The Washington times., 1914-01-02
ARTISTS AT HOME
IN WASHINGTON
By F. E. Y.
MAX WEYL.

By F. E. Y.
Up two flights of stairs and then a
flight covered with greene baize, and
was confronted by little sign which
sticks out from the door bearing the
name Max weyP'-there is little red
card to indicate out or ''in," and a
pad with a pencil where one may leave
a message.
After a timid knock, Just a minute
elapsed, and then the door was opened
by a kindly-faced, smiling old gentle
man with soft. outstanding gray hair,
and Van Dyke beard, who looked ex-
actly as courteous and considerate as
had been encouraged to picture by rea-
i son of the little attentions for the bene-
| fit of callers fastened on the outer door.
| Max Weyl, sometimes called the dean
| Of Washington painters, and considered
| one of the finest landscape artists in the
country, is seventy six years old, but
charming, and his interest as Keen as
when he permitted the interviewers Of
many years ago to call upon him. We
stepped into a big room crowded with
canvases and frames, and after L had
explained my mission we passed on
into the front room, just as full Of pic
lures. 1 managed to find a seat in spite
of my confusion, and he methodically lit
his pipe, beaming the meantime.
| 1t seemed as IL some one had stopped
the clock for time. Peaceful, exquisite
ly toned landscapes lined the walls and
obtruded from corners, l gazed brazenly,
my ears cooked for conservation, and
had only half taken in what was in the
room when he spoke.
Yes, Washington and the nearby
| country is very paintable," he said.
81 have found 1t an inspiration for
| more than thirty-five years-longer
| than, "-he looked at me and smiled
again-"a longer time than YOU have
| lived" and then deftly, and to my very
great astonishment, he proceeded to in
terview me. sidetracked only, temporar-
| ily by my onslaught upon new fields Of
| conversation. The mention OF Washing
| ton in its early days drew quite a long
statement from him, and the vehemence
with which he made it unveiled a
wealth of thick German accent, which
more tense, low-spoken conversation
had hidden
"Mudhole-mudhole, a horrible mud
hole-that was Washington in 81, when
| first came here to live. was born IN
| Germany. When 1 came to America
| first was in the jewelry business until
| after the close OF the war. was thirty
six years old before 1 took I'D painting
| as profession, and 1 am self-taught.
| kled up, the wide-set blue eyes twinkled,
| land where were you born?" Check
mattel / had to confess and answer
questions for several minutes, hunting
for name, word, turn in the con-
versation which would send the re-
sponsibility back on him, and make me
| the listener. Yes, wanted to go abroad
| and right on to Did yop study abroad
| for any length of time? Do you know
Alexander" Fate had put the correct
| combination of words in my mouth, for
| he answered both question at once.
| Il knew John w. Alexander when he
| was just a poor boy in Venice-let me
see, that was in 1850. He is a wonder
\ full painter, and has done much toward
| the art of this country. We have the
greatest landscape painters in the world
in this coyntry; the French confess 1t
openly; it is the opinion of experts.
II have painted Rock Creek Park for
many years, the Potomac flats, and
scenes from the Potomac river. used
to do a great deal of sketching Up near
Sheridan circle-that was wilderness
twenty-five years ago.
Then, during series of puffs from the
pipe, 1 managed 20 remember to inquire
of the impressionistic tendencies of
watch contemporaries have accused him
during the last few years.
With grave tolerance for my temerity
he took out the pipe, smiled and said:
No, not Observation-Disclosures more
:road. / paint more broadly. 1 initiate
no school. am merely doing in a big
ger way. a very natural result OF a
perfect maturity" Pause, during
jog him along in the same vein.
What? Did ] ever paint in great de-
tail like Corot's first? oh. my dear
child. yes. we almost all do Pointing
to an autumn scene OF birch woods
do you see that mass of fallen leaves
you get the impression perfectly, yet
1 put that paint on with knife and
these"-showing me his thumbs. Years