The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29
By Katharine Osbourne

--N AitF ~ DoN or lS. with Z
shock OF black hair. fine. deter
mined, gray eyes and profile
shat might have been placed on
an old Roman coin. mounted the
steps Of the architectural pile known
as the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art
and entered the gaIeried hall Though
the hall was empty. all around him rose
q soft buzz Of voices. The boy walked
over TO the nearest door and deliber-
stely pushed il open. Then he paused
for though the scene was what he had
expected 10 see il was an unfamiliar
one and he hesitated on the threshold.
The room was large and bare, filed
with easels. drawing outfits. paint
aproned girls and blouse stained men.
on dais at one end stood a female
model representing Terpsichore. the
goddess Of dancing. Her light draper
les seemed 10 float and swav as the
model posed, but the youth. with barely
8 glance in that direction. addressed the
young teacher who came up to him.
smiling in "a friendly fashion that
seemed 10 reassure him.
I want TO learn TO draw he said
roughly.
Taken into the next room. where
students Were busily at work transfer
ring the lines Of a cast from the ANTIQUE
70 the paper on their drawing boards.
he was given sheet Of paper. draw
ing board and pencils and asked to
make copy OF the model The in
structress saw him seated and returned
10 her own room. In 10 minutes the
new pupil stood beside her, and as she
looked up IN surprise she saw that in
his hand he held his completed draw
ing.
you haven't hnished?" she ex-
claimed.
For answer he thrust the sheet to-
ward her. What was on il made the
drawings Of the little girls look like
80 cents. In few lines. but with mar
veiOus breadth, mastery power and
Unerring discernment Of elimination
the reproduction Of that model from
the antique shone forth from the blank
sheet Ike a vital thing instinct with
life and vigor. Rough and crude
shough II was. splendid power breathed
sn every decided line. Crudities were
forgotten. rOughness consigned to OBJ
4vion IN the face OF a vigorous fresh
ness OF handling which promised vol
umes for talent rightly trained. But
the teacher said little. The boy was
given his place among the students
and he set TO work with dogged de-
termination TO get ali he could out OF
his study which has since placed him
on height Where. masters or the old
world know and speak or him as one
who VIII write his name on art s
roster He IS IN this city today. Does
any one recognize the picture2
This is the story Of one student out
OF the hundreds who have climbed the
steps Of the Mark Hopkins institute,
now better known as the San Fran
cisco Institute OF Art. OF these hun
dreds many have achieved interna-
tionai fame: many have dropped out OF
the long, hot race. deeming themselves
united for the strain Of competition.
and many have never reached above
the plane OF mediOcrity. But such
names as those OF Alexander Harrison,
Matilda Lotz, Theodore Wores, Henry
Raschen. Clara McChesney, Amedee
Joullin. Alice Chittenden, Joseph Ra-
phael, Marien Froelich Martinez and
Ernest Peixotto stand out among those
Of the hundreds Of graduates like stars.
These have each won distinction abroad
and when a Californian strolls leisure
~ through the picture hung walls OF
The old Paris salon he notes with pride
that well placed. perhaps on the line.
are several canvases bearing the Sig
natures Of successful competitors and
the significant word San Francisco" or
California" modestly penciled IN a
corner.
Ask any one Of the older students
10 whom they ovr enc dsffs .sncours ge-
ment and kindly advice, the enlfght-
ening words and efficient instruction