
art objects. In his lifetime Mr.. Mast trav-
eled much, and everywhere he added to his
collection. Some Of these objects were
bought by him, others were the Gift OF
friends, but sooner or later all came to Villa
Fontana, and there they are today.
Few knew the sacrifice it was to Mr. Mast
to tear himself away from these reminders
of the happiest years Of his life, and go to
to Guayaqui, Ecuador, when the announce
ment of his appointment as consul came.
1t meant leaving his family, his art treas
ureS, his own art work behind for when the
announcement came. he was engaged in
painting what he hoped to make master
piece Of his series of historical paintings
He had not named the picture. and for lack
of a better the members of his family have
given it the descriptive title of Lee Await
Ing Grant" Unfinished, as he left it, the
big canvas is still in Mr.. Nast's Norris
town studio beside his painting OF Carl
baldi" In the foreground of the painting
sits the vanquished confederate leader, his
gray head bowed In despair, and his eyes
fixed upon the half unsheathed sword across
the state Of Virginia, and the sword he
must soon surrender to the leader of the
northern army. In the background are two
fgures-at the right Colonel Marshall. Lees
Of Grants aids who arranged the meeting.
The scene Of the picture is a room in Nc
Leans farmhouse at Appomattox. Mr..
Mast went there and made sketches OF the
place to help him In the painting.
This painting Is not, however, one of
those 1t is proposed to buy under the pro-
visions of the bill soon to be introduced in
Congress. The measure will probably pro-
vide for the purchase Of five of Mr.. Nast's
best-known wartime paintings. Among his
best works of this class are Peace Again."
Lincoln Entering Richmond" Saving the
Flag" THE March Through, Georgia.
''The 7th Regiment Going to War" 1.-The
Halt" and Faithful Unto Death" But
Mr.. Mast was not alone a painter of his
torical scenes. villa Fontana contains
many evidences of his ability with the
the hooks and crannies of the big house are
many little sketches Of friends and large
sized paintings Of various subjects. Among
Mr.. Nast's other paintings are Christ and
the actor Burton as ''Toodles."
Mr.. Mast had an imposing mantelpiece in
the parlor of villa Fontana, known to men,
bers Of the household as the Shakespearean
mantel. Files gathered by Mr.. Mast after
years Of patient search have been grouped
into pictures of characters and scenes from
Shakespeare. and the whole so harmonized
as to present one Shakespeare memorial.
covering the greater part of one side of a
room. Just above the fireplace and beneath
the mantelshelf Is a carved box cover which
came from the Shakespeare house. To
he NJ ohlf IN
buy the whole box. Across a strip Of highly
polished brass running the width of the
open fireplace Is Shakespeares epftaph:
Good friend for Tesus sake forbeare
To dlgg the dust enclosed heare:
Bleat be y. man Vt spares thes stones
And curst be he Vt moves my bsnes.