The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-06-03
ESTHER
Griffin
v HITE

Miss Anna Newman, who would
have completed her course of instruc-
ton in the Chicago Art Institute this
wear had she not been called home
before the end Of the academy sea-
son, has some excellent, as we'll as
charming, work for display. Miss
Newman's studies from life, are, in
number of cases, almost faultless
in draughtmanship, and her studies
in color, notably the figure Of an old
man seated in a chair, are remark
ably strong for this less virile medium
Miss Newman has also been success
full in decorative design and altogeth
err shows wide range of attempt:
and successful accomplishment. Her
studies in the nude should especially
interest all those interested IN art and
the mere technical accomplishment Of
drawing as there depicted is indica
tive of the results to be obtained in
the schools under competent masters.
There is nothing more curious and
amusing than the attitude of various
classes of persons toward what is
termed, in common parlance, "the
nude in art.' 1t is universally ad-
mitted that the human body in a
state of perfection, is the most exalt-
ed example of beauty, pure ct simple,
in all created life. and that it was so
regarded by those greatest exemplars
of the aesthetic who have vet existed,
| the Greeks. is shown in those incOm-
parable masterpieces of art, especl-
ally in the plastic medium, which
have been set aside for all time and
by all peoples as the noblest mani
festations of the genius Of the artist
and the single aesthetic instinct yet
wrought bv mems hands. And still
the writer once heard a silly girl say,
when being shown a wonderful repro
ductiOn of the Milo, one of the
worlds greatest works of art, flip
ping lightly on her heel the while
"Oh. [ do not care for the nude IN
aht.' This embodies the attitude Of
a good many otherwise excellent peo-
pie who fancy they are going to heav-
en- a great deal quicker when they
die if they shudder virtuously over
the outline of a human form on can
vass. And vet these same people viii
sit by the hour delightedly whisper
ing the vilest scandal, glad and viii
ling to hear damaging tales about
their dearest friends, which they yet
know, all the while, are utterly un
true. Strange indeed and paradox
I ial is the human entity.
The indianapolis papers related {
droll story, anent the above, OF {
school teacher who took a party O.
!, her pupils to the Heron Art Insti
tute and was overcome when she sud
: denly found herself in a room will
the picture 1.-THE Kiss Of the Siren,
. one Of the most beautiful canvasse
> owned by that institution. Sh
blushed, covered her face, 'shoO ed ,
the children out of the room and alto
eether made an idiot of herself AM
at once raised all sorts of curlou
doubts and questions in the minds o
her little companions. Another teach
err. on the other hand, brought he
class into the room for the especia
| purpose of showing them the plctur
making a charming little story on
of the theme of the canvas, calling
attention to the beauty of the colo
in the composition and altogether de
lighting these young children who's
] plastic minds are ever ready to colo
= themselves by suggestion and impress
sion. This is the teacher who de
serves gold medal.
Richmond, which vaunts itself a
an cart center,' and which regard
itself as floating upon an exalte
plane of culture. should not presen
the amusing spectacle of having pruc
ish qualms about displaying a few e,
Icelent studies from the nude. Thi
is what provokes the laughter Of tn
gods and incidentally the cosmopolit'
1t betrays the provincial. TIL
!, "what the children will like cours
J: Of action in the education of the pull
d lie in matters pertaining to art,
:, that of the village and the boardin
= school, Children naturally like IL
n Storytelling picture,' whether
y, " wonderful example of the artist