New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-20

this occasion. arc AZ the same time TO
be congratulated on having scored
similar success. They. too. date. so 10
say. from Chicago. OF course, we had
known some fine decorations prior 70
1898. In ne late John IA Fargo we
had possessed, in fact. a great master
in the art Of mural painting. But !
can recall as though IT were yesterday
the excitement produced when II was
resolved TO decorate certain domes at
Chicago. Most. if not all. OF the men
invited to do the work had had next
10 no experience. Everybody made al
lowances for that fact and in talk
about their performances some one
was always sure 10 say, Isn't 1t amaz-
ing that, in the circumstances. they
have done so WELL The amazement
died out long ago, for the Chicago
Fair gave an immediate impetus 70
mural decoration throughout the couA-
try. and our artists, occupied ever
since upon legions Of public buildings,
have so far mastered this particular
problem that no one dreams Of making
allowances. A painter of mural deco
rations is tested as a painter of easel
pictures is tested wholly on his indl-
vidual merits. This is the test to be
applied al San Francisco to-day, yet !
cannot refrain from making once more
the purely historical comparison. Al
Chicago the mural decoration had its
artless strain. Here the first thing
YOU notice about it is its sophistlca-
ton. its masterful aplomb.
Mr.. William de Leftwich Dodge opens
the subject for us with a series of
decorations stretched along the inner
walls Of the colossal arch bearing the
Tower of Jewels His paintings, di-
vided into six great panels, three on
each side. illustrate the discovery OF
the Isthmus Of Panama. the completion
of the canal. the coronation OF labor,
the advancement Of commerce ard so
on. He tells his story admirably. But
more important is the fluent skill with
which he has filled his given spaces
In the comparatively mild light OF tins
vast vaulted passageway some strength
of color is needed, and so these deco
rations constitute broad strips OF rlch
blue. broken everywhere by touches OF
deep orange. 1t is the mass OF color
that first strikes you. After that 1t is
the ingenious play OF form. Mr.. Dodge
is the most Partisan Of all the mural
decorators here represented, the most
audacious and the most deXtrous.
can imagine his work improved by
process Of simplifcation, by more mas
sive grouping Of the figures I'm his com
positions. The style he has adopted IS
more that Of the proscenlum arch or
some other interior feature. sun, lust
as they stand. these decorations nave
an extraordinarily accomplished ana
plausible air.
In the eastern arch Of the Court OF
the Universe the two long panels by
Mr.. Edward Simmons. which face eaeh
other jus: below the spring OF the
vault. possess a special interest pear
ING upon = matter Of technique. When
saw them first year or so ago IN the
artists studio, | could not get more
than fifteen or twenty feet away from
them. | knew they were to go well
above the ground in the open air and
| wondered what would then be the
effect of the delicate colors used ana
Of the new method of execution Mr..
Simmons had adopted. The paint was
laid on in narrow strokes, rather
bluutlv. and somewhat IN the manner
Of mosaic. Would these strokes fuse
Would the pale tints hold their own
Mr. Simmons trusted TO his magma
ton. 10 the experienced artists indie
fnablo sense Of things, and these re-
sources have not failed him. From the
technical point of view his decorations
are the most interesting at the FAR.
| would not underestimate their al
legorical charm. the grace with when
the two groups of figures, stretched
as in informal procession across long
levels, proclaim mis- IDEAS OF explora-
ton. industry. religion. art and other
HIGH erected themes But ! am aboNe
ali impressed by the beauty OF has
restrained tiuts, the soft, opalesceht
glow Of his violet, rose, gray ana green
hues, and the perfect ease win wnlch
they hold their own amid their
grandiose surroundings. That rs where
his broken strokes come in. They fuse,
indeed and as they do so they seem
to vibrate. Incidentally they give the
paintings something ike texture ana
il is a texture in subtle harmony WIN
that Of the travertine. There are TWO
things suggested by Mr.. simmons
work. In the first place, there are beau
tv and power in what he has done
Secondly, he has approved himselt
plquantlv clever artist, az clever as
The Youngest of young prodiglcs come
suddenly out of the blue with a fresh
touch at tho tips Of his fingers.
The panels filling the same positions
in the western arch of the Court OF the
Universe have been painted by Mr..
Frank Vincent Du Mond. lie also ar
ranges his figures professionally. show
ing the people Of the East iourneying
to the shores Of the Pacific, there to
receive n golden welcome. His types,
drawn from all walks Of life, are good
studies in Characterization; they are
drawn with impeccable proficiency ana
they are enveloped in blithe atmos-
phere which does more than anythinE
else 20 win the sympathy OF the pc
holder. But Mr.. Du Mond's style Is
isconcerting. 10 say the least. can
best indicate it's somewhat thin neat
ness By saying that II recalls the style