Evening star., 1939-08-20

Hundred Years" no1D in progrt
or Art in Ne1U York, in conjuncti
Courtesy OF /
OF success. Under these circum-
stances how absurd 1t is for us to
preen ourselves today over America
becoming art minded"
Possessed by Genius.
Audubon was one of those who not
merely possessed genids but was
possessed by it: he could no more
have abandoned his passion for
drawing and painting birds than he
could have voluntarily stopped liv-
ing. He began doing it as a small
boy in the Audubon home in
France, he continued to do it wher-
ever he was in America, and when
he went to England eventually, to
arrange if possible for the publica-
ton of his paintings of the birds of
America, he wrote home that his
mind was still so full of birds and
their habits that he continually
dreamed of them.
1t should not be thought, however.
that Audubon the artist was salts
fed merely with what today we call
"self-expression." Far from it. Like
most true artists, his satisfaction in
his work was almost invariably short
lived, and with dissatisfaction he
pressed forward to better achieve
ment. He learned from all those
with whom he came in contact who
could teach him anything. He
studied and strove to achieve what
to him were ideal results-to ap-
proXlmate truth in transcription as
closely as possible. His first work,
and perhaps his best, was done in
water color, sometimes enhanced in
effect by touches of pastel. But
there were times when he was too
poor to buy paper and paints-then
ne drew on whatever paper he could
obtain. To his art and his study of
birds he gave unending patient toll
never begruded and never i'll
spent
The artist in Audubon is evidenced
IN his unWillingness to represent the
nirdS he painted as static. He felt
that he must picture them in mo-
tlon-that he must get into his
paintings suggestion of their life
that they might live. Also, he
brought into his scientifically cor
rect interpretations flowers and fol-
lage which gave pictorial effect and
atmosphere. These he painted no
less we'll than the birds, and equally
lovingly. Above all else Audubon
held apparently the determination
for truthful expression, and to this
end he bent his energies regardless
of cost.
Mystery in Parentage.
Concerning the birth and parent
age of John James Audubon there
Is much mystery. BY some histo-
rlans he is said to have been the
lllegltlmate son of Capt. Audubon
OF Nantes and Mile. Rabin of San
Domingo, who died at his birth
others insist that New Orleans was
his birthplace; still others see in
MN the young Dauphin, son of
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette,
spirited away when the latter was
executed ard placed in the charge
OF Capt. Audubon, royalist in the
National Guard. Certainly, when he
was 9 years old he was formally
adopted by Capt. Audubon and his
wife OF Nantes, and though his birth
was given as April %, l785, his
mother S name was not mentioned.
Also In his boyhood he went success
slvely by many names: Fougere, La
Foret, Jean, Jean Jacques and Jean
Rabln. 1t was not until he came
to the United States that he became
John James. That there was a
secret concerning his family and
early years there is no doubt. His
wife knew and referred to It, but it
was never told to his sons.
Be all that as it may-if Audubon
was of royal birth he showed it
chiefly in his acceptance as a mat
ter OF course of "noblesse oblige." AS
pioneer and one who roved the
wilderness he lived life full to over
flowing with romance. Among the
great heroes of those early days in
America Audubon is to be num-
bered. Not only was he courageous,
intrepid, but also venturesome and
gay. There was in his makeup a
streak of vanity as we'll as one of
great humility, which together be-
token frequently the artist of genu-
inc gift.
In the National Academy Of De-
signs Special Exhibition, Audubon
elected to honorary membership in
1888, was represented in the print
section by an aquatint of his paint
ing of Virginia Partridge" done
by Havell in London when the pub
lication of his works was under way
This recalls Audubon's late years
when the struggles of a lifetime
brought forth in due measure har-
vest of success. In 1926, when he
had accumulated 400 paintings of
birds, with which he himself was
satisfied, he sailed from New Orleans
for Liverpool en- route to London In
search of publisher.
Widely Acclaimed.
1t took him nine weeks to make
the trip, but the reception he re
ceived fully repaid for the cost and
weariment of the journey. The
IL