The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-29

Next to Paris, to the large number of |
American-bo artists, who remain per-
manently abroad, London has offered
the greatest attractions A great and
rich city, with long established repu-
tation of court patronage Of artists, ia
nous art treasures in substantially en-
dowed institutions, independent schools
of art and distinguished artists, it has
a we'll earned reputation, as market,
for both sculpture and painting.
Many artists whom we wish to count
as American, and are usually included
in our lists, are scarcely so, except by
birth or parentage, having lived in Eng
tistic career.
Prominent among such is Edwin A.
Abbey. He began, with Illustrations
in magazines of extensive circulation,
working on the staff of Harper Broth
ecs, and in many period ideals which his
pen and ink drawings have illustrated,
and afterwards appeared in permanent
book form he has won countless admir-
ers. Besides this, he has become
familiar to thousands more by the in
terest which he has renewed or stlmu-
lated in old poems, his drawings keenly
entering into the sentiment of the poets,
interpreting the most subtle thoughts
and embellishing them with wealth Of
quaint amusing and unexpected detail.
His ideas and execution are particu-
larly harmonious. He was undoubtedly
influenced in his technique by Fortuny' s
etchings, having the same skill in u.s.
ing numberless lines, but keeping them
ing and sympathy, his work never loses
interest, even the handling of details,
as the tray in the hands of a servant,
a jewel box by milady or the cushion
at her feet being done with care and
enthusiasm altho always properly sub
+t1h or,, IO,,r Yholn II n
shows his antiquarian tastes, whic
study his long European residence has
rendered poss ible, in his Interpretation
of poems of bygone times. The &C.
eumulation of knowledge. was gained
by unvarying research, but it is SO
united with fine imagination and mar,
is no hint of effort in the work.
AS Scott wove a fascination about
his characters, with medieval setting
or Thackeray showed English aristoc
racy in their surroundings as we'll az
character, so Abbey by knightly ar.
mour,, sedan chair, latticed easement, OF
castellated tower, suggested the times
and period, but by being thoroly assim
Hated, made complete picture without
displaying the methods.
1t seemed perfectly natural that BIZ
should continue this work in Shakspe
rean characters which he did, but using
watercolors, and later oils. makinl
and Macbeth. His latest achievement
shown in one of the late Royal Acade
my exhibits was the ".Coronation o
King Edward VII" in Westninste
abbey, 1901. 1t is an interesting &C
incidence that the painting Of Quee
Victoria's coronation,s considered. tn
most acceptable, was done by Leslie, a
American-born artist Of PHILADELPHIA
training, and both these artists hav
succeeded in making these formal, off
eial occasions Hfelike and artistic. AL
bey's most famous work is the decors
ton of the delivery room in the Boz
ton library It consists of friez
eight feet high, above the handsomel
r, panefed1 eleven feet of s5wainscotins
There are more than one hundred If
size figures, the subject the HQues
Of the Holy Grail - (sacred cup) is d
vided into sections, extending entirel
around the room. Given all possibl
freedom in choice of subjects. Mr.. Al