Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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article on American artists, “Me has proved him-•elf the greatest mauler of the needle since Rembrandt. Rembrandt's work ia rather a triumph of knowledge; while Whistler's is a triumph of power. His painting show talent and originality. Whistler called hi» paintings Nocturnes and symphonies. He never in his art deviated from the sweet and wholesome. The White Girl which was painted by Whistler, when he was twenty-nine year old. Is now owned in America. Had America appreciated the portrait of his mother it, too, would have been in his native country instead of in the Luxembourg. Among his best paintings are Old Hallcrsea Bridge, Sea and Rain, u portrait of Carlyle and Little Wild Rose, besides the portrait of his mother. “A favored child of the Muses,” says one writer of John Singer Sargent, who very early in life reached the topmost rung of the ladder in his profession. Most artists have to labor long and overcome many obstacles to reach such maturity.His father was a Massachusetts gentleman who had retired from the practice of medicine. John Singer Sargent was born in Florence and there spent his youth. He was surrounded in his home by refinement, was given a good classical and modern education, and got his start as an artist In Florence, where nil around him was dignity and beauty, in its galleries and in its streets. At the age of eighteen he went to Paris to become the pupil of Carolus Duran. He begun at once to absorb his master. At the age of twenty-three he painted n portrait of him, which showed that he had made Duran’s mastery hi own. HU first visit to the United State- was when he was twenty year of age. Paris or London has uiways been bis home. Later he visited Madrid and came di-lectly under Velasquez. Finally through the ln-f.uence of his teacher when a boy in Florence, t nd through the influence of Carolus Duran and Vrlonqucx he fashioned u style very much hit own, attaining great success. In everything he ttudied, he could see a picture. Among his very-fine portrait paintings are Joseph Jefferson, Ellen Terry as Lady Mncheth, Secretary Hoy tvnd Theodore Roosevelt. William Thorne, a resident of Delavan. also a recognized American portrait painter, is an intimate friend of Sargent and in his studio hangs a portrait of himself, which is the work of John Linger Sargent. Many of Sargent’s pictures are exhibited in the Boston Public Library. He ranks as the foremost portrait painter of his day. Most American children are familiar with Athenasum Portrait of George Washington yet probably very few know the name of the artist, Gilbert Stuart. Shortly befor his birth, which was in 1766 hU father, a native of Scotland, moved to N’arraganset, Rhode Island. He ia ordinarily spoken of as the first of American masters of painting. HU mother taught him in English, while the Rev. Mr. Bissert instructed him in Latin. He seemed to have been quick at learning but did not care to study, being of a mischievous nature and addicted to drawing. One day when Dr. William Hunter was paying a professional visit to the family, he noticed the boy’s sketches. Later the kind physician presented Stuart with a box of paints and brushes. In after years he looked back to thU day with thanksgiving. At the age of thirteen he painted portraits of Mr. and Mrs. John Bannister. A Scotch painter, Cosmo Alexander, became much interested in Stuart. After teaching him for a time, he took him to Scotland. Owing to hU death Stuart was obliged to return to the United State . Hi portraits show his admiration of the robuct physical qualities and the strong mental and moral character. In 1765 he again set out for England. After suffering much privation, he mustered up enough courage to make a call upon his country man, Benjamin West. The young man’s demeanour pleased West, so he invited him to bring his work for inspection. He admitted him as a pupil and for eight years he was in West’s studio. Fame came immediately. While in England, he painted the portraits of Benjamin West. LouU XVI, the Prince of Wales, and several other notable characters. Great eagerness to paint George Washington brought him back to the United States in 17 J2. Two years later he went to Philadelphia, where Congress was in session. He established a studio in that city. He painted three portraits of Washington from life. The first was destroyed by the artist because it was unsatisfactory. The second now hangs in London. The third, against Washington's own desire, was done to please hU wife and was left intentionally unfinished. It was purchased from Stuart’s widow and presented to the Boston Athenaeum. It now hangs in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He said that he worked to express sentiment, grace and character and in Washington he found all three. He is not n painter of great pictures but of some he holds a dignified position and is in the line of great portraits. In the history of American Art great American Artists. As 1 have mentioned before, there is not space enough for me to tell but little about these artists whose works have shown that art in America ha been established and it may not be long before American art will be universally recognised.

