The San Francisco call., 1904-06-26
III NJ @Z1S W zz5 o5z0u0oSH /

and the galloping horse of Vinicius.
And his is not only the execution, but
even the conception and design, sketch
ed from nature or created from imag-
ination-
PAINTS TOLSTOTS PORTRAIT.
The boy next did his portrait of
Tolstoi which was hung in the Paris
salon of last year and created no lit
tie sensation. But he still worked on,
never taking lessons, never having
taken lessons, offering, on the con-
trary, advice to his father which
might easily have emanated from
veteran in the art. Heller, their next
door neighbor, came in occasionally
and gave him valuable hints. but there
were never any lessons or semblance
If them, for the reason Gt is Jan Styka
again who speaks) that this boy Of 19
had already acquired his art by natural
gift.
He has just sent in two canvases to
the salon, which were instantly ac-
cepted-a portrait of his father and,
strange and difficult introspection,
portrait of himself. In the studio,
among other works, there hang two
studies of "Ecce Homo" and a study
Of the Flight of Icarus," not yet fin
ished. There are, too, innumerable
drawings, as well as several works of
sculpture, including one of long
haired greyhound, which is wonderful
ly clever. This last manifestation of
his genius is perhaps the most strik-
ing of all. The father is not sculptor,
and so could not have taught Tada had
he wished The boy somehow got hold
of a handful Of clay, and when the
dog, a stray pet of the studio, strolled
in, modelled him then and there.
He is also copying Holbein at the
Louvre. A special authorization had
to be obtained for him from the Min
lister of Fine Arts. it not being the
custom, protested the administration,
to admit children of such tender years.
Another canvas that we'll illustrates
the trend of his talent is a Hungarian
battle scene. His father is working
upon a composition, BEN and Patof,"
the heroesh Of the Hungarian war Of
independence. Tada saw it and de-
picted it, too-not in servile imitation,
but as his own, independent vision
saw it, the grouping. coloring and gem
eraI plan entirely distinct For" he
said naively Il also would like to be a
Meissonier"
It can easily be imagined that Tada
Styka does not present many points Of
resemblance with other boys of his
age. Small, even for his years (espe-
cially in comparison with his father,
broad-shouldered giant, thin and pal
lid, with the eyes that grasp the vision
of truth and beauty and the mobile
mouth that speaks of limitless poten-
tiaI emotion, he is bright and CHEEKY
when reused, but loves rather to rest in
repose, and is timid because sensitive,
silent because absorbed.
He has had his romping. Of course,
and recalls with pleasure his bicycling
escapades with Jean de Reszke's son
last summer at st. Jean de Luz. He
rides a horse and enjoys it, and in the
studio can be seen an elastic home ex-
erciser, to make him strong. says his
father since health and strength are
the handmaidens of successful art. But
the truth is, he exists only for i, his
work. "Taciturn and solitary" they
termed him at the Jesuits'; but 1t was
no such thing. No morbid limitation,
only an absolute self-devotion.
is FATHERS COMPANION.
Father and son live alone together in
their studio of the Place Pigalle, Bohe-
milan both. There is no show of au-
thority on the fathers side. Tada is
serious" and needs no guiding hand.
So they work together, and for recrea-
ton roam out TO see the galleries, the
Luxembourg or Louvre.
1t is wonderfully interesting to see
them paint simultaneously from the
same model. She sits before their two