Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1904 — A NOTABLE ART LECTURE. [ARTICLE]

A NOTABLE ART LECTURE.

Mrs Marian A, White, Editor of the Fins Arts Journal, Chicago, talked before the Ladies Literary Club in the Courthouse, Friday alternoon. Her subjeot was “Mural Art —Antiquity—lts Evolution —Amerioau Mural Painters.'* Tbe lecturer in a ooccise and interesting manner gave muoh inlormation regarding this oldest of arts, bringing her subject right up to date. She spoke of the grand work done by American Mural painters since 1878, when William Msrris Hunt inscribed his wonderful Creations upon the new Capitol building. Albany N. Y. The lecture paid a great tribute to his memory, and spoke feelingly of his tragic end The works of some of our most’ modern Mural painters was reviewed and Mrs. White urged the women of Rensselaer to interest themselves in having Mural work on the walls of the new Carnegie Library, or even upon the Courthouse itself. The speaker was very enthusiastic ou the suojeot and here and there, a shaft of satin was winged at the tendency to encourage “foreign” subject as themes” fur ‘‘Mural Art in America.” Mrs, White was asked at the olcse of the lecture to give sone of her impressions of the St. Louis Exposition, from which she had just returned. Her remarks

were received with applause, Particularly when she proceeded to expose the ‘ fakes” so numerous on the grounds. ‘.Even the palace of Fine Arts is a huge pealer’e gallery,” said the speaker. It is not how meritorious is the work, but whether you want to buy, and if so how much are you willing to give for it?” She congratulated Indiana on its artistic homelike, and spacious State building, at St, Louis, From an artistic and practical standpoint, the two being cleverly and subtly combined, Mrs. White designated it the ‘‘best State building on the exposition grounds.” She spoke in glowiDg term 3of the effort made to extol the work of their own artists by having the paintings installed in a gallery in the State building, and by an exhibition of volume aryl original manuscripts by Indiana Authors in I the library portion. ‘‘lt is one beautiful harmony in color and arrangement “said the speaker,” and those in charge are found at their posts receiving with courtesy, and kindness, the many strangers who call.” Mrs. White lecture again in Rensselaer, the Friday evening, preceding I Thanksgiving. Her subjeot will ! then be, “The Genre in Art. Its j Evolution, Reason for its Populari ity, Its Limit.”