Year: 1879

French accent of his pictures. and accused him Of
copying French artists notably Troyon and AIiliet.
But his individuality and suggestive power were
too great for such accusations to carry weight. To
all who were acquainted with the work of the art
lists he said to initiate, it clear enough that
he had studied the same school with them.
cepted the same canons and recognized the same
purposes in art. but that his individuality and
power were as clear theirs.


Among the most successful of Mr.. Hunts
earlier works was serie of figured pieces
representing various picturesque types of life
in Paris. In 1889 the artist published set or
autographs OF these executed by himself During
the war he painted several pictures illustrative of
its incidents. of which 'The Bugle Call" and .sThe
Drummer Boy" are the most noted OF later figure
pieces-aId they are far too numerous to mention
among the most powerful and satisfactory is that of
"The Laughing Girl He has not been always SO
successful where the dramatic presentation Of an
ideal character was attempted by him, as witness
an Elaine" who is certainly not Tennyson's But
in general he has been equal to an adequate express
work as u landscape painter he carried the habits
and qualities which distinguished his figure paint
singleness Of impression. distinctness of the
scene as whole rather than in dc.
itisn he distinctly repudiated, its elaborate
heapng up of details means of securing the adc-
appeared little book entitled .'Taiks on Art" made
up of fragments OF Mr.. Hunts conversations and u-
structons given ut various times to different pupils
1t Is simply collection Of detached pithy, pointed
sayings each meant to meet the want of the moment
III some given II the editor had had the power
to arrange and connect these in such fashion to
give some fair presentment Of Mr.. Hunts methods
of instruction the book would have been of exceed
ing value to students. 1t stands to-day as a most
delightful bit of biography giving the reader vivid
picture of Mr. Hunts fashion of working aud talking
among his pupils. and especially Of his earnestness
in ipressing upon them that which he held to be the
chief thing In art-the transmission of single, clear
definite vivid impression to the beholder That
OF them should have missed the essential spirit of
his teaching in endeavoring to copy his manner Is
unfortunate for them; but it is by no means the
hrst time in the history OF art or OF the world that
such things have occurred There are artists Of
high rank III England and America who commend
the sbook as one from which they have received
valuable hints and suggestions. When the time
came for decorating the walls Of the Assembly Room
In the new Capitol at Albany. the mark which Mr.
Hunt had made upon American art and thought was
sufficiently broad and deep to make his preeminent
fitness for the work to be done thing beyond ques
scn IN nnr .ne Two I've great pHnng TcR ne has
great talent. trained powers aud characteristic
method are to be seen in fullest measure. The sim
plicty and breadth OF treatment the first things
recognized by the spectator, and recognized with
pleasure. The satisfaction is msrred by the low
less cbaracteristic Of Mr.. Hunts paintings. and
the chief thing to be regretted in them, especially
poetry Of the conception and nobility OF the inter-
probation OF the two great aegories he has chosen
for his subjects there can be question. The first
is that of Ormuzd and Ahriman OF the fight of evil
before good of night before the dawn The other Is
that OF Ulysses and the Sirens. the discoverer who
follows the sinking sun across unknown seas. In
this last the painting is more satisfactorily done
than in the first. The result Of the whole is such as
to mako the beholder cordially glad that the work
was intrusted to an artist SO great and to stimulate
greater hope for the future OF art in America,
already SO Aobly represented The expression. att-
tude. movement. grouping Of the figures In both.
carry to the observant eye some conception OF tho
intensity Of effort with which the artist has struck
for the leading idea to which he desired to give ut
terance. Of the matured power and long and
careful training which have gone to making each
OF those broad and rapid strokes tell with
such power. Tho artists powers of characteriza-
ton, Of grasping wide relations and setting them
before the beholder in one complete. essential unity
of impression had never been shown to such advan-
tage as in these two great works. OF Mr.. Hunts
great personal popularity and delightful, magnetic
stimulating speech some idea may be formed by
those who did not know him from the little book
already mentioned. OF the buoyant cheerful tem-
permanent; the frank, fearless nature;
the sympathetic, kindly. generous spirit which
deared him to ever widening circle of friends.
what need to do more than speak. Those who knew
him best will hold them always In sacred, loving
remembrance. dearer oven than the crown OF hon
orable fame which he has SO justly won and which
no 80 untimely lays down.