Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 285, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1911 — U. S. ARTISTS LEAD ABROAD [ARTICLE]

U. S. ARTISTS LEAD ABROAD

Quaker City Member of Fine Arts Academy Talks of "Mona Lisa”— Of No Use While Hidden. Philadelphia.—Just back after a four months’ trip through the art centers of Europe, his first In 18 years, Thomas P. Ansciyitz, Instructor of the life class of the of Fine 'Art*, says that he was in Paris when the “Mona Lisa” was stolen. -T “But I didn’t take it,” he said. “I can’t imagine why any one else would, either, for it can neither be sold nor exhibited, and a painting is not of much use or pleasure stored away. “Whatever the object, however, it has stirred custodians of other galleries throughout Europe to redouble their vigilance and to guard more carefully their art treasures. All vlsitors now are watched closely. The worst feature of the whole affair is that it may lead to a curtailment of the privileges accorded to art students." Speaking of American artists as compared with those of Europe, he ■aid: "In landscape work American artists are getting rather more than their share of glory. The American landscape artists, in other words, are quite in the lead, and no European group is quite equal to them. Inj>ortraiture and figure work our artists are also holding their own. "American artists are not, however, as well represented in the permanent collections of European galleries as they should bq. This, is probably due to desire to favor home talent. France is more liberal in this respect than

other countries and possesses works of Sargent, Whistler, Walter Gray, Robert Henir and others, c “I noticed a change everywhere, particularly in London and in Holland. They seem to be losing the flavor of antiquity. For instance, there were formerly parts of London where an artist could , wander and could imagine much that Is historical and full of romance; but now these spots are occupied by twentieth-century hotels and apartment houses, and the spirit of the place has fled. The art world, however, remains the same. It never changes."