Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-12
FRISCO PAINTINGS
ADORN THE BIVOUAC'
ARTISTIC TREASURES IN HOME
OF GENERAL OTIS
Progress Of Western Country Illus
trated IN Series Of Paintings
Which Extend Around
Dining Room

| All lovers of art in Los Angeles who
have hoped to see its citizens spend
some of their increasing wealth in max
ing our city the home of artistic
treasures would be gratifed at viewing
series of fresco paintings which Gen.
Harrison Gray Otis has recently had
completed for the dining room OF his
residence, The Bivouac.
Gen. Otis conceived the idea Of hav-
ing the western progress Of our coun-
try's empire Illustrated in a set OF
frescos extending around his dining
room. To carry out this artistic con-
ception he secured the services Of one
of the most eminent living fresco
artists who is a master" Of the old art
of fresco painting, which consists ia In
| cooperating the color with the plaster
of the wall rather than making q sur
face application OF the pigment.
The series begins with the departure
| from the eastern home Of the family IN
the characteristic round-top wagon. or
prairie schooner" which brought SO
many thousands OF those who conn
posed the earlier population OF the vest
across the plains.
Following this initial picture are vari-
GUS scenes typical of the journey to
the land of gold. including fording the
river, the campfire, an Indian attack,
crossing the mountain pass. etc, to the
final picture showing the first view Of
the Pacific.
Then follow several pictures Of local
life-a California mission scene and q
rodeo of the olden time. The series IL
ended by a number of pictures of local
interest, including the havbor at San
Pedro and the city of Los Angeles.
Appeal to Art Lovers
The subjects are all treated with a
breadth of comprehension and at the
same time with a degree OF artistic
conservatism which gives each picture
a strong appeal to the lover OF art
for arts sake. To the Californian, OF
course, they have special interest
growing out of the subject of each one,
and particularly those which efnbody
social scenes and places.
/ Not the least beautiful part OF the
work is the wonderful sense OF tone
and color which the artist has expressed
in his pictures.
There is another feature, also related
to California, In the dining room and
of interest quite as challenging es the
series of frescos Over the fireplace
there has been set a bronze tablet on
which in beautiful raised lettering and
surrounded by symbols appropriate to
the subject is a poem to California,
written by the late Mrs. Otis.
Poem by Late Mrs. otle
This poem in its wealth of apt imagery
is one of the most beautifully eppr0-
pirate things ever written upon q Sub
ject which has challenged the muse Of
a great many writer's. It Is as fol'
lows:
Meath centuries Of suns; with checks touched
with
The rich carmine OF the wild pinh's nush. AMI
Her ~ Breast e st. regal in oueenliness: her
Majestic forehead the Eierra'e front;
Her breast the swelling hills. srnooth-rolnded
Her 1.-THE limbs the fair valley stretching to
The sea, clad in rich garments Of springins
Grasses and set With precious Jswsis OF
Voice OF liquid melody in her
Running streams and the soft whispers OF the
Summer breeze. IN the old past. which like q
Dream has vanished, was California
Loved Of the Sun. q maiden fair.
Wearing the golden arrows Of the
Furnished West, flaming with tropic aplendor,
AS the rioh clasp for the sunset mantle
Round her vouptuous shoulders thrown. to
Which the wanton brsezes gave caressng
| touch,
While spicy odors lent their perfumes rare
To all her garments.
I sun-warrned and sunbrowned
We're all the races. too. that told their love
or her, with tawny cheeks warming beneath
Her ardent gaze. Upon the suniit heights
They leaned to her and touched her robes with
Reverent fingers. The flowers which
Lay within her garments folds had fer their
Ears soft tongues Of speech. Sierra heights
were
Holy affairs from which the mists Of Morn
| Uprose like sacred incense. The running
Streams babbled prophecy OF never
Ending being they on to see
The Oceans vastness, beyond which lay the
Happy hunting grounds, and the Good Spirit
Smiled. The wigwam's curling smoke rose 70
I
Blue, losing itself In sunshine. Peace was
In all the shining air. and Nature these
Her native sons fed lovingly. How famed
The giant oaks their bronzed foreheads, and
dropped
Them nuts to ease their hungeri How isapt
| the
wild hare for their arrows thicksts when
| their bow
Was strung, and the Sea laughed beneath their
| light
Canoes as swan the fishes for their rude
Wrought nets. Ahi Nature loved them, her
simple
| Warm with their caress; yet still she kept II
| Fancy free, and cast coy giances at the
Coming years, as II her dusky eyes held
Glance prophetic and Observation-Disclosures. san
The glory OF her womanhood. She let
Them pass, those tawny chiefs who wooed her,
and
The later race Of Andalusia's
, | Sons, and kept her riches and her rarer
Graces yelled till came the ANAL Ccnquerors
All, then how gathered she her wines and
poured
! Them for their tastingi The orange bloom she
| rwined in garlands for her forehead. The rich
Poinsettia made ruby for her nnger
Her garments Of wild grasses she threw on.
Attired herself In robes OF golden wheat,
And decked herself with silken tasssls OF
rhe growing corn. White roses formed the
Border OF her mantle, and Cloth of Cold
! Was round her garments hem. Her diamonds
She caught from playing fountains, and the
light
Within her eyes was like the sunlight failins
Through swaying palms.
And then her lover came.
| che one she was to Wed within his hand
| rhe glorious banner bearing OF the
| Stripes and Stars. And she win be mother Of
Royal sons, and Queen OF Freedoms golden
| West,
| md at her gates shall surging Empire rest.