The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-26
TRAGEDY OF AN ARTISTS LIFE
GEORGE GRAY BARNARD AND TIE
PENNSYLVANIA CAPITOL.

NutlNC Sthbt uhu hUltIlCbh an DEVubhh
10 Naught-StOry OF the Sculptures
Witch were to Ornament the New
State House at Harrisburg. but Are Stil
- Lying Unused In a studio I'm France.
PARIS, May 1o.-Down in the delightful
old own Of Moret, on the edge OF the forest
Of Fo~ntainebleau, where sixteenth century
oourtiers made merry. where Napoleon
stopped and made q porcelain punchbowl
famous on his return from Elba toward
Paris, there stand In an old stone studio
on the far side OF the river LONG some
mastery groups Of sculpture designed for
the Pennsylvania Capitol at Harrisburg.
In them are bound up the elements OF the
tragedy OF an artists life.
For four years George Gray Barnard has
been putting into them all Of his soul that
it " permitted a man to dispense With in
this present existence. He wrought for
the glory Of his native State Of Pennsylvania,
for the glory Of art-American art-and in
doing 80 for his own high reputation as a
sculptor also, no doubt. but he omitted
due regard for some principles OF modern
business which govern in art as veil as in
commerce and industry thkee days, and
neither Mr.. Barnard nor anybody else
knows now whether these sculptures will
evar be placed on Pennsylvania Capitol,
orHwhat will be the future OF Barnard
tbs author Of that marble group in the
great gallery Of the Metropolitan Museum
Of Art in New York, 1.-TWO Natures" or, as
the sculptor originally called it, Il feel two
souls within me- about which sermons
haye been preached and many criticisms
written,
Forces. are at work to secure the in
s~tallRton Of the sculptures INC insure the
emancipation OF the sculptor, but the issue
may not be foretold. Commodore Fred
eriok 6. Bourne, now in Paris, who inherited
his interest in Barnard from the sculptor's
early patron, Alfred Corning Clark, first
husband OF the present Mrs. Henry Goldman
Potter. is en~deavoring to aid Barnard, as is
Edward Bailey OF Harrisburg. treasurer Of
the Pennsylvania Capitol Commission. In
cidentally it might be mentioned that the
sculptor Is trying to help himself in a very
energetic way by going into the business Of
seeking out works Of ancient art in France
for the market. "a reference to which has
already been cabled to The SUN.
II Is almost necessary as IL is interesting
to epitomize the life Of George Gray Bar
nard in telling the story of these sculptures
destined for America but hidden just out
side the ancient walls Of Moret. He has
lone other things besides sculpture, as
might perhaps be learned by inquiry at
the American Museum Of Natural History
in New York, where are to be found some
mementos of processes in taxiderny which
he is credited with devising in the earlier
years of his life in the open West.
HARDSHIP, THEN A TRIUMPH
Although born in Pennsylvania, Barnard
vent when very young to the West. There
he shot wild animals which interested him
and stuffed them. studying them carefully.
But he developed a talent for art.
Perhars his enthusiastic admirers would
say rather that the genius within him began
to bud. Doubtless certain politicians Of
Pennsylvania would speak disgustedly OF a
crackbrained stonecutter who wanted to
put money into the establishment of a
public building which ought to have gone
into their pockets,
No matter. One OF the first forms that
his turn for art tool was a branch Of engrav-
ing While still a boy he had an oppor-
tunity in Chicago 10 take a place as an
engraver at a salary which would be hand
some for many q man. But no; the sap
Of art Of a higher order was stirring, the
salary was declined and a career was
begun which was to have its hardships
whatever its successes.
With a few hundred dollars he came to
Paris, studied and worked. and when his
funds were gone and he walked the streets
10 devise further means Of subsistence. 1t
is said that his landlady used to place Some
of his sculptures on the sidewalk to attract
the eye OF casual passersby. At any rate,
a patron appeared. Friends of art we're
interested. Arrangements were made for
the purchase Of one group. The sculptor
was urged to send the works he had COM
pleted to the Salon.
-Oi what us5?= me said.
But he sent ten and they we're all accepted.
The critics, who in Paris find it necessary
neither to turn sour nor TO slobber praise
on artists who nave beer made a social
fad through the carefully organized propa-
ganda Of interested dealers, seized imme-
diately upon the new element indicated
in his strongly individual sculptures.
Barnard was discovered.
Before he had put the label on that group
now in the Metropolitan Museum, which
was one of the ten, he found one Of the
best known Of Paris critics standing before
it with a poem he had written in his hand,
beginning Il feel two souls within me'-the
title the sculptor had chosen for this work
which afterward became the two Ma
lures He was feted. He was advised to
remain in France.
AMERICAN R DREAMS y REALITY.
In the flush Of this debut he determined
rather 10 return TO America. He was a
dreamer. be was going home to do great
things for American art. Those who are
familiar with the history OF art affairs will
remember the attention which he received
in New York a dozen years ago.
But he was somewhat on the order OF
what the irreverent call too gosh almighty
on his high plane OF art to make good head
way there. He declined a Washington
commission in connection with the Con-
gressionai Library because he wouldn't
be hurried into what he regarded as COM
mercial work. That commission was after
ward eSecuted-on time-by one who had
been his pupil. Tho naughty, confident,
impractical Barnard had missed the lesson
SO happily enumerated by one OF New York's
conspicuous decorators, that an artist
ought m accept an order as readily as a