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CHAPTER XXIII
FINE ART.
ZANESVILLE TALENT—MISS MARY STUART DUN- LAP—" THE CLASS OF I 880 " AND THEIR WORK —ADAMS—LYONS—BREWER— HOWLAND—BARTON— CRAIG—YOSEMITE VALLEY—ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN— MADONNAS—MURILLO—BEAR RIVER—SUNRISE ON THE ALLEGHANIES— CUSTAR' S LAST CHARGE—CHARIOT RACE —WETTERHORN—STAUBACH---WATE R COLORS —"THE FISHERMEN" BREEZY DAY" —SWISS SCENE -- FLOWERS — CRAYONS — POTTERY-- PLAQUE .
The student of art is, of course, familiar with the works of the masters of the old, as well as the
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new, world, and also with their surroundings, which often had much to do with shaping their course, and, doubtless, kept many a genius in obscurity, and a mere mention of those celebrities would be trite and unwelcome. This sketch, however, is intended for the general reader, and so we indulge in a recapitulation concerning some who won their laurels in America. The first practicing artist of celebrity, in the United States, was John Watson, born in Scotland, in 1685 ; he commenced painting portraits in New Jersey, in 1715. Nathaniel Smybert, of Edinburgh, began in Boston, in 1728. Benjamin West was the first native American artist ; born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1708 ; painted his first portrait in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1753. John Singleton Copley was born in Boston, in 1738 ; first painted in 1760 ; he was the father of Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. Charles W. Peale, was born in Maryland, in f 741 ; Gilbert Charles Stuart, Rhode Island, 1754 ; John Trumbull, Connecticut, 1756 ; William Dunlap, New Jersey, 1766 ; E. G. Mal- bone, Rhode Island, 1777 ; and were among the artists to win distinction in the United States. Dunlap was the author of an able work on "Arts of Design."
The reader need not be told that the number of artists has greatly increased since their day, for during this century, the world has taken it for granted, that a home is not to be thought of with bare walls. In art life, as in every other sphere of man, it has come to pass, that fidelity has brought excellence, and excellence has increased the demand, which has also so reduced the expense that every home may have these luxuries, and in many instances, the work of their own hands. The refinement consequent on developing the talent for art is too evident to admit of argument, and we proceed to speak of its manifestations in Zanesville.
May 3, 1880, the work done by Miss Dunlap and her class in drawing and painting was announced for exposition. And while it is true that " home talent " is praised, as a matter of course, it is correct to say that the work exhibited was highly meritorious, and attracted special attention from home and foreign cities.
Miss Mary Stuart Dunlap is a graduate of Putman Seminary ; studied painting under James Beard, of College Hill, and Mrs. Beers, at Cooper Institute. To her was reserved the opportimity to develop the talent of many ladies of Zanesville. Their success is certainly complimentary to her. The themes have been happily choseh, and well rendered. The landscape predominated, and gave evidence of the inspiration expressed by the poet, when he said:
"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar ;
I love not man the less, but nature more,
From these our interviews."
It has been customary for her class to study arts and artists, and it is probable that tbe subjects were pretty well mastered, for among the members of her class were :—Misses Cora Hubbell, Lida Black, Hatton, S. E. Rollo, Mary Munson, Effie Munson, Lucretia Stultz, Laura Wiles, Mary Lynn, Mamie Atwell, Daisy Shryock, and Mrs. Canfield, Minnie Munson, (Dr.) Barton, Franklin Cooper and Mrs. Hirsh.
Among the specimens of work exhibited, was a landscape by Miss Laura Wiles ; a panel with landscape, Miss Mary Munson ; a fan, with blossoms and birds, Mrs. Dr. Barton ; flowers on panel, Miss Hatton ; a deer head in crayon, Mrs. Canfield ; butters, decorated in birds and flowers, and an initial letter, Miss Rollo ; palette, with odd design, Miss Atwell ; palette, blackberries and flowers, Mrs. Hirsh ; unique design on china plates, Japanese, Miss Munson ; and many other fine specimens ; the reception was a great success, and a just source of pride to lovers of art in Zanesville.
