The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-30
Art Aids for
Busy People
BY MARTHA G. WELLS,
Chairman fof the Art Committee of
Minnesota State Federation.
- = ConYrIght. 1000. - -
XXXIV.- The Growing Appreciation
of American Artists "A. L. Groll,
Dlscoverer Of Arizona Art Posi-
bilities. -..
Copyright, 1905.
TRAVELLER thru Holland ex.


in long succession of years have ap-
peared in the annual salons. In Spain
or Italy. we find the masterpieces of art
which now attract admiration altho the
contemporary greatness of their coun-
try has long since degenerated.
America is not so fortunate in hay,
ing fine collections of her painters. 1t
it true we have many splendid can
vases of foreign painters, there are
these by Velasquez, Rembrandt, Mil
let, Turner, Schreyer and many other
eminent men, indeed those by ,Corot,
so-called, exceed by far the number ne
ever painted, but it is certain that
nizing that our home products are
worthy of purchase. American artists
can safely be patronized after winning
honors year after year in European eX-
hibits Thousands of tourists rush
thru foreign galleries annually, and
the work of our American artists can
be best studied There are collectors
who have, purchased pictures Of men
struggling for recognition for the past
thirty years, thus aiding in setting a
market standard for American art:
Thomas B. Clarke was one OF the hrst
such buyers, and w. T. Evans. who in
1889 was decorated by the German
government for his assistance in loan
inc his pictures at Munich when there
was small but choice exhibit by
American artists. Altho he has since
bought and sold as an investment, he
has a very choice collection. DR.. Alex
ander Humphreys collection is a strong
and individual one. John Harsen
Rhoades and Lyman Bloonlingdale are
both enthusiastic believers in American
art. and feel that the collectors great
est opportunity lies in our home field.
Samuel Shaw, who has offered prizes
at various exhibitions of the Society
of American Artists, is never happier
Young artist The Maruuandt ccllec-
ton when disbarred interested and
stimulated others to buy for the first
time. Lately the treasures so wisely
collected by Mr.. Freer of Detroit have
become his gift to the nation. Artists
cannot create national art, but they
help to evolve or develop it by being
mind and brush giving expression to
distinctly inherent qualities. The late
output Of art books, the many magazine
articles, handsomely illustrated, all
have great influence, and especially the
exhibitions which are not only frequent
but becoming better appreciated and
patronized We have not quite reached
the point in America for attendance
which occurred at Royal Academy ex-
hibit when Millais' "Order for Re-
lease created such enthusiasm that
the police had to keep the crowds NOV
ing on. Without fatigue or expense of
travel the citizens of Minneapolis and
at the public library rare opportunity
to study one of the best collections of
American paintings of representative
artists. AS in previous years, there are
canvases which have taken prizes and
Honorable mention,' as well as those
which are talked Of in the art journals,
and to miss them is to limit educational
opportunities.
Albert Groll.
Albert L. Groll is one of the most
interesting Of our younger artists. He
is represented in this exhibit by three
pictures of most distinct character.
These have been exhibited at the Penn
sylvania Academy Of Fine Arts this
spring, where he received ;s r, the e. ,{ gDld
Way was awarded the silver medal
at st. Louis by the international jury,
and a collection Of Mr.. Groll's pictures
on special exhibit III New" York re-
Gently, excited great interest and most
favorable comment. A late number of
the Craftsman has fine illustrations of
Gil. Albert Groll. of German descent,
was born in New York (1S76), and
studied in Munich under Robert Koch
Ter, now director of the Minneapolis
School of Fine Arts, and others, and
while not yet 49, is vice president t., Of +
and member Of the Salmagundi club
There is perhaps today no American
artist who is doing more to show us
the possibilities of American art, ano
especially that new southwest, Arizona
which has long been considered only tn tn
Rousseau and Millet did for the Fon
tainbleau-B arbizon fields and forests of
France. Besides. into national land
scapes he is blending national charac
teristics. He has not returned from
tions of Rhenish castle ruins, Dutch
mists or windmills or French peasants
but in a free, original, bold way ne
has discovered for us the strange, wild
beauty of our American desert, its vast
illimitable space, the terror of its des
olation, the glory of it's coloring.- Most
of his student work was in Munich
where he paid more attention to figure
painting than landscapes; but in hi:
early struggle for recognition, there
was a time when he could lily afford
to pay for models, and gradually HI
turned more and more to. landscapes
and it has now become his more nat
ural line of expression. Now, for
tunately for American art, he finds hi
models in the fields of our vast west.
The "Arizona Sandstorm,' show
the solitude Of the desert, low hill
mark the horizon, against the deep blu
sky, which is largely concealed by tn
whirling sand, scattered by the wind
in great sand clouds. Thru this clout
curtain which shows wonderful fee
ing of motion, glows the playing color .9!
Of the DESERT, copper, blue, Vermlll (,
contrasting with the shadows OF tn
tumbling masses of the desert storm
There IS a fearless dignity in the ha II
ding, which gives an impressive quail
ty Of space, entirely different from tn
old panoramic plan Of big landscape:
Going to New Mexico and Arizona flo
needed rest, Mr.. Groll s first glimps
of the desert, with it's almost monotoI
Gus space, but marvellous atmosphere
coloring gave him an inspiration, an
with it the determination to become tn
interpreter Of this new world Ate
three months hard work, he returne
to New York with many sketche
studies and finished pictures, he ha
wrested from the deserts the secret Q
color. IL
The Milky Way" won the s.
Lotus medal. On the Atlantic coas
where he had made many studies,
shown. simple stretch of sand dunes
but over it the shadows and mystery G
the night, with the sky covered wit
stars. Out of the gray subdued heay