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Ever since the Sanctuary wiu opened there has been an attendance of not Icmi than a thou ■and vial tor a day. On Sunday nnd on holiday there are from ix to ten thousand. The newspaper leave it such publicity that tourists have come from all over the country to see the place. Mr. Bok want the American people to aee what • o o o he has prepared for them. The purpose of the Tower la to create symbol of pure beauty, which we need o much in this country. It la n place in which to rest and ponder upon what we are doing and where we are going. 0 Q 0 • AMERICAN ARTISTS By Leo W. R«iniklt It has been tut id that in various part of the world the word, American ism,M has come to symbolise lust for materialism, nnd all finer emotions ure lacking. It in true that art tins been developed slowly in America, but a Arm foundation for ita development has been established. In the li»t of American Artists, to whom credit is due for thi , are the namoa of George In ness. John l-n Fargo. James Abbott McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, and Gilbert Stuart. Neither time nor space will permit me to tell much about each one. They, with others, have aroused an interest In art which shows that materialism has not crushed out the idealism of America. George Inness it known ax a pathfinder in American art. for by natural impulse he waa led to follow the great artists of other countries. His father, a retired New York grocer, planned that he enter business and even opened a small ■tore for him in Newark. New Jersey; but the ran had made up his mind to study art. For a r;hort time he was apprenticed to an engraver and later studied painting under a pupil of Delnrnchr. Beyond this he was self taught. Through the influence of Thomas Colo, a landscape painter and founder of an art school in the east, Innes began studying special forms of nature. When he returned from his first trip to Europe in the interest of art. he was forty years of age. The Barbixon painters had greatly impressed him. This was the beginning of his career as a landscape painter. Inncsa showed superiority in American art because of hl» close study of nature's forms. In fact he was the father of the naturalistic movement in American landscape. He was religiously inclined, imaginative, questioning nnd rather argumentative. These qualities he applied to his art. While Innes has been culled, an impetuous nnd passionate painter, most of his pictures have nn atmosphere of repose. Corot’s work made a lasting impression on him. Among his most famous paintings are Winter Morning, Montclair, The Wood Gatherers. The Clouded Sun, and “Summer Silence, a large copy of which hangs on the wall in the assembly room of the Delavnn High School. As soon as he wax financially able, he established himself in a country home in New Jersey, where he was xurroundod by inspiring views of nature. Here he rose to great heights as a pioneer American artist. John Iji Fargo, who is noted for his mural decorations, was born in New York in 1835. He was n student of art long before he took it up as a profession. His father’s house in Washington Square was well stocked with books and picture . Many highly cultured people frequented the home. He recoived his training in Paris. After his return to America, hr worked in a lawyer’s office In New York not having yet decided to take up art as a livelihood. His first work was the mural decorations for Trinity Church in Boston. This was such a success that he directed his attention to the art of mural decorations and window designing. In 188? he executed one of his finest things, the large altar piece in the Church of the Ascension, In New York. The kinds of subject which I-a Fargo undertook were numerous and varied including portrait . landscapes and religious subject . Among his best paintings are The Arrival of the Magi.” decorations in the Brick Church in New York nnd those in the Boston Public Library. Almost every school boy nnd girl has learned to love and enjoy the picture, “The Portrait of My Mother, painted by James McNeill Whistler. All dreiwed in black she sit in profile with with her feet upon a foot-stool and her hands laid peacefully on her lap; the delicate lace of her cap silhouetted against the gray wall. The expression on her fact is that of one whose thought are drifting back to the days of long ugo. Only u man of unusual sweetne could have produced such a masterpiece. Lowell. Massachusetts, is the birthplace of this renowned American artist nnd 1834 the year in which he was born. He was educated in West Point, but studied art in France nnd England. His etching have been universally praised. Quoting from an

