The daily Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1916-1917, 1917-07-31
BINGHAM PORTRAITS
IN COLUMBIA HOMES
MANY Works of Famous Art
ist and Former NJ. u. Pro-
fessor Owned Here.
PAINTED STATE LIFE
Before the War" Scenes and
Pioneer Portraits Pre-
served.

In some Columbia homes there are
portraits of pioneer Missourians
painted by "Our Missouri Artist,
George Caleb Bingham. Bingham is
interesting to Missourians and es-
pecially to Columbians because of his
place in the history of the state in
the turbulent period just preceding
and during the Civil War and because
of the part he played in preserving
for later generations likenesses of
pioneers of Columbia.
As was the custom of Bingham
time, most men engaged in politics.
He turned his attention in that direc-
tion and became writer of pam
phlets. On several occasions his
pamphlets influenced the trend of
political struggles in this state. 1t
is a great wonder that he turned to
art at all, when the people of his
time were struggling to obtain the
necessities of life, and yet he made
painting his life work. 1t is signif-
icant for Columbians that he spent
much time painting in and around
Columbia. and at one time was pro-
fessor of art in the University.
Bingham was self-taught artist. He
even had to manufacture some of his
colors. 1t is said that he obtained
yellow ochre from the bluffs at Roche
port for use in his painting. He
even painted pictures on tablecloths
when he was unable to obtain canvas.
Judged by our present standards of
art, he is not considered a great art
list, but he has done what no other
artist in the world has done-he has
painted true Missourians and true in
cidents and scenes from Missouri life.
His work holds its own particular
place in the history of the state.
1t is fortunate indeed for Column
bians that large number of Bing-
hams pictures are preserved here
AS result of the friendship of Bing
ham and Major James S. Rollins, the
artist painted many portraits of the
members of the Rollins family. Some
of these are: Major James S. Rollins,
Mrs. James S. Rollins, DIR. Anthony
W. Rollins, Mrs. Anthony w. Rollins,
Josiah Lamme, Mrs. Josiah Lamme
and son and Miss Sallie Rodes Roll
Inns. These portraits are now in the
possession of C. B. Rollins. Hon r.
B. Price has three portraits painted
by Bingham: DIR. Edwin Price, Hon.
R. B. Price and Mrs. r. B. Price The
portrait of Mrs. R. l.. Todd and
daughter is now owned by Mrs. ]. C.
Whitten. Marshall Gordon has the
portrait of his father, Hon. James S.
Gordon. Mrs. ]. w. Stone has the
portrait of Hon. Josiah Wilson. DR..
Woodson Moss is in possession of the
portrait of his grandfather, Judge
Warren Woodson.
Besides these portraits there are
number of engravings in the Missouri
Union Building that were made from
the original pictures by Bingham.
These engravings are: "Order No. H."
Stump Speaking" "The County Elec-
tion," Candidate Electioneering," I'm
a Quandary" and "The jolly Flatboat-
men," This last group of pictures is
especially interesting because of the
different phases of Missouri life
which are illustrated by it. The po-
litical side of life in Missouri about
1850 is well illustrated by the pic
lures. Stump Speaking" "The Coun-
ty Election" and Candidate Elec-
tioneering." The Civil War period is
represented by the picture, Order
No. IL" Life along the Missouri
River, which was the principal high
way of the state at that time, is por-
trayed by the pictures, 'In a Guam
dairy" and "The Jolly Flatboatmen."
This last picture was chosen as the
best picture exhibited at the American
Art Union in 1S49. 1t shows a group
OF laborers on the upper deck of
flatboat. Two are playing musical
instruments, one is dancing to the
music and the others are looking on.
The drawing is better than in some
of Binghams previous pictures, but
the coloring is not very good. Yet
when we consider the difficulties un-
der which the artist labored, we feel
that we are deeply indebted to him
for preserving for US the scenes of
bygone days in the history of Mis-
souri,
Few Attend Manual Art Exhibit