Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-12

- ONCERNING a former Salt Lake
artist the Los Angeles Times
says:
j. W ClawSon. tho portrait
painter. who was among MS for many
months last year. and who, at the
earthquakes coercivc suggestion, has
come to US again, Is not quite empty
handed for. though he brought no
pictures with him from the general
wreck, he can at least claim as his own
the half dozen that were being
shown at the Blanchard at the time
of the earthquake. They at any rate,
are safe. and few OF them are fine
examples of his portraiture,
Mr.. Clawson. who studied for four
years In Paris under Laurens, Con-
slant. Lucet. l.efeyre. and other ia
nous modern masters Of painting and
drawing, had occupied his studio IN
san Francisco, directly opposite the
Palace hotel for eight years. When
the earthquake came, the studio cIl-
tanned al least 90 OF his most import
ant pictures, besides numerous
sketches as well as 10000 almost
priceless prints and photographers,
many of them reproductions OF the
great paintings of all time. lie had
bought one the day before the catas-
trophc. an exquisite photograph OF
WhiStlrr'S portrait Of his mother, pay
ing SIS FOR H. This modest form Of
art collecting had been MIR. ClnWson's
one hobby Yet the flames snatched
These rare treasures from him at one
breath.
Early ON that fateful Wednesday
morning Mr. CldMsOu fastened down
to his studio. But he was too late.
Tho building was already In flames.
lie could sec the pictures In his stu
dio, but he could not reach them. some
had been swept from their easeH ana
set straight against the walls as If ny
Titan's strong and precise hand.
Others had been lung from one side
uf the studio To the other, and these
also were standing stffly against the
walls. quite ready for a "spring exhi-
bition" oh, but the earthquake de-
mon hath a cruel wit, The maker of
the pictures and hc alone, was tO be
allowed "A brief glimpse OF them before
they vanished I'm irIdescent smoke.
The strongest and most important
canvas that Mr.. Clawson ever painted
was placed IN that luridly lighted pic
ture gallery. though the easel that had
held It was nowhere To be seen. Per-
haps II had already crashed through
the charred and crumbling floor The
picture was a beautifully painted por-
trait of Mrs. James Follis and her
young son, and was just completed,
ready To be sent to Mrs. Folls. who
was formerly Miss Mary Belle Gwyn.
That, too, vanished like sign, and
nothing remained Of It but a memory
except one photograph, which Mr..
ClaWson loaned me with many mis-
givings Che had been through an
earthquakc), and which | take great
pleasure In reproducing,
After that there was no further
thought Of pictures. The one great
idea was life-the primal instinct Of
self preservation and the saving OF
ones dear human belongings. and all
other considerations We're blotted out
as IL they had never been. Pictures
what We're they? Splotches of paint
on a canvas, pale and unreal images of
the moving drama Of life Itself Gums
bersome impedlments TO hurried flight
unresponsive as the gods OF idolatry
To the piteous cries Of hunger and
thirst.
For "a hours Mr. Clawson wandered
round and round the block ON which
his house stood uncertain of what TO
do In the end It came to flight. after
all for his home with all It's neigh
boring homes, was on the fire demons
roll. Many times. In those endless "A
hours MIR Clawson passed and re-
passed the big house Of William
Croker which held, among other
treasures of art Millets Man With