Munger

So it was Tuesday night and my nerves were shot.
I just knew that with my Plattner luck, which reinforces Murphy's Law would kill GG!
After my internals were utterly depleted, I sat down to calm down.
I had just bought a book about the artist, Gilbert Munger.

Yeah, most people have never heaerd of him.
But, he was a less successful version of Albert Bierstadt - "The" Painter of the American West.
And he knew he was better.
Many in the West believed this true as well.
But, Bierstadt had the promoters and advertisers.

Munger even was the official painter for all of Emmons expeditions.
Yeah, you never heard of Emmons either.
But you have John Powell.
Same problem Munger had.
Luckily, Emmons, due to cunning became fabulously wealthy - and - he never forgot Munger.

So, 1860 - 1880, Munger did well in America.
But, the Pre-Raphelite movement was rising in Europe.
So, he moved to England to learn more.
But all Europeans wanted was pictures of the West!
Twenty years of this and he returned America.

He had been highly successful in Europe.
He had most European countries highest awards.
He thought he would be hearlded.
He was utterly ignored.

The final 15 years of his life is the story of failure.
Oh, his talent was still there.
But styles had changed as had the rules of the art game.
And, he could not adapt quick enough.

Why should he?
He was great.
He had the awards to prove it.
But, he had no following.

Luckily, he had three strong friends.
All had become wealthy with the development in western infrastructures.
Munger had invested poorly before leaving for Europe.

By the end, he was penniless.
Emmons knew his friend was dying of what we know as cancer.
And paid off $10,000 in debt in 1904 dollars!, for Munger to take the pressure off him.

With literally, the last stroke of his brush, to complete his greatest work, Niagara Falls, he died.
Unfortunately, it was in a style, no longer desired by anyone.
And, it was huge!

There are some very important lessons in his story applicable to artists today.
And wishing I could have been an artist, I think on this.

The easy answer is that art is actually dead.
It no longer exists due to art Nazi's taking over the domain.
New artists are diverted from art to social and political statements.
Yet, those cursed with the artist call, must produce, for reasons we do not even understand.
And there is few if any rewards.

Frustrations yes.
Torn between prostituting yourself desires, ideas and work for MONEY, only.
And the call to create something enduring.
Something which can draw the eye and then the mind.

Yeah, I feel for Munger.
He could not understand.
What artist ever does?


Nice hobby.
But don't quit your day job as they say .....