Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-14
SPRINGER GIVES
MUSEUM
GREAT PICTURE
Painting of Aurora
BoreaIiS by Washington Ar
fist Is Added 10 Collection
in Old Palace,

Santa he, Jan. la.-N dltlnS lWtlNe
years 10 paint picture and then fin
ally getting the opportunity in the
dead of the night on the yukon flats
near the Arctic circle, is the history
Of a superb painting of the aurora
borealis. today added to the art coli
lection of the Museum of New Mex
leo I'm the Palace of the Governors,
the generosity of Hon. Frank
Springer. The painting is 10y Leon
ard NJ. Davis of Washington. d. G..
who spent some fifteen years in Alas
ka. His collection Of sketches in
oil is wonderful He paints entirely
with the palette-knife, using no brush
at all. lie is an artist of thorough
training. having studied in Paris be
ing a member of the National Arts
club in New York and his pictures
command good price.
The picture is first Of an repre-
sentation OF an extraordinary natural
and must be considered
from that viewpoint and also with
regard to the circumstances under
which alone II could have been paint
ed. the difficulties attending 1t and
the rarity Of the phenomenon when
il can be observed under conditions
for painting it. Mr.. Davis had "A
large exhibition at Washington. ..
G.. last winter under the auspices OF
the National Geographical society,
which attracted wide attention ana
favorable comment The larger
canvases showing scenes on the Yu-
kon river, the Alaskan glaciers, the
aurora horealis, We're superb des-
pite the fact that most of them were
painted under conditions of difficult
ty and hardship that would be pro-
hihitory to artists generally. How
ever. residence amidst these condi-
tions is necessary to create the true
spirit of Alaska without which the
grandeur of the scenes there present
ed cannot be understood or mterpre-
ted. As only few people in New
Mexico ever saw this strange phe-
of nature at all. much less
i'm the great curtain of purplish light
spanning one-fourth of the heaven,
which IS seen only in the far north,
the painting has an interest here in
addition 80 that of art The artist
himself tells of the difficulties under
which the painting was created as
follows
"To paint word picture of this
marvellous phenomenon which would
even be recognized by the initiated,
would he work of art, but to con-
vey to those who have never witness
cd it the slightest conception of II
would be practically impossible
through the medium of a few words.
There are lnnumefable phases of the
aurora each one of which would re-
quire individual treatment TO eX-
press The difficulty is TO find
something familiar TO the unntiat-
cd with which to compare the color
and action of the aurora. The
smoke from q lighted cigar may be
manipulated SO as to give slight
idea of the movement but viii not
give the vertical vibration which oc-
ours simultaneously with the action
of the smoke The action OF the
color lis as varied as that which is
seen when petroleum is placed upon
moving water, though more like the
delicate tints of the rainbow All OF
this is shhumerne, shifting and ever
changing until one almost doubts his
senses In the presence of what seems
a divine revelation.
"Thc picture Is thut Of 4 mHnitos-
taticn in delicate grcenish Tone With
a silyer-gra Hsht, ;inted with deli
cate rainbow hdcs. lut the whole att
mospherc may he lmpgegnatad with
lavender, pink, a dark green, "A
purple or q red tone. The sublimity
of the scene affects the emotions
wonderfully The intensity Of feel
ing aroused makes it difficult to eX-
press the scene ON canvas.
CAS- the aurora is only visible at
night and then only al long intervals.
and as the night occurs only in vim
ter and the thermometer registers
from zero down to "A degrees below
and as one candle must suffice to
light the way from the paint 10 the
canvas and back again the oppottuu-
ity of painting the aurora in the
open air is attended with some dis
advantages Even these favorable
conditions can only bee had While in
camp. and one must anticipate the
appearance Of the light be prepared
with paint, canvas and candle for the
phenomenon waits for no man.
''T had brcu twelve Npurs I'm A iaNIa