The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
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L. A. Gillette, in charge of the art
department of the Kansas Free Fair,
| announced this week that the judging
committee for the art department is
selected as judges by Mr.. Gillette are:
{ George NJ Stone and Carl P. Bolmar
of Topeka, and R. F. Frazier of Law
renee, Kan.
How many people know that the
| late William De Morgan, English au-
thor, writer of Joseph Vance and
Ahce-for-Short, was an artist and art
potter of much more than average
| ability?
Such however, is the case. He
started to study art at the age of 20.
| and entered the old Academy schools
Soon he fell under the spell of the
Pre-Raphaelites, and became a close
friend and follower of Solomon, Ros-
etti&Burne-Jones, MADDOX Brown and
others distinguished Pre-Raphaelites.
J. As a mere painter of pictures De
Morgan was from the start an indif-
ferent success, but being of a scien-
tific as well as an artistic turn OF
mind, ne combined his artistic ability
with a study of the chemistry and be-
gan experimenting in the technique of
stained glass and pottery manufac-
ture.
His stained glass with which he
! dabbled until 1872. is described by
competent judges as being peculiarly
rich in color and dignified in design.
But getting nowhere from a financial
standpoint. he abandoned stained
glass for pottery and tile designing
and manufacture.
In the last named occupation De
Morgan continued until his 61th year,
his patience and enthusiasm never
becoming his. Being a skilled artist
of fine feeling, an accomplished
craftsman, and a learned chemist, he
produced work which no mere crafts
man could even approach, let alone
excel. His results are said to equal
in beauty similar work of almost any
period of the worlds history in any
country. Especially beautiful were
his tiles and luster ware.
Notwithstanding all of this, the fac
tory that he built near Florence, Italy,
finally failed. Then, at the age of 81,
when most unsuccessful people are
thought to be down and out, De Nor
gan began the writing Of novels, as
a device to relieve the tedium of a
long convalescence, and his writings
became an instant and startling sue
cess. This success as writer con-
tinuing until his death which occurred
about five years ago.
Sad to relate, now that he is no
more, the art world Is beginning to
wake up to the beauty of this artist
craftsman's work in the field that he
lowed so ardently. Much of his pic
toriaI work on tiles is done in the
style of the pre-Raphaelites. It is
fine in drawing, beautiful in color
and poetic in conception. Other work is
Persian in feeling. Then there is that
wonderful luster ware, eQualling IN
beauty anything done by the ancient
or medieval potters-
In much of his tile work, the de-
sign was painted on paper, the paper
pasted on the surface OF tile, glaze
composition put over the paper, and
the prepared tile placed in the kiln.
The heat of the kiln destroyed the
paper and burned the design and the
glaze into the surface of the tile
De Morgan's wife was also a Pre-
Raphaelite artist of ability, and her
style is so similar to that of Burne-
Jones that some of her work was Tor
a long time believed to be his.
Mr.. and Mrs. L. D. Whittemore re-
turned this week from tour by au-
tomobile to Taos and Santa Fe, New
Mexico, and back Miss Margaret
Whittemore, who has been spending
the summer at the home or Mr.. ana
Mrs. Ralph NJ. Pearson, OF Taos, re-
turned to Topeka with her parents
Mr.. Pearson is noted etcher and sew
eral examples of his work were ex-
hibited in Topeka last December with
a collection of the works OF noted
American etcherss sent here by the
York City, The exhibition was shown
at Boswell Hall. washburn college.
Miss Whittemore said that Mr..
Pearson prints most or his etchinSs
at his studio in Taos. and while she
was there Mrs. Pearson, assisted by
several Indian or Mexican helpers, |
was busy in pulling off copies or some
of her husbands latest work, while |
the latter was away on sketcnlnS |
Miss Whittemore did much painting |
and sketching in and around Taos, |
and brought home about twenty ex-
ceedingly beautiful water color and
pen and ink paintings and drawings.
'.Our main object in taking this |
trip said Mrs. Whittemore, during an |
interview a few days ago, |
was to visit the famous art museum I
at Santa, Fe, that might get ideas for |
the new Mulvane Art Museum at |
washburn college. Our second object |
was to meet and talk with members |
of the colonies of noted artists at Taos /
and Santa Fe, and our third object /
was to see that wonderful country. |
The trip wcs a success from start to /
finish and exceedingly well worth
while"
'sThe artists at Taos pay little at |
tention to the average tourist, whose
main object is to see wonders and to |
race about the country. But they are
exceedingly kind to visiting artists and /
to people interested in, and sympa-
thetic toward art"
They all were most kind to us. !
much interested in our efforts in the |
of art in Topeka and !
gave many helpful suggestions re-
garding our work. Thru the kind l
help of Mr.. Waiter Ufer, president of /
the Taos Art association, ably assisted !
by the associations secretary, Mr.. 1
we met all OF the famous 1
and talented men and women living in i
the town, and the association has 1
promised to send a collection of the /
best work of its members to Topeka. I
for exhibition purposes some time 1
during the coming winter or early |
spring"