El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-09
.HE last year has furnished nu-
merous proofs of the increased

L ~N he last year has furnished nu-
merous proofs Of the increased
commercial value of American
art. The word art is becoming broader
in It's meaning. It now includes good,
useful and valuable work in many
lines, which few years ago would
! have been scoffed at by the .ultra-aes-
thetic as sordid and unethical
The value of American art is, being
demonstrated by the large number Of
American artists who are now able to
command large fees for their work.
Edwin Abbey has just declined the in
vitation Of king George to paint the
Coronation portrait and all American
| artists are proud that he could afford
TO do So Abbey painted the official
picture of the coronation of king Ed
ward, which now hangs in Buckingham
palace. In this are represented pOr-
trait figures of over 100 persons prom
inent in the coronation ceremonies. The
artist had cause for complaint with a
number of these officials because they
were unpunctual in the matter. of sit
ting. The recollection Of the unpleas-
antness connected with the one coro-
ration picture has caused Abbey to re-
ject absolutely the overtures of king
George Abbey's prices for portraits
are IN many cases fabulous, as he IS
indisputably the most popular painter
of modern times. His most recent
work in his native land was the fulfill
ment of the contract in the state capt.
tol at Harrisburg. Pennsylvania, for
four lunettes for $40, eco and four me-
dallions for $50. COO.
Sargent Quits Portraits.
John Sargent, for some years past
you'd not consider q. portrait order for
less than $4,000, and If the subject were
at all difficult he received $500. At
present he is doing landscape work
for his own pleasure. having grown
weary of his long devotion to portrait
IRE. William Chase commands $500
for single canvas, and after him come
Edward Redfield. Edmund Tarbe1l,
Frank Benson, Carl Melchofr, and
scores Of others who have arrived at
position in art which permits them to
demand thousands Of dollars for one
picture
Mural Decoration Favored.
Mural decoration is a branch of art
much in favor with Americans In this
cess as he has just completed six large /
panels ordered for the decoration Of the |
house of lords in England Mural |
painting is rapidly becoming popular
for the decoration OF large buildings i
devoted to trade or business purposes /
The most noted examples OF mural 1
Painting produced N America during I
the past year are the six typographical /
landscapes, each 25 by 20 feet in size, |
which have been painted by Jules Guer- /
IN for the adornment Of the immense
row station Of the Pennsylvania rail- (
road in New York. The pictures rep
resent scenes traversed by the rail- |
road or its branches
Mural painting and stained glass
combine well IN church, decoration.
which has become SO important fea-
ture OF American art development dur
ing the last quarter of a century. Fran
els Lathrop. Richard Crowinshild and
the late John LaFsrge. whose untimeIy
death last month was q blow to all
American art lovers. are the three pio-
neers responsible for the advance made
in American ecclesiastical art La
Fargo really invented q new form OF
stained glass which is now known in
Europe as American stained glass. It
Is universally acknowledged to be far
to any former creation Of the I
Kind. In delicaey and coloring La
Farge's windows excel even the most
noted masterpieces Of Europe, and his
methods gave a great impetus TO the
OF manufacturing memorial
or decorative windows
The manufacture Of stained glass
may properly be considered as a part
OF the arts and crafts work which IS
the latest and most practical move
nent in art development The arts and
crafts movement recognizes the value
IL art artisan. The training for this
really includes only the highest deveI-
opment in skill in trades formerly con-
'idered mental The art schools now
each fine metal work, pottery and
skilled weaving. The results are art
objects of practical value
A New Branch of Art.
The designing OF patterns for wall