The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14

w Herbert punton, a painter NJ scenes
from the "Old West" has his studio build
ing on the grounds Of his home at Ridge
wood. y. ]. There he has been doing
for several years the work that has made
n deep impres sion on American Grt. though
comparatively few residents of the VIII 20
are aware OF IT, That the rise Of this
painter to distinction was accomplished
by hard work along difficult path IL
told Interestingly In sketch in the
EdgewOod HcTdid. e.
Mr.. Dunton was born in Maine ihrtr-
six wears ago. lie went to school n
Augusta where he spent more time maxi
Ing drawings of the rugged scenes ~ the
Maine woods than I'm studying his books
The first picture that he sold appeared IN
Recreation. IA New York periodical. while
he was yet in his teens. He sold few
pictures and with the proceeds went 70
Boston TO study In the Cowles Art School
until his money gave out which was not
long. What happened next Is told by the
Ridgewood newspaper:
when his fortunes were az low Ne
possible, 80 II seemed, he married
young woman who lived in the Same
house where he had his attic room. She
had been driven to try to make a living
by dressmaking In Boston and was Just
as poor as he This hoy and girl, neither
OF them 90 years old. decided that they
could help one another because they loved
each other so dearly.
"'She saved me- said Dunton tho other
evening In his studio She took my
stories and whipped them into shape, pn'
them into good English she posed for ne;
she never gave IN hope. After a while
we went to New York. Well! We thought
we knew what hardship was in Boston
but New York Why, it's perfect hell 10
he poor In New York I tramped the
streets with my pictures under my arm
when was so ragged that ! was ashamed
to go into n publishers office, and gol
little illustrating to do. Then ] broke
down. Nervous prostration. i was All
in"
The young artist aud his wife cot
enough money together to go 70 Colorado
where while regaininE his health he made
\ lot Of sketches OF life on the rhucht'
and in the wilds, Back In New York. b."
began work on his first cowboy paintings
He started out one day with four. The
first publisher he called on said he would
gladly take one, hut no really couldn't
pay more than SIS"
"Why. man" said Dunton, telling ot
this. "why. ! nearly had another attack
Of nervous prnstration, Seventy-fve i'i-
lars! ! didn't know there was so uu''
money in the world You can imog'n'
the scene when took that money home
to my wife"
THAT was the turning Of the tide
says tho sketch. "DUu'on had ARMY ~
In n small way, TO he sure but ne 500.
found illustrating work of the best SORT
and kept working away at his pictures.
In the spring he and Mrs. punipu Ws0'
West together and with the friends
had made. hunted and Ashcd, and s''
shot the first bear she saw, a"" i'-
veloped into the best pistol shot =" '.'
whole outfit
Back in New York again with many
sketches. and that winter he hsd fon.
pictures on the walls at tine exhibition ''
the National Academy Of Design and on"
of them, "Thc Lonely vigil" he sold f"r a
good round price. And now he spends 1''
sun:mcrs in the far West New N"N','
art Old Mexico and Colorado ana ," "
tho greatest living painter of the c'N '4t
CT. Int be found elsewhere on the A'ie'''
can continent