The Washington herald., 1920-06-20
EDWARD w. REoFIELo

A BOUT midway between New York and
"A Philadelphia and, in its quiet rural
beauty and the quaintness Of an older gener-
alton, hundreds of miles from either, lies
the country of Edward W. Redfeld. OF the
thousands who have stood before his pictures
and felt the calm they bring steal into heart
and brain, few knew the canvases were Of
scenes only a few miles from two great cities.
1t Is fat and smiling country, this land
6 Redfeld in the valley of the Delaware,
and Its placid beauty is the artists gift to
picture lovers in all parts of the world, but
his work Is best known in the big art centers
Of his native land. With the fidelity of true
love he has given Us this country along the
sweet waters" Of the Delaware in all its
moods. He il probably best known By his
canvases Of winter scenes, that seem to
breath an icy breath. All this the artist,
stroke by stroke, lays on the canvas which
will be admired in Philadelphia, New York,
Chicago, Milwaukee, st. Louis and other
cities where Mr.. Redheld has earned a place
In the hearts of lovers Of the beautiful.
But how and where does this artist work,
At Center Bridge, Just over the hill from the
path the most of US take, is his home, and
he finds in nature an ever-responsive model
and an ever changing one, too.
As I mounted the hill all the bustl. and
turmoil Of an uneasy people, going some
where in Q cloud Of dust and telling of th.i,
soinss or comings with raucous. voiced
horns, was at my back. As dipped from
its crest into the rural community where thu
artist makes his home closed, as IL were.
Q door on all this and was in a land Of a
more deliberate and, maybe, happier gener-
alton. Horses, with their chins resting IN
the top rails Of stake and rider fences. looked
benisnly at me and hicked their ears to dis.
lodge persistent nies. All, this land of Red.
fields 10 country. It's winter moods ss.n,
to have been most alluring to him, for 1, IL in
the white sarb he has most frequently paint.
Cd It. He has, however, felt the charm Of
the other seasons and 1t Is probable thsy,
too, will be magicked into life On his canvas.
Spring, know, he has painted, catching the
soft green Of new spring grass and shell.
tinted blossoms.
THE artist was At work In his garden when
L called. but sussested we 60 to the house
O. being more comfortable and convenient
for our chat. A word as to the house. It
q one Of the old-fashioned country homes
common here, purchased and rennodeled by
The artist, who added q large square studio.
In the rear q canal creeps past between
tetted banks. To the north its greensward
slopes gently down to q narrow arm Of the
Delaware, separated from the main stream
By q long, narrow wooded island previously
owned By the artist, Who always had, like
saneho Panza, q desire to rule over an
island. .. p.
The most prominent objects on the walls
Of the. studio are four large canvases, beau
tiful and joyous with spring. They have
nsvsr been shown" said the painter, being
only Just completed. They represent q new
departure on my part. Formerly, as you
know, painted In winter only, and all
my pictures were Of winter scenes; but last
spring began painting In blossom time.
In these canvasss ! try to present the
beauty, the illusions, the constantly changing
phases Of the sprinstfrne. For instance, one
represents the world IN peach blooming time,
another In cherry. q third in pear and q
fourth In apple blossom time"
All are strikinsly beautiful, but one show
Ing three tall, slender poplars In the fore
sround. with green landscape and white
church spire peepins above the greenery for
q background, the whole showered with
cherry blossoms, would attract and hold the
attention In any gallery.
The conversation soon took q personal
turn. "You must have had an interesting
career" I haxarded. as q starter.
Interesting, perhaps, but not especially
neteworthy. I was born on a farm at
Hridseville, DEL, December 10, 1sGo Ny
early impressions were all OF quiet, bcauti-
full rursl scenes. When old enough I was
sent to the Friends School at Camden, N.