Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-19

HE art world has suffered an
irreparabie loss in the death
of John La Fargo. which oc-
Cured this week. There is
no one who has exerted
more potent influence upon the develop
ment of art in America than he. indeed
II has been truly said that his career
was part and large part. of the inteiiec-
tual development of America. Not only
was he a leader in thought. but one VINO
possessed the power of bestlrring en-
thusiasm in others. Therefore, MS
contribution to art cannot be merely
measured by his productions.
Curiously enough. John La Fargo never
intended to be an artist. When ap-
proa ching manhood he selected law as his
profession and his study of art was
mainly. with the purpose of appreciation
and in the way of somewhat specialized
general culture. His father. an officer In
the French marines. came to this country
In 1906, and, settling in New York, mar
r1ed the daughter of one CT his COM
patriots. The home in which he grew up
was comparatively luxurious; there
were books and pictures and association
with cultured people BY his grand
was taught drawing. When he went
abroad Il was to complete his education,
and. therefore, his study of art was some
Ahat des,itory. He did enter Couture $
Atelisr and later made copies OF some OF
.se masterpieces In the Louvre. in Munich
and Dresaen, but always with the belief
nat he was SIMPLY acquiring pieasurae.e
anowedgeS TWAS Wiiiam MOTIFS Hunt
wno inaueed ifiIn,5 through has own con-
.agious entnusiasm,S TO desert law ano
,ake up art AZ profession
sweep on his feet as 1t were by the
younger artist confluence and optimism
ar La EaIge LETT New York ana. estaD-
nsned himseif in Newport, where Hunt
vas Then residing, and look up the career
of q pa1nter AT nrst he drd ali kinds OIL
paInt,ng-.andscape, ngures. stiii Lie. or
a time he gave his who're attention u
drawing, MAKING numerous illustrations.
rhen ma 1916 came the commission to
oecorate TRINITY Church in Boston--a
nerculean task considering the difficulties
VITA which the Work was fraagnt anu Tie
space Of time in which 1t was necessary
10 accomplish II. THIS proved the open
door TO opportunity. Not only did 1t gave
d,rect.on thereafter TO Mr.. La Fargo $
life. but completely changed the course
of art In America Up TO that time the
work OF American artists Lad been
chiefly a reflex of the work OF those
{, aan,,ei The story OF how this church
was decorated in an incredibly sma,
space of time and with more than moo
crate success under the direction or SAT-
La Fargo by small band OF ambitious
young painters, among whom were +. ID
MilfeI and the late william l-athrop, u
too well known to need repeating, espe-
cialiy as the work itself was less signln-
can't than the result to which II led. Pri-
mariIy II demonstrated possibilities and
inO
Straightway Mr.. La Fargo began ex
lperimenting upon suggested lines of dec
| grafton. He worked out schemes OF dec
Grafton on large scales and gave his at
tention to colored glass for windows
! manufacturing the glass with which HI
carried out his own designs. Thus
stained glass was regenerated and III
use as a medium for artistic expression
restored to esteem. 1t was In 1876 tina
Trinity Church was decorated. and TIT
! following year Mr.. la Fargo was com
missioned to decorate 81. Thomas
lchurch. New York. This, too, was sue