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CALENDAR OF OUR LAST YEAR Sept. 8 Everyone is hnppy to be back nt school. There ore many new faces. Many ini- Croveinents have been made in -.he uildings and on the grounds. Sept. 9 Classes begin. Mr. Gant i the now high school teachor. .Minn Glen ore William la our new tleld-worker. Sept. 14 Marvin Rood, Robert Morgen, and Leona Austin atop to visit us on .lioir way to Gallaudet. We have eight student at Gnllnudet this year. Sopt. 15 Blue Birds picnic at the Springs. Sept. 25 Mr. Brnv left for Colorado Springs to attend the convention of superim tcr dents ami principal of school' for the deaf. Sept. 27 The Camp Fire Girl initiated the new member and enjoyed a long hike. Sept. 28 The Badgers enjoyed a long hike out the Janesville road and then toward Richmond. Oct. 12 Senior girls enjoyed a canoe trip up Turtle Creek with Mr. Bray and Mi Hanson. The weather was ideal and nfter paddling six mile , all went a-shore and enjoyed several new game before they returned. Oct. 12 Badger hiked to Mr. Holland's training wtable where they saw hi horse do tricks. Oct. 18 Homecominu football game with the Minnesota School for the Deaf. Homecoming dance in the evening with an unusually large number of alumni back to renew old acquaintances. Nov. 1 Hallowe'en party and masquerade. Space does not permit a description of the varied and clever costumes, but the honors were carried off by a realistic goose which was made by John Poplowaki out of burlap, wood and cloth. Nov. 8 The Bov Scout enjoyed a trip to Madison and saw the University of Wisconsin and South Dakota game a guest of the Athletic Department of the State University. They met Captain Guntcnbcin and shook hand with him. Oct. 29 Mr. Holland, of the famous family of bareback riders and acrobats, entertained the Blue Bird by huving one of his trick horse perform for them nt hi home. Nov. 11 The Blue Birds gave a ploy in the chapel and entertained the Badgers. Nov. 27 Many girls and boy went home for Thanksgiving, hut those who remained enjoyed n fino dinner and a very nice party in the evening. Dec. 0 Walworth County Teachers' Association met in the auditorium. Dec. 10 All enjoyed Miss Hanson's talk on the life of Thomas Hopkins Gnllnudet. Dec. 10 The first job was run off on the new cylinder press which la a fine addition to the equipment of our printing department. Dec. 17 Senior and Junior girls gave a fine ban- quet in the Domestic Science rooms for the football boys. Mr. Nvesain. their coach, and Superintendent Bray. Dec. 28 Many girls and boys went home for the holiday . Those who remained here enjoyed several parties and entertainments. Jan. I Everyone waa prompt in returning. Miss Esther Brockmann returned from her vacation os Mrs. Elmer Kiessling. Jan. 10 Mr. Bray returned from California where he hud spent several weeks with Mrs. Bray, whom he found in much better health. Jan. 20 Mid-year examinations. Everybody is — 23 busy. Jan 23 Camp Fire toboggan frolic and feed. Feb. 12 Mr. Williams gave u very interesting talk about Lincoln. Feb. 13 Boy Scout attend rally in Beloit. Our troop won second place In troop inspection. Feb. 1 1 Valentine Party. Feb. 22 A splendid patriotic program. Feb. 26 Blue Bird were invited to u tea at Mrs. Fowler' home. Fob. 28 Ariadnu Literary Society staged n play Jeanne I)’ Arc, for which they deserve much credit. The girls earned $15 which they sent to Washington, D. C., for the 0. W. L. S. Scholarship Fund. They have the honor of being the first group of school girl to contribute to this fund. Mar. 13 Camp Fire birthday party. Mar. 19 Central State Basketball Tournament — 20 Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana finished — 21 in a triple tic—four games won and one lost—but on u percentage basis Illinois was given first plnce and Wisconsin second. Mar. 27 Boy Scouts' basketball tournament. — 28 Flying Eagle patrol won ail their games Apr. 10 The best Gymnasium Exhibition and — 11 Style Show ever. Apr. 17 Related Art picnic nt the Springs. May 8 Junior Prom was a great success in every way. May 8 Arbor Day program. May 8 C-arap Fire Girl enjoyed an outing at I-akc Delavan with Mrs. Crosby and Miss Hobart an chaperones. Mr. Cameron and Mr. Kastner camped In spite of the rain everyone had a good time. May 15 Senior picnic at the State Park near Kocktnu. A lovely afternoon, delightfully iipcnt on the bank of the Rock River near the ruins of an old trading post. May 20 College examination . Plenty of ex- 21—22 citcmcnt for the Seniors. May 30 Decoration Day. Parade in the morning, a picnic dinner out-of-doors, and a field meet in the afternoon in which all took part. May 31 Senior banquet—last but not least.