The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-23
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AS stated in Fridays issue of The
State Journal. plans and specifications
for the new Mulvane art museum at
Washburn college are at last COM
pIeted. Both Mrs. L. D. Whittemore,
of the Washburn art department, and
Thomas Williamson, the architect, are
Ito be congratulated upon the plans
and the design that have been pro-
duced thru their collaboration. They
certainly have made the most of the
available resources.
Mrs. Whittemore spent a large part
of her time during an extended trip
thru the east last May in visiting those
towns having galleries from which
useful ideas could be drawn, and in
interviewing persons competent to
give her valuable information. Later
in the summer she made a trip by au-
tomobile to see the new and original
art museum at Santa Fe, N. M.
Mr.. Williamson, tho young man at
the beginning of his career, has
already designed many buildings in
are credit to himself and to his pro-
fession. 1t is entirely fitting that a
Topeka architect should be awarded
the task of designing a home struc-
ture of the character of the Mulvane
art museum.
1t appears that one of the sensa-
tionS in eastern art circles at the
present time is John Lille, farmer,
carpenter and plumber of Dorset, VT,
who, with no previous training, has
developed into q. landscape painter of
the first rank.
Lille is of the old fashioned type of
rural New Englander, intelligent, dis
corning, and shrewd, tho limited in
book learning, with a knowledge OF
the world confined to his native local
ity and environment.
Like many other farmers living in
that picturesque Green Mountain dis
trict, the Lilies take summer board
ers. Among those boarders, a season
or so ago, was argroup OF New York
artists. Instead of regarding these peo-
pie with amused contempt after the
manner of many of his neighbors,
John Lille enjoyed watching them
work. and followed the operations oc
picture painting with close, concen-
trated attention whenever his more
urgent duties allowed.
One day. while the artists were out
on a painting expedition and his fam
lily was away from home, he gathered
together some house paints and some
brushes, selected a broad smooth
piece of board, and set to work to
paint landscape.
When the artists returned and one
of them CHANGED to stumble onto the
finished picture which its author
had modestly hidden in the carriage
house, he was astounded at what he
work it was, they could scarcely be-
lieve their eyes, for what they be-
held, was not the crude daub of be-
ginner nor even the promising work
of the more advanced amateur. but
the mature product of a master.
There were displayed in an under
standing and sympathetic manner,
qualities of earth and sun and sky.
that several of those present, tho
they had studied for years under tho
| best instructors, had striven in vain
to get
Lille, with the help and advice OF
| his new found friends, obtained an
artists outfit, and from that time on
has employed his spare time in paint
| ing the scenery of his home country
In time other artists came to hear OF
| him, and journeyed to Dorset to see
| his wonderful pictures Later, he was
| invited to New York, where, upon
visiting an important art exhibition
| he picked out the best pictures with
an unerring promptness that amazed
professional critics of lifelong expert
! ence at judging.
Lilies work is said to be entirel,