The Washington herald., 1906-12-16
ART TOPICS.

A painter who has lived amid and loved
the subject-matter Of his art is Mr.. Chris
Jorgensen. whose pictures-in oil and
water color-of the Yosemite Valley and
the missions Of California are at present
on view at the Cosmos Club. and will be
exhibited until the twentieth OF Decem-
ber- The most ambitious canvases in
the collection are those which depict the
famous features OF the Yosemite. Others
that commemorate a passing phase OF
American life and record the picturesque
side of tragedy are studies made from
the ruins Of San Francisco. The most
interesting, from an architectural as well
as artistic standpoint. are the paintings
of the old Catholic missions, which
range over the country from San Fran
cisco to Mexico. They will be valuable
years hence as depicting the efforts OF
the Franciscan monks in behalf of the
Indians nearly a century and half
ago and as monuments Of early art in
this country.
Mr.. Jorgensen is a Norwegian by BIRTH
who has lived-with the exception OF
few years spent in study in Italy-sinee
his boyhood in California. Eight years
ago Mr.. JOrgensen pitched his tent in
the Yosemite. and becoming deeply in
terested in the study of cloud and mist
effects In the valley ne decided to locate
there permanently. Accordingly he built
himself home In the shadow Of the
Half Dome" to which tourists resort
In their journeyings through the valley,
and whence the artist has made ex-
cursions to every site of vantage from
which pictures may be made.
When President Roosevelt made his
trip through the Yosemite. he was at
tracted to the artists home. and stopped
TO look at his pictures. At sight Of Mr.
Jorgensen's dining-roOm, the President
exclaimed: why, it is early Dutch, isn't
/ IL? With your permission 1 will sit here
and rest. Where did you obtain your
/ Dutch furniture, Mr.. Jorgensen?
1t was made right here In the Yosem-
| ite. Mr.. President" replied the artist.
And who made it?" inquired the dis
tinguished guest. Il did was Mr.. Jor-
| gensen's reply.
/ In response to an invitation extended
on that occasion Mr.. Jorgensen called at
the White House the other day.
Wait a minute exclaimed the Presi-
dent, directly he perceived the artist.
'I'H have your name in one minute. You
are the man who paints pictures Of the
/ Yosemite and makes Dutch furniture!
/
Each of Mr.. JOTgensen's large pictures
/ IN oil represents several weeks spent in
the solitude os a tent. 1t is the artists 5
custom TO live by himself while painting
! the famous features Of the valley.
''Monposa Grove" considered by many
/ the finest painting in the collection-de-
pjcts this weIl-known spot in late Sep
/ tember. II is the hour Of afternoon, and
/ the Western light filters through the ma
/ jestic trees in charming effect. 1t Is a
picture at sight Of which persons IA
miliar with the region will exclaim,
Why. I recognize that place; I've been
there That is the big WawOna tree
everybody drives through"
The familiarity OF the subject would
hardly justify its popularity were the
picture less sdllfully and faithfully
painted. Indeed, a subject that is exten-
sively photographed and rendered hack
neyed By Illustration, is considered din
cult for a painter 10 handle. but this
pafnting portrays the beautiful drive
among the sentinel trees in its most ex-
quisite light. II is delicately and poet
/ ically treated
The Yosemite from Artists Point" is
another large painting In oil which is well
achieved. Mr.. Jorgensen has caught the
blue nist. which for three months OF
summer bathes the mountain heights in
a wondrous coIor-haze. and wrought ii
into the picture with great skill
t.srst
Grand Canyon Of The Tuolumne," which
occupied the place Of honor az the last
exhibition Of the Bohemian Club. Of San
/ Francisco. is especially rich in charm.
In direct harmony with 1t the Cathedral
Spires OF the valley are painted to ad-
vantage amid their beautiful surround
ings.
A picture that shows force Of move
ment and color action Is taken from the
| "Vernal Fall" with Liberty Cap and
Mount Broderick forcefully portrayed.
As an unusual tone painting-which
might be characterized as a study in
genre or initiative art-and one that sur
prises Nature at an unfamiliar moment,
is called Monterey Cypress" In the es-
timation of the artist II Is one OF HIS
happiest achievements. though the pic
ture suffers in the exhibition from being
hung ia d poor light.
/ The celebrated California scenery Is in
separable from its picturesque missions
adobe walled. wide-spreading, and mel
lowed by time. For five years Mr. Jor-
gensen made a study of architecture to
perfect himself for his water-color draw
ings of the missions and his subsequent
studies in oil
The artist refers to his work among the
missions as characterizing one of the hap
piest experiences of his life. Mr.. Jor.
gensen and his wife drove through the
region with a horse and buggy. some
times camping in the open over night
sometimes reaching shelter: sketchins
and painting through long weeks OF fair
weather. and making friends with the
custodians Of the missions
The old San Jose Mission. now utilized
as a wine repository and Overgrown with
vines: the Carmel Mission. with its out
standing belfry and sacred to the faith
ful as the burial place Of Juniperoserra
the founder Of the missions; the SantC
IneZ, and many others-twenty-one in al
too numerous TO specialize, offer an alb
sOTbing study of one OF Americas most
picturesque features. One notably beau.
tiful water color shows all that remain:
of the Santa Isabella MissiOn-part of the
wall and the bell supports of the belfry
It is a desolate picture. full of atmos
pheric charm and, sentiment. To this ruir