The San Francisco call., 1908-07-05

Mural painting is branch OF art
that has received small attention in San
Francisco. probably on account OF the
difficulties attendant upon its execution.
which requires strength and boldness in
handling and an ability to see things in
the broad. Arthur Mathews has been
styled the Puvis de Chavanues Of Cali
fornia in this work. and i'm IL ne walks
side by side with the recognized mas
ters of any time. 1t Is. however, un-
common to find q woman able TO pro-
duce satisfying effects in mural paint
ing. even though producing effective
work along other lines, That II can De
done has been amply evidenced by a
most charming and unusual mural
painting executed recently by MISS
Florence Lundborg for the home of
Mrs. George II. Roe in Ross valley,
where the work has been seen and ad-
mired by many. Miss Lundborg was
occupied with this work, which Is on
large scale, about two months, and
the result cannot but be viewed with
pleasure by artist and layman alike.
Representing composite scenes OF
Marin county landscape. the frieze e%-
tends around the four sides of the din
ing room, broken into only by doors,
windows and fireplace. The main panel
is about six feet long by three wide.
and shows an exquisite cleaning curve
of bright blue water and wide sweep
of brown land. rising hills and sandy
beach on the shore line Tree trunks
of delicate and slender growth sentinel
the foreground, while in the middle dis
tance are indicated tree masses, which
give the effect of infinite distance in
their proportion and placement. The
hills, covered in places with the brown
ish red summer grasses, rise In sort
beauty to meet white masses OF DRIFT
ing clouds which seem to be Slowly
passing inland. Riffs of virginia. SKY
break through the mist, the whele
forming a scene so true TO nature III
Marin county that although not in
tended for any one spot. one feels that
Just that picture has been oeheld in
verify.
A much smaller panel which carries
out the idea is placed between fireplace
and window and gives majestic ana
imposing view of mighty Tamalpals
thrusting it's noble head through the
advancing clouds which. drifting
through canyon and lower reaches OF
the valley, threaten to obscure the
heights. A broken tree. with ragged
branches, stands in the foreground. Inc
whole is treated somewhat in the Jap
anese manner in a broad. sketchy styie'
which is we'll adapted for handling the
splendid sweep OF hill at the base OF
tbs mountain. The coloring OF all the
panels is in low tones and eXqulslteIS
soft and clear.
The third panel is also of a large
size and in treatment and idea Is sinl-
lar TO the first So we'll has the scheme
been carried out. even TO the placing
of tiny peep of HILL or bay or tree
top in small corners or spaces 10 pre-
.f he ri
it is as if one were really out OF
doors in a woodland scene. The same
beauty greets you indoors and out In
front of YOU is Tamalpais. seen through
an open door or window; turn, and the
same royal monarch greets you-an
image of his real self, but one SO
snIendidlv true so enthusiastically
nature was picked bodily up, carried
into the house and apparently thrown
on the wall.
In the working out Of this idea.
Miss Lundborg first sketched her de-
sign broadly in charcoal, afterward
washing 1T in with water color and
then working il up in oil. The compo-
sition is well balanced, the scene as
presented having something of a Greek
effect which is heightened by the
purity of water and sky where visible
This same Greek effect is observable
in the painting on which the artist
is now at work at her studio in Sac
ramento street. This shows the curve
of Monterey bay. with a sandy beach,
sloping gradually into brown hills.
while underneath a group of trees are
seven dancing figures in attitude and
action typically Greek. This panel is
about six feet by three and has been
pronounced remarkable piece OF
work. The impression of the picture
is heightened by the clever introduc-
tion OF two Greek columns on either
side. through the spaces of which a
charming glimpse OF landscape is
caught. At the summit of the columns
are two panthers heads. and the en-
tire effect of the brilliant blue water.
with brown tree trunks in the fore
ground and central distance and the
graceful figures with wind blown
draperies and hair. is beautiful and
classic in the extreme.
Miss Lundborg has recently taken
up portrait work. in which line she
bids fair to make a success. as her
first portrait, now nearing completion
shows strength and power in execu-
tion and that insight into the sitter's
chaTac ter which must be the BIRTH
right of every successful portrait
painter who knows how to endow his
Work with lie and the subtle qualities
inseparable from true Interpretation
of the person.
Cadenasso has taken a departure
| from his usual style and is at work on
several large canvases, one of which
in particular will show a marsh scene.
with purple clouds in a wide sky. and
the marsh lands with their tangle of
reeds and low marsh grasses we'll and
vigorously handled. Another marsh
| land view shows CLEANS of water in
I foreground, while the prevailing tones
are white and light greens and reddish
browns. These later pictures show a
marked increase of power. with vigor
of execution and strength of concep-
! tion, which render them striking eX-
amples of work along this line. The
| painters hillslope in early spring. with
the apple trees in full bloom and
strewing the ground beneath with a
carpet of white. is radiant with the
II Citizens Lea.