International studio (56.1915)

John hl7. Alexander

triumphant entry of the French troops, led by
their saintly general, into the beleaguered city of
Orleans. This panel, with its cavaliers and
horses, foot soldiers and men-at-arms, makes a
fitting decorative balance with the panel at the
opposite side of the central motive. In these two
opposing pictures showing the triumphant entry
of Charles into Rheims on the one hand, and the
triumphant entry of Jeanne into Orleans on the
other, one can but admire the skill with which the
artist has balanced the compositions in bulk and
line and splendour of colour.
In the fifth and last panel of the series we see
the Glorification of Jeanne d’Arc, and here our
devoted warrior saint, her earthly career with its
struggles, its triumphs and despair at an end,
appears before us as a vision of celestial glory.
Before her glorified personality kneel bishops and
princes of the Church, kings, noble warriors and
men-at-arms, rich in gorgeous dress and guilded
armour, surrounded by flags, banners and all the
splendid panoply of military glory. But the art-
ist has represented the Maid of Orleans as forget-
ful of all this pomp and heraldry; our saint, look-
ing upward, offers the sacrifice of her life and the
symbols of her labour, the distaff and the sword.
Upon her breast the affectionate hand of the
designer has placed a cross of white as the symbol
of her armies, her conquests and her death.
All this wealth of armorial bearings, religious
emblems and splendours of decorative detail are
carved, tooled, guilded, painted and stained by
skilful hands that loved their work. Months
and years have been passed in devoted exer-
cise of artistic judgment and of a singular manual
skill in the making of these panels.
pRIENDS OF THE YOUNG ARTISTS
The following extract from a letter writ-
ten by a young artist is proof, if proof were want-
ing, that this Association is doing real good.
“I cannot but confirm with supreme delight
that the humane and broad principle to which the
Friends of the Young Artists have pledged their
moral and financial support, has begun to accom-
plish the desired results. From the time I was
awarded the second prize in the recent ‘War’
competition, I have had the good fortune in ob-
taining work on two commissions, clear proofs of
the aroused popular trust in the efficiency of
hitherto unrecognised young artists.”

OHN WHITE ALEXANDER
Few men have lived more eventful and
romantic lives than did that most distin-
guished man and artist whose funeral on
June 3 in the Church of the Ascension was at-
tended by representatives of almost every art
society of importance in the United States.
Air. Alexander in his lifetime enjoyed almost
every honour that could come to an American
painter, and his bier was surrounded by every
token of esteem and devotion that his friends,
confreres and admirers could devise.
As president of the Fine Arts Federation of
New York, the National Academy of Design, the
National Society of Mural Painters and the
School Art League, it was his fortune even at the
very time of his death to play a conspicuous part
in the growing artistic life of our country, and to
influence and sustain the most powerful forces in
the direction of increasing refinement and culture.
It is unnecessary at the present moment to
recount the number of medals, honours and
awards which he had received both in this country
and in Europe, nor will it be required of us to
enumerate the many pictures and decorations by
his skilful hands that now grace our great mu-
seums and public buildings.
While recognising in a general way the rare and
delicate quality of his talent as an artist and his
exquisitely skilful achievements as a gifted crafts-
man, it is our purpose to accentuate Mr. Alexan-
der’s broad sympathy with all aesthetic endeavour
and his self-sacrificing service in the best interests
of his adopted city. The memory ever active in
his soul of his sad and solitary childhood amid
unlovely surroundings, made him ever more than
ready to extend his aid to all efforts for civic bet-
terment, and especially was he interested in the
intellectual and spiritual well-being of the thou-
sands and thousands of little children in our great
metropolis whose lives are almost devoid of artistic
charm and destitute of beauty.
While his decorations will forever stand as
monuments to his artistic genius, and his paint-
ings in our museums will continue to excite our
admiration, yet very possibly the most vital
achievement of his life is that abiding force of
devotion and personal friendship which will still
survive in the minds and hearts of almost innu-
merable young people who have been aided and
guided by John W. Alexander.


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