Evening journal., 1912-07-18
MANY MOURN
The DEATH OF
ROBERT SHAW
Paintings of Delaware Scenes
Had Endeared Artist to
Home People
WOULD SAVE HIS ART
FOR MUNICIPAL COLLECTION

Robert Shaw, the artist. who died
at his home this morning, was loved
and esteemed by a wide circle Of per-
sonal friends. and through his paint
ings, was known to all Delaware and
art lovers all over the country.
His love of art manifested itself at
an early age. when he would paint on
shingles or the cellar door He was
in delicate health even as a child, suf-
fering from rheumatism. and this, per-
haps, made him turn away from more
boyish fun to the quieter pursuit Of
painting.
He took instruction from an artist
named Homer Herr. who at one time
gave lessons in this city, and later fol-
lowed in the footsteps of Henry Tat
nall. the former Delaware artist. Mr..
/ Shaw later studied abroad, taking up
the etching work which was one OF
his happiest mediums of expression.
Mr.. Shaw has painted a large num-
Der of foreign scenes, particularly the
quaint gardens of England and Wales,
but he was best known for his pictures
of historic, colonial buildings and for
picturesque scenes along the Brandy
wine. Mr.. Shaw always felt the poetic
quality and brought it out In his pic
lures. In the gray stone, vlne-covered
studio adjoining the fine old home
stead at Penny Hill. are some OF his
best works.
There is a portfolio Of 65 etchings
of historic scenes, made four years
ago for a New York art dealer. THESE
etchings rank with the best etchings
produced by American artists They
have both strength and a peculiarly
graceful beauty The elaboration
with which thew are done nearly cosi
the artist his sight An operation re
stored his sight, enabling him to &C
on with his work Valley Forge BY
moonlight was one Of the most diff
cult of this set to etch. said Mr.. Shaw
Others in the set show Mt. Vernon
the Charter Oak, Independence Hail
the Betsy Ross House and other MS
toric places.
There are in the studio numbe
of the old Delaware homes Mr.. shaw
had painted for prominent Whining
ton families. These pictures are eX
! ouisite in coloring, showing delicat
spring foliage against the old gra'
stone of quaint colonial halls, and ire
q ouently with a burst of pink bios
SONS in a foreground garden.
4 Mr. Shaw worked chiefly in waite
: color. pen and ink, or etching, but h
q was equally at home with oils. II
a is not so we'll known as a painter {
people as he is OF scenery. but SON
s, of the most interesting pictures
o his studio are oil studies in colo
= of the hunter returning from a sue
f cessful trip. Mr. Shaw could easil
have won fame as a painter OF pee
S pie.
g Robert Shaw exhibited in the an
n nual exhibitions at the Philadelphi
r Academy of Fine Arts, exhibitions c
e the Philadelphia Society of Etcheri
) and in the Water Color Society exhi
bitions. His work ranked high, an
e Delaware was proud to claim him a
- one Of her sons. His death will b
= a great loss to art in Delaware.
Local artists express the wish tha
a collection Of Robert Shaw's work
! be made for the future municipal al
collection. which has taken its be
ginning in the collection Of painting
of Howard Pyle, friend and fello'
artist of Mr. Shaw.