Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-07-18
-TEE-EF-t- t-E'E-E-E'1''E''E~t-F--t
Painting a
Picture
Under Cupid's
Guidance
By ANDREW C. EWING

\ !.
The most beautiful lake in the world
is Como and the most beautiful bay
the bay of Naples. Both have been the
scene Of many n story, real and ficti-
tiOus; both have attracted visitors from
all parts of the world. The beauty Of
the former bursts upon one at once;
that of the latter is Of slow growth.
Como is always much the same; the
bay Of Naples Is ever changing.
Sorrento, overlooking this beautiful
bay, Is built on a circular ledge of rocks
some three hundred feet high, follow
ing the curvature of the shore There
are hotels and villas fronting the water.
some Of them built In tho center of or
unge groves. One morning a gentle
man emerged from one of these hotels,
sauntered down walk, plucking an
orange by the way, and at the end
stood upon II marble balcony looking
down upon the waves far below.
Yachts and fishing boats were rocking
on the surface, and from the island of
Capri little steamer was bounding
along toward Sorrento.
A young lady had set up nm easel on
the balcony and was attempting to
transfer the scene to canvas. The gen.
tlcman paused Il short distance behind
her and looked Mt her work. Conscious
of his presence, she turned.
Pardon me, signorina," he said in
Italian and was about to walk on when
she said in English:
81 don't understand Italian"
"Ah, you are an American, l per-
ceiver
"Why not English2"
I'VE Americans are easily distin,
guished from the English by our nc.
cent Permit me to compliment you on
the way you are getting on with your
picture"
II am not getting on at all."
"You have sketched your outline very
we'll"
But how shall get that deep blue
of the water. how that delicate veil of
mist that hangs over Capri and almost
hides lschia farther on?"
"Your work will be the more dlfl.
cult because you cannot get the same
scene on two consecutive days, To-
morrow the water will be perhaps a
pale green, then light instead of a
dark blue. as It is today. Quite likely
even by noon We shall have Ischia
resting on a sea Of quicksilver"
The girl leaned back in her chair
discouraged
81 would advise you to put in such
parts as will not change, then select
certain colorlng to transfer to your
canvas. If you can get It in before 1t
changes, be It so; II not you must get
In as much rs you can. then walt till
the same conditions come again"
Exactly the same conditions will
never come again."
you are right. But you don't need
TO copy An artist doesn't do that. He
takes landscape, n model, any sub
Ject you like. and ideallzes It. His
Intention Ii not TO get something bet.
ter than the original, but something
better than the result of nm attempt
to transfer the original to canvas"
'If could only get 1.-THE OF what
we see before us on the canvas I
should be satisfied"
Are you an amateur or profes
sional"
II simply desire to make picture to
sell on my return to America to help
out the expense OF my trip abroad"
"Well don't be discouraged With
your permission ] will critlcise your
work as you proceed. l am n profess
sional critic and may help you"
"Thank you very much, but doubt
II ] can produce anything worthy Of
your criticism"
Acquaintance aro formed very eas-
fly between tourists, especially where
they nre fellow countrymen, and Ed
ward Minard improved upon this be
ginning to become quite friendly with
Lucia Clifford True to his promise, he
coached her In her effort to transcribe
some Of the various phases that the
bay OF Naples takes on. From tho win
dow OF his room no could look out
upon It, md often when Il assumed
the conditions she was trying to get
he would send her word, and she
would hurry TO the balcony to take ad-
vantage OF the situation.
At times she would rest from her
work by riding out on tho road wind.
ing up tho heights lying southwest Of
the town At others she would stroll
with friends among the shops picking
up bargains in lace or silks. Occa-
sionnlly on returning from some Of
these trips her work would look bet
ter to her than when she had left It.
Mlnard told her that this was because
before going out she saw It through
tired eyes. When sho came In she
saw 1t through rested eyes. But she
noticed the greatest Improvement on
her return nfter n couple of days alb
sence while on visit TO Paestum. II
seemed to her on first viewing her pic
ture after her arrival that she had
done far better than she had supposed
In getting that misty effect of tho at
mosphere, that cerulean blue Of the
winter. Moreover, she was gradually
| getting on to the canvas not any Of
the conditions she Ind seen, but some
thing conceived. something more en-.
pablo Of being represented In paint.
She asked Minnrd how she could hnve
| done H. and he told her that II was