Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-20

THE PAINTER OF VENICE.
Appreciation of the Art of the Late
Felix Ziem.


Felix Ziem was the modern Canalet-
TIC. but the old Canaletto was By long
odds the bigger man Of the two.
Both men will always be associated
with Venice, the city which provided
them with an inexhaustible fund of
motives for their pictures. In fact
there is third man to be included in
the group and that is Guard. In his
own way each one OF these three SO
different painters manifested his ar
dent affection for Venice in long
suite of notable paintings. curiously
enough, it was the latest of the three
who departed most widely from the
real Venice, who idcalized his vision
OF the city most audaciously, and used
it merely TO fit in with his own sub
jeetive purposes and tendencies. For
it is undoubtedly true that Ziem
cared more for spectacular effects of
color than for literal truth of fact
His Venice is sort OF dream city,
now blazing with warm color on a
holiday. with bright sunlight shining
on flags and sails and blue waters
| now doing and basking in the peace-
full atmosphere of a summer sunset.
but under all conditions and at all
times decoration. one remembers
more wildly than any other phase
| the blue Venice that is especially
typical of Ziem, which was repeated
so many times, and became by repe-
| tition d little vulgarized and more
than a little commercialized. Perhaps
no painters manner of depicting Ven
| ice has so appealed to the picture
| buyer. and consequently to the pic
| ture dealer. Supply and demand here
| ran a close race for good many
| years. quite so, my dear sir. / free
| ~ acknowledge that your Ziem is an
| exceptional example). The popularity
and vogue of his works are not by
| any means difficult to explain. Charm
/ ing and suaVe in color, brilliant yet
| enveloped in a soft atmosphere, his
pictures are made for the drawing
| rooms of the gentllity, where they
| give a splendid ornamental aspect to
the space over the mantlepiece, and at
| the same time recall the forty-eight
| hours that the family spent, some
years ago, in the Hotel Daniel.
| To be sure, Ziem does not draw like
| Canaletto. or like Guard, with that
conscientious and appreciative treat
ment of architecture that gives TO
each building it's proper character and
physiognomy; and he has even Been
severely criticised on this score. Long
ago, Edmond About, who had the hab-
| il of saying just what he thought. OBJ
served that Xiem concealed the in
sufficiency of his draughtsmanship in
an agreeable vapor' and frankly
stated that his works would give us
more durable and deeper pleasure if
he could have added good drawing to
his other qualities. He has grace
without firmness," said About; "his
earth and his buildings unduate in
the wave: he has never known how
to fix a silhouette" But, he added,
"he excels in mirroring the most bril-
liant colors in canal" About quoted:
sic moindre vent qui adventure
Faire rider la face de feau
furnishes a delicious matter for his
Brush His marine pieces give us
that 'delectable little SILVER with
| which we are seized when we step on
board Of a boat
As a eolorist Ziem knew how to con-
| euer the favor of an army of admir-
! ers without possessing very much
| depth. His color is pleasant and rich
and glittering. but ii lies rather on
the surface of things, and has none
Of the subtilty or profundity of the
masters of the Venetian school. 1T is