The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-05
HOW YOLK DID
HIS GREAT WORK
ARTIST TELLS OF HIS PAINTING
FOR THE CAPITOL.
Copied Florentine Bust That Looked
Just Like the Only Original Portrait
of Father Hennepin, and Carlisle
Indian Who Was Perfect Type Of
Red Man.

The discovery OF the Falls OF st. An
thony by Father Hennepin, was an
event almost. at the beginning of the
fitting that Douglas VolR s painting of
this scene should be the first Of the Sc
ries Of historical picturese to be placed
in the governor S reception room at the
capitol. The painting was hung Mon
day under Mr.. Volk g direction.
While the artist has made a close
study of his historic material he has
treated it in a decorative way. as is
and in coloring it is in harmony with
the general scheme of the richly orna-
mented room. AS panel in this set
ting, it is richer in color and in details
than is suited to paintings covering
whole wall spaces. The composition has
been skillfu1ly managed and employs
familiar and beautiful bit Of Mr..
Volk g favorite forest treatment in
clump Of trees at one side Of the picture
and near the central group.
Followed the Facts.
Father Hennepin is represented on an
eminence near the water, below the
falls, looking up at them, but at some dis
lance. The figure, showing the side
and back to the spectator, is a fine one
and the face in profile is full Of daring
and hardihood. There is but one portrait
Of Hennepin in existence, owned by j..
J. Hill, and Of its authenticity there
is question, but it afforded a type that
fitted the known character Of the man,
and in the absence Of other material
Mr.. Volk followed it quite closely.
The priest is in the act Of blessing
the falls and holds a1oft the crucifix.
Beside him kneels his one European
companion and guide, Picard Dugay,
whose attitude Of devotion gives etfec;
tive contrast to the variously expressed
emotions of curiosity and wonder of his
five Indian companions. One sitting
figure represents an Indian with shaver
head, a custom prevalent among the
Sioux Of the time, as described by Hen
nepin, who thinks he found favor with
, them from the fact Of his head being
shaver. An Indian woman with pack
J stands apart from the central group.
/. The low, wide falls are reconstructed
, as closely as possible from the meagel
: descriptions Of Hennepin and othe1
, early writer's, supplemented. by fact:
cleaned from geology by Professor Win
chell and others, and study Of the top
r ography Of the river gorge made by MI
Volk last summer.
q Mr.. Volk was found yesterday wan
dering about the rotunda Of the stat
e capitol enjoying the beauty of it's har
I monious and skillful combination o
i marble and fresco. He is enthusiast
3 about the building and pleased to hav
r his art we'll represented in state i
); which he made his home for nu1lbe
d of years.
d Artist Praises Capitol.
e "This building is constant dcligh
:. to me,' Mr.. Volk remarked. 81 thin
$. it has few, if any equals, in the country
u u in charm of conception, simple grand
e eur, and consistency. It is evidentl
h a work Of love on the part of the de
n signer, and it is very restful and salts
! flying. to- the artistic: sense. Such
In reply to question about hi
a painting, Mr.. Volk said:
~ 1T built a new studio at my summe
" home in Center Lowell, Me-, to meet th
- special requirements Of this picture an
n have been devoting most of my tim
,r to it for a year. The idea has int
y ested me greatly, and I have take
+ great pleasure IN my work on 1t.
r. took with me to Maine, young Ca
- type on him, and used him as mode
20 I found an Interesting Florentine bu'
20 20 that resembled closely the Hill portra
y Of Hennepin, which, by the way, tt
8 priest is supposed to have painted {
q himself, and is q very creditable a
= tistic performance, and I used that
getting the head and shoulders. -
Mr.. Volk has divided his. visit b
tween friends in Minneapolis and
Paul, and has been the guest Of DR.. Y
lg W. Folwell, DR.. Frank Burton and MI
Olga V. Haskell He leaves tonight f
New York to meet Mrs. Volk and Mi
er Volk on their return from the Bahama
where Mr.. Volk left them to come her
Mr.. Volk leaves soon fol, San Fra
10. cisco to paint portrait, and may NAL
another visit to Minneapolis en- rout
!E His older son, Wendell Volk, an i
n structor in artistic handicrafts in tt
r Teachers college at Columbia, has I
at Gently had an attractive invitation.
OF Join DR.. Grenfell, the Labrador missio
II: ary, for the summer and give instru
100 ton to the natives in handicrafts.
all st -------- 7-t