The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-05
OOQQQOOQQQOQOOQOQQQQQ Q0o00000000O0O00Ol
VIRGINIA. ARTIST WHO PAINTED .
3

y In countless homes adorned by the world
famous picture. the \ Rock Of Ages =
would be matter Of surprise to learn
that the artist the Rev. Johannes ~
Oertel. now in his Seightieth year. is
resident OF the village OF Vienna. N Fair
fax county. Va. where. in a picturesque
studio OF his own modelling. he continues
the work known wherever art has pcne-
trn ted. Il .55ffi6s 37ssStf
The qualities which win popular favor
are little Understood. An author makes
happy hit'' unconscio usly. song
catches tho public ear. one cannot tell
how or Why, and is whistled in every
thoroughfnre and played upon every cor.
ner. f5595 l
But the secret Of the popularity OF the
Rock OF Ages 1s an open one. which
:"he who runs may read - It is founded
upon a deep and universal need IN the
human heart. manifested in every ago
since the crea uon--aS need for something!
stronger and higher than itself t. which
It may cling amid the storms OF llfe;8 a
need for something stable In nGworld
where all things Yield to the inexorab bic
law OF change.
tion OF the Christian faith. In the midst,
OF an ocean OF sin the cross founded Upon
the eternal Godhead and Offering the only
refuge, erects ITSELF TO 1t a female fig Is
ure ,clIngs. She is the emblem OF weak
ness, Of helpless dependence OF affection
ate trust. Her garment is wet. With the
spray Of daily temptation and Ninnrmity.
but her gaze is upward. from whence
streams the light Of forgiveness OF hope
and OF love. ii
The artist, a native OF Bavaria, who
came to America in 1S4S settling In New
ark, N, j.. first skctched It In the, album
Of a young girl living In Westerly, r, /. It
}nfv n
small painting OF the subject In oil, which
he exhibited at the National Academy Of
Design, In New York III This caught the
keen eye OF II a Broadway dealer. who,
realizing its commercial value, induced
Mr., Oertel to make a large painting.
and ono Of these falling 'I;to the hands
OF Mr.. James. OF Providence. r, l., no
purchased the right OF publishing all sub
sequent copies. Fly III lS
The painting was bought for $1,000
by Augustus 6torrs, a Brooklyn mer--.
chant, while the run upon the unframed
pictures. ten inches high, gotten out BY
Mr.. James and selling for IS apiece,
was unprecedented In the history Of pho,t
Biography, the operators being unable to
meet the demand and deal ers losing sales
from insufficient copies, x + I. 5 5fi
Mr.. James next venture was a chro-
molithograph. made under his own sn-
PSt
London on his way homo he sold three
OF these chromos for nine guneas to
Mr.. Graves. the Queens bookseller. In
Pail Mall. Upon his arrival 9 In Liver-
pool telegraphlo order awaited him from
that gentleman for thirty additional
copies: and on reaching New York ne
received an application, from him for
the entire edition VII s58 "a
a Indeed, phenomenal as was the sale OF
this creation In AmfSica. Il was greater
abroad. An English nobeman hazards
the assertion that, In some one OF It's
varied forms. It Is to be found In every
PALACE and hoyel IN the island; and a
traveller returning from a tour OF the
world exclaimed; The picture haunts
me. It follows me wherever 80! have
seen 1t In Chill 7 have seen II also IN the
Pyrenees.' it'd q q i
first photographs. Mr. James had real
lied as his share OF the profits SIS 900.
Mr. Oertel, too, was In receipt OF a hand \
some Income in royalties, and with this
assured support (haying pursued his
Theological studies Without assistance. and
been ordained to the priesthood Of the
Protestant Episcopal Chnrch) he res
moved In 1867 to I.enoiri In North Caro-
lima, and took charge Of q congr ton
Impoverished by the Civil War.
Two Yeags later ep u1saNt h2Elssa $copy