Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-13
REMBRANDT is
MODEL. FOR
FILM PRODUCERS
WHEN Rembrandt and Titan painted

AIliEN rembrandt ana Iltlan palnteu
, w their immortal masterpieces. they
little dreamed that they were to play an
important part in the development of
| another great art which was to rise
hundreds of years later.
Nevertheless the old masters of the
brush and palette have exerted and
are constantly exerting powerful in
fluence on the art Of the motion pic
turc. Progressive producers, recognize
ing true artistic values. arc turning to
the painters of the past for lessons in
composition, grouping and lighting OF
screen scenes.
One of the pioneers in this field is
Cecil Il. De Mile. He it was who in
troduced to the screen what has come
to be known as Rembrandt lighting
And he is constantly making use OF
the famous works Of famous painters
in matters of grouping and compost.
tion.
At the time when De Mile began ex-
perimenting with lighting, with the able
assistance Of Alvin. Wyckoff. his chief
cinematographer, all motion picture
photography was fiat: every corner Of
the picture was flooded with the same
degree of light. r.
Following in the footsteps of the fa-
nous Dutch painter, De Mile and
Wyckoff attempted to high-light one
side of character face while the other
side remained in deep shadow. Critics
Of that day prophesied that their eff
forts would result in failure. But they
succeeded in spite of adverse criticism.
Today Rembrandt Lighting" is a fea-
ture of all Cecil B. De Mile pictures
and Of the majority of other notable
productions.
Composition and grouping are i'm.
of all stories. Here again the pro-
ducing directors have prOfted by the
splendid models furnished by the mas
ters. Hardly a photoplay is made today
in which the mastery composition of
the old painters does not play an i'm
pOrtant part.
Cecil B. De Mile boasts Of one of the
most complete libraries of art reproduc.
tions in the world today. Not only
has he complete file Of excellent repro
ductions of the masters of the brush,
but this library also includes photo
graphic picturizations Of the finest
works Of ancient and modern sculpture.
This collection is being added to con-
stantly. and it plays its part in the
production Of every Cecil B. DE Mile
production.
Nor are the producers and directors
alone indebted to the painters of note.
Wardrobe departments, costumels,
technical and art directors, and even
the studio hairdresser refer to the fa :
nous works of art for their audience.
One of the coiffures worn by Gloria
Swanson in her most recent picture,
Beyond the Rocks" owes its origin
to n portrait by Leonardo de Vinci.
Recognizing the value Of these paint
ings for technical and artistic guidance,
Lasky has assembled studio collection
of reproductions that vies with Cecil Is.
De Miles personal collection. Miss
Elizabeth McGaffey, head of the Lasky
Studio research department. is intrusted
with the task of enlarging this collec-
tion and experimenting its care. To her
come directors, art directors, assistant
directors, scenarists and technical ex-
perts, all bent on consulting the files
wherein are kept copies of the finest
works of art the world has ever seen.