Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-08-26
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Negro Who Painted
a Prize
By "HoIIand.S


Some time before the Centennial
Exposition. held in Philadelphia in
1876, was opened with appropriate
ceremonies, the late John Dun, one
Iof the great railroad capitalists of
Boston Of generation ago, and for
several years a powerful voice ia
Union Pacific affairs when that rail-
road was governed largely by Boston
men, entered the picture gallery of
Dow and Company, IN Boston, in Mr..
Duffs day one of the leading Ameri-
can firms dealing I'm pictures of high
artistic merit.
Mr.. Duff, who had made a large and
important collection of pictures upon
his own judgment as TO their merits
much after the fashion of James J.
Hill and of John G. Johnson, of
Philadelphia. to-day-wandered about
the gallery for several minutes, at
last stopping In front of large
landscape painting that showed some
sheep grouped under a cluster of
oaks. For long time the millionaire
collector Of art gazed silently at the
canvas. Then. his study OF II over,
he called TO Mr.. Dow: Us this pic
ture for sale?"
Yes" was the reply, although no
price has been set upon IT,"
THE sheep are not very good"
criticised Mr.. Duff. but the land
scape is superb l have never seen
finer trees They remind me of the
work of Jacques. Who is the artist?"
HE is in the next room. His name
is Bannister. Step in and see him, If
you like" said Mr. Dow.
"Bangis Bannister," unused Mr..
Dun. II don't recall that as the name
of any artist l have ever heard of
before" And he stepped into the adj
Joining room to make the painters
acquaintance.
But in moment he was back again.
Il don't see any painter in that
room, he protested.
We'll, the man who painted that
picture is in that room, nevertheless"
said Mr. Dow. Il will go in with you
and introduce you to him"
When they entered the room the
only person Mr.. Duff saw there was
a colored man. Him Mr.. Dow called
TO them "Bannister," he said, this
is Mr.. John Duff. He has been look
ing at your picture and wants to
know II II is for sale.
For several seconds. as he stood
facing the very dark skinned man,
Mr. Dun was too astonished to speak,
but finally he managed to ask: did
you paint that picture?"
Yes. sir, l did" was the respectful
reply.
"Where?"
"In my little studio in Providence.
r. l."
do you mean to tell me-" insisted |
Mr.. Duff, that you. alone and unaid-
ed, painted that picture?'
Yes, sir, I certainly did, was
the reply
Well exclaimed Mr.. Duff, his sur
prise still I'm evidence. II will give
you one thousand dollars for IT, But
I want full proof that you painted It,"
you need have no apprehension on
that score. Mr.. Dun, interposed Mr..
Dow. Il have investigated the matter,
There Is no doubt that Bannister
painted the picture. just as he says
he did"
"Who taught your" asked Mr.. Duff.
again turning to the negro.
81 studied here In Boston at the
Lowell Institute, sir. and under DR..
Rimmer."
"wni you sell me the painting for
thousand dollars?"
well, sir" replied Bannister. Il
should like to send 1t to the Cen
tennial Exposition in Philadelphia
first. once lived I'm Philadelphia,
and would feel mighty proud II a
picture of mine were exhibited at the
exposition"
"All right. Bannister," said Mr..
Duff, first send your picture to the
exposition, and then let me have II for
- I,II Dat fan
this right now. If your picture is
exhibited at the centennial It will
take a medal of honor II It doesn't.
then I will give you two hundred and
fifty dollars more than a thousand for
the picture" .4.-
Eyes, sir. thank you, sir" respond
ed the negro. and so the bargain was
made And in due course the picture,
accepted and hung by the art COM
mittee Of the Centennial Exposition.
received a first award medal. Then
from several quarters the artist was
offered much more than a thousand
dollars for the painting. but he re-
membered his word to Mr.. Dun, and
"IInder the Oaks" became one Of the
most highly priced pictures in Nj.
Duff's private collection To-day. in
/ the world of art, It Is a famous
American landscape, though its
whereabouts has long been something
Of a mystery, few persons knowing
that II is in the private collection Of
Mr.. Duff's son-in-law. DR.. William c.
Bullard. of New York city.
AS for the black man who painted
this prize picture, f. NJ. Bannister.
death claimed him several years later,
before he had produced another paint
ing worthy to be placed In the COM
pany Of "Under the Oaks"
Copyright, 1910, by b. ]. Edwards.
All Rights Reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell