The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-12
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ElEb OF ART
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On October 20. 1921, the recently
completed mural decorations by John
Singer Sargent in the Boston Museum
of Fine Arts was unveiled to public
view.
Mr.. Sargent, one of the world s
greatest painters of modern times,
was five years in executing this stupen-
dous and strikingly beautiful work.
At first a reduced scale replica of
the rotunda of the museum was con-
structed, and the whole scheme of the
design was worked out and painted on
this. Many changes were made in the
original idea, and at Mr.. Sargent s
wish, the rotunda was altered and re-
modelled to admit of better compost
ton and a more effective view of the
work when completed
Says one of the leading art critics:
1.-THE artist has combined his knowI-
edge of architecture, his skill as a
sculptor and his ability as a painter
into a vast whole" In modern times
perhaps there has never been such a
daring and successful combination of
the three arts. The general scheme
of color is blue and gold and white, a
color scheme. it is said, not unknown
to the ancient Chinese and much used
by them in proclaim decoration.
Most of the figures are in white.
and resemble. has reliefs, in fact Sar-
gent at first contemplated making
them such.
There is a large panel representing
Apollo and the Nine Muses., another
representing architecture, painting and
sculpture protected by Minerva from
the ravages of time. Another shows
the Sphinx and the-Chimaera. and
there is one typifying classic and
romantic art. This is Judged to be
the finest of the lot. There are also
a number of smaller panels suggesting
fame mythology. education, music,
aSfFnnnF0lV n rn1T
from Grecian mythology.
Everybody knows of Sargent s
Prophets" and other decorations in
the Boston public library, and many
of those of US who have seen them
were deeply impressed by the awful
and mysterious grandeur.
1t is said that while not one of
these decorations in the Museum of
Art, taken by itself as painting, is
comparable to any of those in the
public library, yet the museum deco
rations will be much more readily
understood by the average beholder,
and the effect of the whole group as
a mural decoration is superb.
The Topeka Art guild is negotiating
with the Brown company of
New York for an exhibition of etch-
ings by some of Americas foremost
artists The exhibition will probably
c. A. Seward, talented young artist
of Wichita, Kan, has opened a studio
gallery at 314 Sedgwick building in
that city. An exhibition of wood en-
cravings by ]. J. Lankes is now on
exhibition at the Seward gallery.
Mrs. L. c. Hodges exhibition of
landscape, marine and portrait paint
ings at her husbands photograph
studio, ia Kansas avenue, contains
some exceedingly beautiful work. Par
ticularly charming are. a woodland
scene painted near Ozawkie this sum-
mer, and an autumn cornfield painted
near Topeka a few weeks ago.
Mrs. Hodge has a keen appreciation
Of sunlight, shadow and atmosphere.
Her rendering of the pearly. .hazy
light that hovers over the water when
one looks out over the ocean on a
sunny day, is especially happy. This
effect is clearly seen in a number OF
marines in the exhibition, which she
painted while in California year ago
last summer.