Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-02-28

II II Art Institute In Chicago Of II
the portraits Of the late
IH George Peter Alexander
" Ia r. Healy, who although a ma
+, w tive of Boston, afterward be-
II ~ came a resident of Chicago,
and really quite ito the
manner born" in spite OF his
birth and his subsequent residence abroad for
many years. created more than ripple in the
art world. and showed again what strong and
representative of his era he was. 1t may
be said truthfully of him that he was most
conspicuous figure in the latter part OF the sec
ond of the art of portraiture in America, as
Gilbert Stuart was of the first era.
Aside from the strong merits OF the portraits
at the Art Institute. their exhibition recalls
to the writer story told him many years ago by
a boyish boon companion OF Mr.. Healy. the late
George Loring Brown. SO famous for his studies
of atmosphere and poetical distance In landscape
and still marines seen under the skies OF
sunny Italy. Mr.. Healy at the time Of which l
speak, was about twenty years of age. and Mr.
Brown year younger. MT Heaiy had been
studying art in a somewhat desultory manner
about the only way In which art could be stud
led in the New England city at that early day.
and making preparations to go abroad to
enter upon his studies in an earnest way. He
had attracted the attention of Mrs. Harrison
Gray Otis the year before. that lady then being
the queen of society in Boston. He had gone to
her with letter of introduction. when she asked
the shy boy what she could do for him. and his
reply was. "oh. sit for me. Madame! SO want
to paint beautiful woman!" She did SO. and
the portrait made quite a local reputation for the
boy, upon which he made arrangements to go
abroad.
Mr.. Brown, the constant companion of MIR.
Healy. born in Boston. February 2. 1914. and
began to draw when eight years old. His father
used to encourage the boy to make caricatures
of people whom he did not like. and got the boy
into many scrape. II he drew the caricatures,
he told me once he had trouble with the peo
pie thus travested, and II he did not, his father
made it very uncomfortable for him. sending him
out the Back Bay in winter to cut holes in the
ice. and fish for cells and other inhabitants of
mud and water, among other things. But the boy
survived 1t ALL and finally went to the Franklin
school, where he won the silver medal, and at
twelve years of age apprenticed to the ia
nous engraver, Peter Farley. where he learned
the art of drawing thoroughly. which stood him
In such stead in his later career
While with Farley who 1t may be remembered,
the wood engraver who illustrated many
of the school books of century ago. the boy
experimental with colors and when not at work
at his engraving was experimenting constantly
with colors with the result that he attracted the
attention OF Isaac Rich. wealthy merchant OF
that day. who day asked him banterngly
how much he wanted to go to Europe.
"One hundred dollars!" he replied enthusias-
tically. displaying a wonderful ignorance OF the
world.
But Mr.. Rich advanced him the hundred dol
lars. and the boy began making preparations to
1t about this time that the two boys began
to the world opening its doors to them. and
In honor of this event, young Brown invested
dollar two in beer and something eatable "on
the side'-the beer portion of the menu being
considered something almost criminal in Bos-
ton in those days-and the boys made night OF
It in honor of their early departure for Europe.
and the taking up of their life work in earnest.
The beer had a good deal of head" it. and
1t gave good deal OF head" to the boys. with
the result that the future great artists
began to imagine themselves great already. and
boasted OF what they would do
Il will paint pictures of Italian scenery" de-
clared Brown land have my pictures In all the
castles of Europe"
And l. said Healy. will paint the kings and
other notables of Europe. and have them In the
castles side by side with yours"
/ did not know Mr.. Healy personally, but
acquainted intimately with Mr.. Brown for many
years and have heard him many times tell how
he finally got away to Europe. He went down to
the wharves and inquired around until he found
vessel that ready to sail for Europe. He
that once the other side of the water he would
find everything easy. married sister gave him
mattress. and he marched down State street to
Long Wharf with the mattress his back hav
ing taken steerage passage. He found, after the
boat set sail that her destination Antwerp
almost far from Italy as Boston itself When
he landed there he had twenty-five dollars left
But he had made a friend OF the captain of the
vessel, who lent him fifteen more. and with this
amount he managed to get to London, where he
was befriended by Mr.. Cheney, the American
engrayer. and he began at his studies of
Italian landscape, living almost the verge OF
starvation for nearly a year. Rt the end of which
sent him more money. and he continued his
studies.
As IN evidence OF his conscientiousness in