Among the artists in Zanesville, we find Adams, Lyons, Brewer, Howland, Barton and Craig. Mr. Barton was born in Zanesville, and in early life began to exhibit his talent with pencil, India ink, etc., and yet was never regularly instructed ; he painted his first picfure in 1842, and has since devoted his time and talent to oil painting. In the spring of 1844, he studied in the National Academy of Design, in New York, and after sixteen months, returned to his native city. In 1875, he visited Europe for the purpose of seeing the works of the great masters.
At the Exposition in December, 1880, in the Art Department, was exhibited " Yosemite Valley," by J. P. Barton ; a view taken from the summit of Mariposa Trail, showing the whole of that wonderful Valley. On the left of the picture is seen El Capitan, three thousand five hundred feet high ; on the right, Bridal Veil Falls ; in the middle distance, Half Dome ; in the middle foreground, at the base of Bridal Veil Falls, Mirror Lake, than which nothing grander has yet been seen ; in the foreground, the peculiar and gigantic flora of California. By the same artist : "Assumption of the Blessed Virtin." The great painters have delighted in this theme. A high authority tells of more than five hundred different styles of Madonnas ; this is a splendid copy after Murillo, purchased in Brussels by the late Mr. Aspinwall, for ten thousand dollars. There were also a number of portraits of well- known citizens, highly prized for their life-like character. Mr. Charles Craig had a "View on Bear River," "Sunrise on the Alleghanies," "Custar's last Charge," and "The Chariot Race ;" the latter copied from the great painting by Alexander Wagner, representing the close of an exciting race, in the presence of the Emperor Domitian, in the circus, Maximus, at Rome, with all the wealth and beauty of their day. Mr. Craig needs n0 eulogy.
"Wetterhorn" (Peak of Tempests), by Frank Stark. This is a lofty peak of the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, on the east side of the Grindenwald. From the path by which it is ascend-
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ed, rises one vast precipice of Alpine limestone, seeming to threaten the tra-celer ; the height is about thirteen thousand feet. Also, "Staubach" (Dust-Stream). This celebrated waterfall is a mile from the village of Lauterbrunnan, in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. It has a descent of nearly nine hundred feet, and, long before it reaches the bottom, it is blown into dust of silver spray ; hence the name, from staid) (dust), and hack (stream).
WATER COLORS.—Only a few of this class of pictures were shown at this Exposition, yet enough to afford a clear idea of their peculiarities. The most casual observer would notice that there is a sharpness of tone and purity of colox which do not belong to oil paintings. This does not enhance the one or detract from the other, but is simply a characteristic. Charming landscape effects are produced in water colors, as was seen in the pictures executed by General Granger.
Some of the most impressive street scenes, church interiors, and character presentations, have been executed in water colors ; and their adaptation to marine views may be easily comprehended by examining "The Fishermen" and "Breezy Day" (Swiss scene), scene from Rosa Bonheur, by A. C. Ross.
Morning Glories, by Miss Mary H. Buckingham.
Flowers, by Miss Julia W. Blandy.
Flowers, by Miss Lueretia Stultz.
CRAYONS.—Portrait of the late A. G. Brush and a child, bv.A. C. Fauley. Portrait of the late William a. Cassell, by T. C. Orndorff. Horses, by Miss Kate Potwin. "Psyche," also "Poor Relations," by Miss E. B. Blandy. "Stag at Bay," by Mrs. H. T. Canfield.
POTTERY--A vase, Pilgrim jar (under-glaze), and specimen of plaque (over-glaze), by Miss M. H. Buckingham.
PLAQUE.—"Duchess of Gainsborough" and "Lady of tbe Eighteenth Century," the former "smear-glaze," the latter "over-glaze," but not fixed, by Miss M. S. Dunlap. Pairs of plates, cups, and saucers, by Miss M. H. Buckingham. Pair of Pilgrim vases, and plaque, by Mrs. C. E. Munson. Pair of plates, by Miss Jennie T. Ball. Pair of plates, by Miss L. H. Black. Pair of cups and saucers, by Miss L. Stultz. Pair of cups and saucers, by Miss C. M. Hubbell. Pair of plates, by Miss Mary Linn. Fruit dish (subject of painting, "The Unexpected Guest"), Miss Ella G. Ross. Pair of cups and saucers by Mrs. Dr. Scott.
In June, 1881, the art work of Miss Dunlap and her class was even more surprising in variety and excellence. These exhibitions demonstrate a high order of talent in the several artists, and afford ample testimony that home talent is not only abundant, but can find good opportunity and efficient leadership in Zanesville.