The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-07
RAH /! RAH! RAH I!
CONTINUED from page A.
PENNSYLVANIA IN ART.
MISS GRACE HANLAN.

spire painter with the thoughts for
which he finds expression on canvas.
The greatest artists loved nature. Take,
for example, Millet and Corot, for whom
the woods, flowers and fields had pc
culiar charm and upon whose paintings
they exerted much influence. This is
remarkably true in the case of the lat
ter, who, during his wanderings through
the Forest of Fountainbleau, and around
the Vile D'Avray, stored up valuable
impressions for his future pictures.
Pennsylvania lacks no natural beauty.
Its fields are the greenest its lakes the
clearest its flowers the most perfect
and if these surroundings inspire pam
ter, the grand, old Keystone State
should rank among the foremost in art.
Upon examining the lists of the world s
most renowned artists, and finding the
names of Benjamin West, Edwin Alb
bey, Henry o. Tanner, and other emin-
ent Pennsylvanians, we feel that we may
be Justly proud of the part which the
Quaker State has taken in the promotion
and perfection of art. To show how
much it has done in this field it would
perhaps be we'll to sketch briefly the
lives of some of its most celebrated pain
ters.
Benjamin West, one of the most fa-
nous artists of his native state, was born
in Springfield, Pa. His artistic genius
was developed at very early age, and
in his seventeenth year he settled in
Philadelphia as portrait painter. He
did not remain long, however, in that
city, but travelled abroad in order to
gain more perfect knowledge of the
calling to which he had given his whole
attention, and at length settled in Lon
don. His fame steadily increased until
when still very young, he was taken un-
der the patronage of George Ill, of
England which assured his reputation
and gained worldwide celebrity for
him. Two of his most famous produc-
tions are "Christ Healing the Sick, "
and "The Death of Wolfe - the former
of which gave him place among the
masters of art. West not only gained
much fame for Pennsylvania through
his own paintings but also through those
of his pupils. Foremost among these
ranks Rembrandt Peale, whose pictures,
"Napoleon on Horseback" and 'The
Roman Daughter" are considered
among the best examples of American
art.
Henry o. Tanner, another Pennsyl-
vanian, has chosen for his pictures re-
ligious themes, and for this reason may
be classed with West. Born in Pitts
burg, he spent most of his boyhood in
Philadelphia, where he received his first
instructions in painting. He did not
take up his permanent residence in the
Quaker City, but went to Paris, where
he was honored by having two paint
ings placed in the heILuxembourg Museum
Among his most successful efforts are
''The Resurrection of Lazarus" anc
"The Annunciation.
Some of the greatest American paintes
have selected the romantic and mex
haustible themes furnished by the early
history of their country, and have be
come equally as celebrated as West
Tanner, and Peale. Among this mum
ber is Edwin Austin Abbey, an artist o
whom every Pennsylvania may wei
feel proud. He was born in Philadelphia
but, like Tanner, at an early age wen
abroad. His pictures, and especial.
his lunettes, are wonderful productions
But Abbey has not yet painted his mas
terpiece. There is great wealth of ar
stored in his mind, for which he ha
found no expression, but the outcom
will be production which will add i'm
measurably to the reputation of his ma
tive State. His principal works ar
Orchard III and Lady Anne" "Kin
Lear's Daughters, and a series of dec
orative panels in the Boston Public Ii
brary. His choice of colonial subjects
when he first began to paint, entitle
him to recognition among the artist
who have selected these themes.
Another Pennsylvania, Jennie Browns
combe, who has attained success in tn
field of art, has gained herrenown large
ly through her pictures portraying scene
of colonial life. She was born in a littl
hamlet nesting among the hills OF nortl
eastern Pennsylvania, and in her earl
days was surrounded by every naturi
beauty which tends toward the develoI
ment of the genius which made her f;
nous. Her best known productions al
"The Peace Ball." and 'The Cleaners.
We find many celebrated women ar
lists of the Quaker State adopting ;
themes for their paintings the beautifI
and simple subject, childhood. TT
one who has won the most distinctic
through these pictures is Mary Cassat
She was born in Pttsburg, but early
her career went abroad and took up HI
residence in Paris, where the Frenc
honored her by placing two of her pi
tures in the Iuvanhouru Muaeum III