The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-19
CITY ART GALLERY
Has at Last Been Opened to the
Public.
Many Are the Wonderful
Things to Be Seen.
SAVED FOR YEARS.
Relics Of Days When City Was
Young.
Pictures of Bridges and Crema
tories and Maps of Sewers.

The Topeka City Art gallery, in the
city hall, is now opened to the public.
1t is merely a coincident that this
great municipal collection should be
for the first time announced just prior
to the State Photographers convention
and display in the Auditorium, for the
two events have absolutely no connec-
ton.
Ever since the city hall was built,
the collection of the art treasures now
displayed has been in progress. Some
of the choicest works were brought
over from the old city hall, after be-
ing displayed there for a great many
years. No one has ever attempted to
estimate the value on this municipal
collection. There are single pictures
upon which a price never has been
placed. They are simply not on the
market. Most of these masterpieces
have been donated to the city by pres
ent and former city officials, who OBJ
tained them through their personal or
official influence. In this way the Mu-
nicipal Art galley has been gradually
collected at practically no expense to
the city at large.
Beginning with the office of the city
physician, the first thing which at
tracts the attention of the art lover is
a sewer map of Topeka, elegantly
framed. This is a black and white
etching, and was presented to the city
physician by the city engineer a
token of his confidence and esteem.
One thing about this picture which at
tracts even the most casual observer
is the comparatively few lines used to
express a great deal. There is not an
unnecessary stroke of the pen, and this
severity of conception gives q cold tone
to the picture, which is, it must be ad-
mitted, characteristic of the city en-
gineer's art work
On the east wall of the room. dis
played in an effective two-thirds light,
is a small picture which might pass
almost unnoticed. 1t is we'll executed
dump-cart design, worked up in green
tones by an unknown artist. There is
a certain indescribable charm about
this picture, which is intensified by the
deep mystery surrounding its origin.
Near the dump cart picture hangs
one of the most vivid and realistic
things which exists in the city's col
lection. 1t is a magnificently executed
representa- ton of a dead animal crena-
design in such prominence that the
odor is plainly discernible, and it is
necessary to swab off the canvas with
formaldehyde every morning.
Arranged at intervals about the door
and window castings, with great artistic
feeling, are five calendars, mostly of
the 1904 model, but some dating back
some distance into the past. Some of
these calendars are valuable chiefly as
antiquities, as they are the work of
minor artists.
Going next into the city attorneys
office one of the chief attractions are
the mural decorations. These decora-
tions were placed on the walls by two
young American artists, whose
identity for the present is being con-
cealed on account of their family con-
nections. There is d luxurious profus-
ion of imagry in the work of these two
young men which speaks well for their
future. Some splendid effects are pro-
duced by the use of high light. In one
case, the high light is estimated to
measure 30 feet from tip to tip. The
cloud effects and the vivid flashes of
lightning are reproduced so perfectly
on the walls that the roof of the build |
ing leaks every time it rains.
In order to get the proper effect by |
contrast with the mural decorations of |
such power and brilliancy, the city at |
torney has hung in a most conspicuous |
place a severely plain little production
of his own, bearing the following til |
tie:
Notice: Sections of ordinances re-
lating to the destruction, defacing and |
injury of public property"
This expressive little conception has |
been approved by some of the best
judges, among them Judge II. Il. daZen |
of the district court.
One of the masterpieces displayed
by the city attorney is a map of KAN
sas by Michael Angelo. This is one of
the later productions of this great ar |
tist and Is noticeable chiefly for the I
brilliancy of coloring. Seventeen diff |
ferent colors aye used for the railroads !
alone AS an indication of his Irish
nativity, Michael has painted the body |
of the map green. The whole pro-
;e- fr-f1n m a
single town of any Importance being |
omitted.
What are no doubt the most preten-
tious paintings in the whole collection
are hung in the city clerks office. One
has a real moon in it, made of mother
of pearl Mother of pearl moons are
daily becoming more scarce, and this
is one of the few specimens now ex-
tant. In addition to the moon, there
is in the same picture a vast expanse
Of water, the whole constituting a
landscape. The picture is supposed to
have been executed by the Cunning
system, the same system which gets
out the portraits of General Arthur,
George w. Childs, Henry George and
other well known public characters.
Another picture by the same artist
in the city clerks collection is sup
posed to represent one span of the
Melan bridge, during the recent high
water. Under the bridge, calmly sit
ting in small boat fishing for cat
ish, is Freeman Sardou. The express
sion of heroic resolve which the artist
mas placed all over Mr.. Sardous coun-
tenance is something never to be for
gotten. People frequently stand for
hours in front of this picture, with the
tears streaming down their races
One of the rare art relics preserved
n the city clerks collection is a tassel
Of long-Ieaf southern pine, used a good
many years ago at a midwinter expo
sition. 1t is the only one now in ex-
L. .