The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-02

that his brother had been in ill health
for long time and Immediately answered
the summons. arriving in Washington
three days before his brothers death
Gilbert Munger who was 66 years old,
is one Of the few artists, whom Mime
sofa can claim as her own. In the fam
lily, which is of Connecticut origin were
four brothers, in all of whom the artistic
temperament was highly developed Will
liam, Roger S. and Russell developed this
trait along musical lines, William, who
died young, being violinist Of marked
skill. These three came to Minnesota in
1859. Roger S. and Russell were music
dealers in st. Paul for a great many
years. It was in their store building on
Third street that their brother Gilbert es-
tablished his studio in 1869 and there he
painted more & or less during the next
two years. At that time the subjects he
chose were interesting Minnesota scenes
notably the Red River Ok Trains which
brought fur down from the Canadian
border and tweref sufficiently picturesque
to attract attention Of anyone.
Minnehaha1 i1ra those years was not the
trucking stream that it has been recently.
Mr.. Munger put the beauties Of the falls
ON canvass. He introduced into his pic
lures of Minnehaha, some real Indians,
whom he found living at Mendoza The
first large canvas of the falls, shat he fin
ished was sold to Mr.. Ralston, a San
Francisco banker, and is now highly
priced by his family. The two or three
others that Mr.. Munger painted at that
time became apart of the art collections
of eastern peopfe1 valuable paintings Of
Mississippi scenery were consumed in a.
fire, which destroyer Munger Bros. es-
tablishment some years later
Mr.. Munger's art education began in
Washington, DE- c.. when she was en-
ployed by Commodore Wilkes At that
time, sketch book in hand, he visited the
env1rons OF Washington and roamed over
the hills of Georgetown, making sketches.
1T was his Intention Ito become an expert
steel engraver and during his early years
he worked at that employment Wider
fields Of art, however. tempted him the
result being that the art galleries Of Eu-
rope and America shave3been enriched by
specimens of his work. It is remarkable
That altho he sold pictures at prices as
high as $4,000 he never received an art
lesson during the whole course of his
life.
His first art work was done in the Rocky
mountains, where he was connected with
the first survey, ever organized by the
government, under Clarence King. En-
couraged by some: Engl ishmen,. whom he
met there, he went. to England and es-
tablished himself on the Thames in q
houseboat. The pastoral scenery of Eng.
land appealed strongly to his artistic
temperament and there he spent severa
years. Subsequently he went to Paris
joining the American colony there, anc
until very recently made that his home
He was an indefatigable worker ani
frequently spent a whole day and hal,
a night at one sitting at his easel
He Travelled extensively in Europe ant
found q ready sale for all his pictures
One of these trips was made with Millais
who was his PERSONAL friend and together
they painted in the highlands Of Scotland
He sold pictures in Germany, Russia
Italy, France, Belgium, South America
England and the United States and was
decorated by nine different rulers At hi
death he left about thirty Of his pictures
which were on exhibition; in New York
His brother Roger IN whose possession
they now are, is inclined to offer them TO
exhibition to the state of Minnesota t,
be sent to the Louisiana Purchase Elk
position next year, as examples of Mime
sofa art. They are some Of the finest
many of them the largest canvases thai
| Gilbert Munger ever painted. They repre-
sent scenes in all parts of the world ant
are considered splendid examples of par
! of the life work of one of the creates
painters America has had.