The Washington times., 1917-03-29
ALBERTP. RYDER, OF
RTFAME, ISDEAD
Great American Imaginative
Painter Succumbs at Age
of Seventy.

NEW YORK, March 29.-Albert p.
Ryder, regarded as the greatest I'M
aginative painter that America mas
produced, died yesterday at Elmhurst'
L. l., at the age of seventy. About TWO
years ago he was taken seriously III
with Bright's disease, and remained
three months in st. Vincent's Hos
pital. He partially recovered and went
to stay with Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Fitzpatrick, of Elmhurst, who were
friends of long standing, and 1t was
in their home that the disease finally
claimed him.
Mr.. Ryder had long enjoyed great
distinction among artists and connois-
seurs, but it is doubtful If the general
public is at all aware of his claims to
fame. The term greatest inagina-
tive painter" has long been conceded
to him by artists, but there are some
authorities who even go further and
place Mr.. Ryder at the head Of all
American artists.
The public is at a disadvantage in
judging Mr.. Ryder's art, and will be
at a disadvantage for many years, be-
cause many of the most famous OF the
artists works are scattered in far
distant galleries, such as those of
Portland. Ore. and Montreal. Canada.
and they have been inaccessible to
the organizers of loan exhibitions.
Now that Mr.. Ryder is dead, however,
IT is altogether likely that a retro
spective exhibition will be attempted.
His One Trip Abroad.
Mr.. Ryder made one journey to Eu-
rope, years ago. and browsed about
through some of the Continental gal
1eries, but never attached himself to
the schools. The journey across the
sea undoubtedly deeply affected him,
and most of his finest pictures can be
traced to that experience.
The immensity, the mystery, and
the terror of the great waters were
persistent themes with him, and the
"Johan," owned by Colonel Wood, of
Portland, Ore, and the Flying Dutch
man." owned by John Gellatly, of this
city, will, 1t is safe to say, always be
ranked among the great sea pieces of
the world.
MIR. Ryder was a mystic. He could
hardly draw in the sense in which
drawing is generally understood, and
for that matter he could scarcely
paint, but the greatness of his spirit
and the sureness of his poetic insight
surmounted all obstacles OF technique
and informed his pictures with q
weird power that was undeniable.
In spite of the lawlessness OF his
methods as an artist, and he was as
free from rules in his manner OF
painting as Walt Whitman was in his
use of words, the National Academy
of Design honored itself and him in
1906 by eIecting him to full member
ship.
Mr.. Ryder made little effort to as
sociate himself as an artist with in
Etitutions, and seemed to know from
the beginning that his art would b
slow to gain recognition, but he ap
pears always to have had appreciation
from a limited coterie. The late
Daniel Cottier. OF the former art frn
of Cottier & Co., was the FIRST seri
ously to consider his claims. Ono,
convinced of Mr.. Ryder's greatness
Mr.. Cottier worked indefatigably IN
his behalf, and James S. Ingils, a sur
viving partner in the firm, continued
his interest in the artist
Appreciation I'm Canada.
. Thanks to the efforts of Mr.. Cottie
and Mr.. Ingils a group of Canadian
collectors finally took up the cult fol
Ryder, and it is due to this fact tina
so many of the great Ryder pictures
collection of the late Sir William Val
Horne contains the "Siegfried" ant
the Tristan" R. B. Angus owns 9Th,
Temple of the Mind" which has al
ways been held as one of Mr.. Ryder
masterpieces, and z. B. Greenshield
also owns important Ryders.
The Temple of the Mind" was par
of the noted Thomas B. Clarke coIlec
tion, the dispersal of which by tn,
American Art Association caused
great excitement some years ago, ant
is still often discussed. It was paint
ed on a wooden panel, and on tn
back of it was a second picture b!
Mr.. Ryder. a Moonlight" of excep
tionally fine quality.
Mr.. Clarke entrusted the panel to tn,
experts and the two paintings were sue
cessfully sawed apart, the Moonlight
sfterward being sold in a subsequen
auction. The operation at the tim,
caused much discussion, as there wer,
many artists who were averse 10 riskinJ
so great a picture to such danger.
Mr.. Ryder never married, and tn,
only surviving relative so far as know
IS niece who lives in this city. tn,
artists brother once owned the Hote
Albert in University place. and the fac
that the hotel was named for the painte
is a sufficient testimony to the excellen
relationship between the brothers. Th'
artist, even before his last illness. hat
been considerable of recluse. but wa
always accessible to your students
particularly those Of mystical turn o
mind
Mr.. Ryder was born at Bedford, Mass
on March 19. ls47, and was the son o
Alexander Gage Ryder. His funera
will takf place in EImhurst on Frida!
at 2:30 p. m, and without doubt man!
prominent artists will take part in tn
service. The train for those who wisl
10 attend will leave Pennsylvania rail
road station at l:23 p. m