Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-13
LUC|EN ". POWELL
REACHES AGE OF 81
Noted Washington Artist Re-
ceiving Congratulations of
His Numerous Friends.

LncienS whiting Powell, washing
tons Oldest working artist reached
the age of 81 today and received the
congratulations of innumerable friends
at his home. 1923 G street. Arrayed
about him were the products of his
handiwork. mementos of visits to
many lands; pictures of Venice, the
Holy Land of canyons and mountains.
Active still with brush and easle, de-
spite his more than four score years,
Mr.. Powells blue eyes twinkled mer-
rily he recalled bygone days and
the imposing list of notables that have
paid tribute TO his work.
A sickly boy who had been given
but a brief span of life i'm the thoughts
of those who knew him best, Mr.. Pow
ell today feels hale and hearty and is
looking forward to accomplishing
much more with his talents, anxious
at this time to- achieve further fame
with American national subjects. He
declares that now he is essentially an
American painter of American sub
jects,. and is grateful that he has been
complimented by Washington and
Neutrality-suspicious.. Mrs. John b. Hen
derson has individually purchased the
greatest proportion ofs the work. he
said, having about 200 of his paint
ings. and she still continues to he one
of his foremost patrons.
Represented In Coreoran Gallery.
Many of his paintings adorn build
ings in Washington. The After
glow" picture of the Grand Canyon
of the Colorado. is now In the Cor
coran Art Gallery His picture
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
River hangs in the National CAL
lery and others of his pictures are
on permanent exhibition in the Car
negie Library. Congressional Club,
American University and George
town University, which has Holy
Land collection. The Atlanta Mu-
scum of Art possesses specimens of
the product of his skill, as do many
private collections. including shat OF
the late President Theodore Roose-
velt among the first to recognize
the worth of his brush. Some of his
pictures. too. are in the Mexican
embassy and the Egyptian legation.
Mr.. Powell points out.
In reminiscent mood. Mr.. Powell
glanced back. over the wide gulf of
years and declared that his has been
"a very wonderful life," adding that
he still is a godly man, which many
artists are not. He paid tribute to
kind and ever-watchfui Providence"
and said that God exists in color. in
love and in goodness" His life. he
ventured. has impressed this thought
upon him. through seeing Gods
mighty work in mountains and sea,
in all things showing His handiwork in
flowers and landscape and His good
ness added to all this"
Native Of Virginia.
Mr.. Powell was born December IS,
1876, at Levinworth Manor, Va. As
lad of IL with his brothers he an.
swered the call of the Confederacy
When the Civil War was over he
went to Philadelphia, at the suggestion
of his mother and friends, to study
art. There his teacher was Tom Mo.
ran, master of canyon pictures. Then
he went to New York and later to
Paris and London. Afterwards, in the
interior of Italy, he caught the color
of the towns and in Venice found the
subjects for his brush that brought
him fame. Then the Holy Land claim.
ed his attention.
Coming hack from these foreign
climes. Mr.. Powell says that he las.
stunned art i'm Washington" While in
England his friendship with Roosevelt
began, and later their common kim
ship with the West brought out the
admiration of the President. for his
canyon work. During a visit to the
White House. i'm an audience with
President Coolidge. Mr.. Powell showed
the Chief Executive some Of the let
tiers he had received from Roosevelt.
At first he did figure to work.
but later turned to landscape work.
under Moran. He has done a number
Of portraits. but his personal pre-
ference Is for landscape work. This
veteran artist considers that his
travels in the Holy Land lent en-
chantment and subjects to his WORK.
Venice and Cairo he considers most
repiete of all with color. He was ar.
rested in Nazareth. running afoul OF
the Mnha nda q, .olirr;<.., ...l,srl. So