The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-08-15
Art Critics Tribute
to st. JOhnsbury

the art gallery of the Athenaeum
are good of their respective
schools, and good examples of the
work of the artists represented.
But to a lover of living art land
by that | mean art that continues
to interest artists it is somewhat
regretable that those responsible
for the purchase of the paintings
had only contemporary academic
taste.
They were probably men Of var
ious interests and bought the
works of artists who were then of
great reputation. But fashions
change in arr as in all else. Most
of the artists popular in the '70s
were men OF great craftsmanship,
but with little or no vision. And
since that time the artistic interest
has turned from the imitation of
objects to Interpretation of them.
The tlrst step was the realization
OF the existence of light and at
mosphere and their influence upon
objects, models and landscapes.
Then light itself was broken up
by the spectrum, and painters be-
gan to use "broken color, that is,
pure color in minute contrasted
and juXtaposed dabs-and the eff
feet from little distance was one
of vitality flooded with light.
These and similar prescriptions
have held and continue to hold the
interest of artists, quite apart
from the pictorial or ancedotal
quality of the subject matter of
their paintings.
But all this aside, the schools
represented in the Athenaeum col
lection are the best of the imita-
tive kind, and as the gallery is one
much frequented by general pub
lie without special artistic train
ing, perhaps it is a collection cal
culated to give the most pleasure.
Were there any doubling
Thomas of visitor, unconvinced
OF the beauties of this part of the
country, nothing could be better
calculated to first reduce him to
humility and then exalt him to
praise than the trip to Willoughby
Lake. The detour to Mr.. Darling's
on the way out was richly worth
while-the commanding view to-
wards Burke mountain from his !
not-too-private driveway is both
Impressive and memorable. The
to the lake is full of sur
pnSes, the massive and rugged |
glacial rocks, the arbor-like road |
and the sudden opening upon the
magnificent sheet of water itself.
The well-nigh hidden and covered
driveway around the farther end
Of the lake is a fine road with
continuous glinfpses through the
trees towards the water and
heights beyond. From the farther
end a splendid panorama is unfol-
ed, a view quite without equal in
New England.
(Whatever else be omitted, men
tion-and grateful mention must
be made of the excellent hot
waffles and Vermont maple syrup
so much enjoyed at The Bouldcrs'
and also of the decorative girl
who served us.)
The return trip, taking in the
late Theo. N. Vail estate by the
way, was again rich in views
both graceful and noble. Through
out the entire trip / noted with
'ome surprise and much
pleasure the we'll kept up
and generally prosperous cond-
ions of the farms and farmhouses
md the absence of the poor-blood-
ID cattle so common in other New
england states. The Vermont
'armer is indeed to be congratul-
tied upon something that is to
nm perhaps an unconsidered by
product: the purely visual pleasure
If well-kept, well-stocked and we'll
worked farms-a beauty born of
Utility.
In conclusion, l must thank the
yenial editor, Mr.. Stone, for af-
'ording US the pleasure of his
company on the trip to Willoughby
axe, and to myself the courtesy
If his columns for the printing of
his little tribute.