New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
THOMAS MAST, THE ARTIST
WORK HE DID TO SHOW THAT HE WA:
SOMETHING BESIDES A CARTOONIST.

SOMETHING BESIDES A CARTOoNIST.
Friends here of Thomas Mast, the well known
cartoonist, who died recently IN Ecuador, have
interested themselves in bill to be introduced
In Congress calling for the appropriation Of
$4,000 for the purchase of his historical paint
ings
While Mr.. NaSts reputation in the popular
mind will perhaps always rest upon his cartoons.
to those who knew him well he not only
a cartoonist but painter. 1t his ambi-
ton to be some time recognized Of the
great painters Of his day.
Villa Fontana as Mr.. Mast styled his home in
Morristown, N. j. is a veritabe storehouse Of
art objects. In his lifetime Mr.. Mast travelled
much, and everywhere he added to his collec-
ton Some Of these objects were bought by him,
others were the gift Of friends, but
kter all came to Villa Fontana, and there they
to-day.
Few knew the sacrifice 1t was to Mr. Mast to
tear himself away from these reminders of the
happiest years of his life. and go to Guayaquil,
Ecuador, when the announcement Of his ap-
pointment consul came. It meant leaving
his family his art treasures, his own art work
behind for when the announcement came he
was engaged in painting what he hoped to
make masterpiece of his series Of historical
paintings He had not named the picture and
for lack Of better the members of his family
have given it the descriptive title Of Lee Await
ing Grant" Unfinished, he left it, the big
is still in Mr. Nasts Morristown studio
beside his painting of "Garibaldi" In the fore
ground of the painting sits the vanquished Con-
federate leader his gray head bowed in despair.
and his eyes fixed upon the half unsheathed
sword across his knees-the sword presented to
him by the State of Virginia and the sword he
must soon surrender to the leader of the North
army. In the background are two figures
al the right, Colonel Marshall Lees aid, and
at the left Captain Babcock, one of Grants aids
who arranged the meeting. The scene of the
picture is a room in McLean's farmhouse at
Appomattox. Mr.. Mast went there and made
sketches of the place to help him in the paint
Ing
This painting is not, however, one Of those It
is proposed to buy under the provisions Of the
bill soon to be introduced in Congress. The
measure will probably provide for the purchase
of five of Mr. Nasts best known wartime paint
irgs. Among his best works of this class are
Peace Again." Lincoln Entering Richmond"
Saving the Flag" THE March Through Geor-
ga.'' The 9TH Regiment Going to War The
Halt" and Faithful Unto Death"
But Mr.. Mast was not alone painter of his
torical scenes. Villa Fontana contains many
evidences of his ability with the brush along
other lines. Tucked away in the hooks and
crannies of the big house many little
sketches of friends and large sized paintings of
various subjects. Among Mr. Nasts other
paintings are Christ" and the actor Burton
"Toodles"
Mr.. Mast had an imposing mantelpiece in the
parlor of Villa Fontana, known to members of
the household the Shakespearian mantel
Tiles 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 room. Just above the
fireplace and beneath the mantelshelf is a
carved IoX cover which came from the Shake
speare house To secure the cover Mr. Mast was
obliged to buy the whole box. Across a strip
of highly polished brass running the width of
the open fireplace is Shakespeare's epitaph:
Good friend for Iesus sake forbeare
TO digg the dust enclOaSed heare:
Elest be ye man vt spares thes stones
And curst be he Vt moves my bones.