The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-02-26
FOUR MURALS
WIN LAURELS
Mural Paintings for Keno
sha Courthouse Bring
High Praise.
EXHIBITED AT MUSEUM
Decorative Paintings Win
Laurels for Artist at New
York Art Exhibition.

That the art work which is to find
its place in the new Kenosha county
courthouse building is being ranked
among the works of the immortals is
the interesting news that comes to Ne
nosha today from the east where one
of the greatest exhibitions of mural
paintings ever assembled under one
roof is being held. Four paintings
which are to be placed in the new
building here are now on exhlpltlon
at the Brooklyn museum, New YORK.
following permission granted the art
lists by the Kenosha county board OF
supervisors. Here they have won the
plaudits of art critics and connisseurs
alike as representative of the greatest
mural paintings produced during this
century.
That painting which is being show
cred with particular praise is William
De Leftwich Dodge's memorial mural
which will grace one of the walls IN
the Memorial Auditorium in the court
house. This canvas was completed IN
the studio of Dodge and the artist him.
self has declared that be has done
nothing in his career in which he takes
as much pride as he does in this one
for Kenosha county. At the exhibition
in New York each artist was granted
the privilege Of exhibiting what ne
considered was his best work and
Dodge chose the mural decoration
which he did for the local courthouse
as his contribution. Immediately AFTER
the giant canvas was unfurled in the
BROOKLYN museum it was hailed as
masterpiece.
Has Symbolic Story.
Memorial Hall in the new court
house building is placed on the hrst
floor and will represent the ideas OF
the county board for suitable mem
orial to the soldier dead Of the city
and county. The proportions and scale
If the room convey an impression OF
great dignity and character. Featur-
ing the decorations is the In Memor-
lam" mural painting of William De
I,eftwich Dodge which is now at New
York. The composition consists OF
dominating central figure representing
the state in mourning for her oeaa'
a wounded soldier lies at the lett sloe
of this central figure and the hand OF
state rests mournfully upon the inquire
of Young orphan boy. A figure on
the extreme left represents an Amer
lean soldier placing wreath on
soldiers grave while holding an Amer
lean flag, denoting that the soldier died
in the defense Of his country. te-
male figure on the extreme right repre-
cents the Red Gross mourning for
dead child in her lap. Gold palms on
a blue-gray background SIGNIFY tnat
the nalms were won for valor. The
entire composition is one OF great
dramatic power and is executed IN the
rugged style for which the artist is
noted.
THE general decorations in the mem
oriaI room are based on similar motifs,
conveying to the room q semi
character. Carved in low relle1 on
the commanders altar appear plaque
INTERPRETATIONS of the arms OF the
military service.
Four Courtroom Murals.
rha eorrtrooms in the building are
aimed to present the most artlstlc
sections of the building. Thanking the
main entrance hall on either side at
+ha second floor level are the door
waVs that give access to the~municipal
oonrtroom on the one side and to the
c;re,,it courtroom on the other. The
oo,,rtrooms are two stories in height
with an abundance of soft daylight
coming in throughAgreat art glass WIN
do,ya nlaced in the south facade. The
Four murals in the courtrooms were
executed by Charles Holloway; an art
;st If international reputation who has
executed canvases for some OF the
greatest architectural jewels in the
notion and who is widely sought for
his mural painting compositions. In
the municipal courtroom the murai
aver the Judges bench symbolizes the
i.S.nirit of the Law" The figure at
the left is the mother appealing to the
law for protection, while the one at
the right is the man guilty OF the
wrong. The mural over the doorway
depicts the spirit of Mercy" which
shows pity and compassion as the
guardians of natural law demanding
the penalty from offenders.
In the circuit courtroom above the
Judges bench is shown mural repre-
senting the spirit Of Justice" The
figures on each side are those who
have been tested and who have failed
to balance the scale of justice, finally
paying for their violations.