New-York tribune., 1904-10-06
TWO MURAL PAINTINGS.
gFr. BgashtfcId,s Decorations for the
Minnesota State Capitol.

An summer long Mr. Edwin II. Blashheld has
beep laborinz in the north gallery Of the Fine
Arts building upon two lurettes FOR the Senate
Chamber in the new state Capitol OF Mime
sofa at St Paul lie has practically completed
these large canvases-tliey measure 81 feet by
a feet-and he exhibits them At the Fine Arts
Building to-day and tomorrow, IN the after
noon Thee decorations constitute an eloquent
reminder II the distance travelled by American
mural painting fn the comparatively short time
that has elapsed since it first secured its oppor-
funity II took Us a long time to realize what
might be done in our public buildings through
the developrnert of this form % art. and when
at last the moment arrived for Sthe new move
F.eut 10 begin il found not altogether pre-
pared few painters were ready 10 gr2pple
with the special problem that mural decora-
ton Involves. but for one authoritative produc-
fion ike Mr.. La Farge's beautiful painting IN
The Church Of the Ascension we mad at the
outset n great many amateUTish efforts. MI
Blashaeld was one Of the few who brought TO
she cultivation Of this hitherto unexploited prov
ince an instructive feeling for its rather arbi-
frary conditions He. too. had to confront grave
dIflculties in his work. But he has conquered
them as the years have gone on. and the lu-
nettes he is showing mark a great advance
upon his earlier oanvases.
They mark it especially in the air OF ease they
wear Of a monumental scheme worked out from
the centre, and placed firmly upon it's legs
From them, as from divers recent productions
OF other hands. it is plain that American mural
painting has conle to its maturity. It win go
on. We believe, TO finer and finer achievements.
but In the mean time works like these give
abundant cause for pride. They are TO face one
another across a distance Of about forty feet
N one OF them Mr.. Blashfeld connlemorates
and n Minnesota,
grouped at the head waters OF the Mississippi
IA the centre OF the composition the Manitou
OF Great Spirit, IS enthroned kind Of nat
ursl eEnlnence. against cluunp OF massive tree
trunks. The dense foliage Of the forest provides
a CANOPY for this majestic Indian; beneath It
we look out upon a thtcklY wooded landscape
framed by purple hills and g cloudless sky. On
the rock at the feet OF the dominating figure
where the water starts upon its long passage, an
Indian brave stands with a woman Of his own
race a few feet away. The man faces the
rlght the seventeenth century French explorers.
TO the left the woman looks up at a priest, who
offers her the cross, and behind him the col
onlsts are grouped. A dog sled on this side OF
che canvas and a canoe on the other are intro
saceS 20 record the two modes OF transportation
which were indispensable to the opening OF the
Northwest This composition was suggested TO
Mr.. Blashfeld by the fact that the city OF St
Paul stands at the head OF navigation on the
Mississippi The note struck is essentially char
acteristio os pioneering days; the types Illus
trated are ali those which are bound up with
the opening chapters OF our history. and they
are appropriately shown against background
Of rude beauty.
In the companion painting the artist symbol
Ices modern Minnesota, the Minnesota which is
''the granary OF the world" She IS represented
as a dark haired woman OF grave demeanor.
robed in white and gold, and seated upon
sheaves OF wheat which are borne by great
white oxen She is accompanied by two winged
geniuses who lean toward her from above or
either side TO crown this goddess OF plenty. On
the right Of the oxen before which a small
figure nude winged. and bearing q tablet. is
placed, men are gathered together. Their dress
indicates the period of the Civil War and Of
Aainnesofa's youth as a state. The spirit OF the
war IS embodied in a graceful. floating figure.
Opposite a kindred figure synbolizes the era Of
peace, and beneath her protecting arms types Of
happy industry are shown. A fine impression Of
oncoming movement slow and stately, but pow
trfuI is conveyed by the central group in this
scheme. The subsidiary figures watch the
progress OF the presiding genius Of the Mime
sofa Of to-day in attitudes admirably adjusted
20 the dramatic and pictorial exigencies Of the
theme just as, in the other decoration, the white
men on either side of The legendary ruler Of the
virgin country fall into positions perfectly bal
Ancing the whole Mr.. Blashneld's color is
rich but restrained. His handling is clean cut
and strong. He has built up two impressive
fabrics with equal skill and taste, and he is 10
be warmly congratulated on notable achieve
ment.