Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-05
NOTED ARTIST DEAD.
Death of Robert Cranneu Minor In
New York.

dispatch from New York last night
saws: Another artist of note among the
finer and more delicate producers OF land
scape has passed away with the death OF
Robert Crannell Minor. N. A. An Invalid
for many years, he gave up his New YORK
studio in 1900, but continued to work until
the last at his home in Waterford. near
New London where he passed away on
Wednesday.
Minor was born in New York city In
1910; he was the son of Israel Minor OF
Woodbury. Conn, and Charlotte Van HOOK
Crannell of New London.
Although his CLOSE of Day took
medal of the third class at the Paris ex-
positions Of 1889 it was not until the W.
T. Evans sale that he made decided I'M
preston on the picture-buying pubic:
Among the seven examples in Mr.. Evans
collection was this medaled picture: it sold
for $1,000. The artist was present at the
sale and was much overcome that ne
broke down and had to leave the auction
hurriedly to conceal his emotion The price
called attention to him and helped to fix
much higher level for his imaginative
work Another landscape, "Eventide,' now
in the Corcoran at Washington. brought
s1725.
Minor first showed a distinctive original
ity in nocturnes. especially moonlight
views with moving water, brilliantly iiu-
minated by the moon behind foltase. his
sunsets were also eagerly coveted by anna
Tours At Paris. in 1900 he took an hon
orable mention for the nocturne with vivid
moonlight marine effects now In the
Jacob H. Schin collection. At the Pan
American and at the Charleston exhibition
he received silver medals. Many OF his
finest examples are in the collection of
Mr.. c. F. Smith and the new W. I. Evans
gallery. The academy exhibition of this
year contained his CLOUDY Moonlight,
september Evening and ''Nocturnes,"
y,ic hat hal
of his very best work, but are far from
suggesting the grievous affiictfon under
which the painter suffered during the past
six or seven years. one that affected his
locomotion but fortunately spared his
hands.
Within the well-defined limits to which he
wisely confined himself Robert c. Minor
offers an example of high imaginative en-
deavor that always had to contend with
certain lack Of facile workmanship. His
pictures are not smooth and limpid produc-
lions. which carry themselves of by their
triumph over technical difficulties. but
paintings that reflect struggle to achieve
something more than the mere reproduction
Of nature.
Minor liked the mystery of darkness and
is most successful when appealing to the
times a subtle use Of contrasts in light and
dark, or, as the old people used to say in
chiaroscuro. as in the Midnight Of the
Evans sale Only second to these are the
landscapes tndl Detfdy less aSItdClOn ana
are apt to contain the awe of twilight or
of early mOonrise like THE Hunters
Moon and Evening Star"
He has not left a very large number Of
pictures. so that one may expect to see
his finer canvases rapidly rise in value dur
ing the coming winter. He has always been
collectors favorite rather than a popu-
lar painter. but the limitation Of the sup
ply of his work will tend to recommend 1t
to those who think first Of the salable quail
ity of 4 picture. regarding it more as an
investment OF money than a source OF
pleasure.
Minor was an etcher as well as painter
in earlier years: he was a member of the
American Water Color Society and the
Society Of Landscape Painters: in 1897 he
was elected a National Academician He
was one of the charter members OF the
National Arts Club. and belonged to the
Lotos and Salmagundi Clubs He was mar
RED but lost his wife some years ago.
Several children survive him.