ARTISTIC LICENSE: Coal dust and brushstrokes

Clockwise from top left: John William Raught’s ‘Ridge Row,’ ‘Pine Brook Coal Breaker’ and ‘Hyde Park Coal Breaker.’

You can unearth many treasures at the Everhart Museum in Scranton in one afternoon. A wide array of art, history and exhibits are available to explore. Local artist John Willard Raught’s paintings in the fine art gallery linger as a relevant discussion for today. The artist’s passion for the Pennsylvanian countryside versus big industry is an argument still heard in the local diners of today.

Raught was born in Dunmore in 1857. He studied in New York City and Paris, and he traveled and exhibited all over the world, including the World’s Fair of 1904 in St. Louis. Even though he studied at the best schools here and abroad, he came back to his birthplace to paint about what was close to his heart; the majestic countryside of Pennsylvania became the main focus of his paintings.

Although Raught also painted portraits, he became renowned for his impressionistic depiction of the local scenery, which he often did en plein air. Plein air translates to “in the open air” and is a term used for an artist painting outdoors, directly observing the object in natural surroundings and lighting.

Particularly apparent are the two distinguishable styles in his work. In “Ridge Row,” circa 1920 (oil on canvas), the countryside appears with cheerful coloring, light, airy tones and exaggerated imagery. Similar in style to Claude Monet’s lily pad paintings, the colors are mingled together creating a shimmering effect. Individual brush strokes provide texture and movement. “Ridge Row” includes a person, a car and homes. The curvy clouds and light blue tones all blend into one happy scene.

Now, in comparison, “Pine Brook Coal Breaker,” circa 1911, is a darker, gloomy scene. The sky is dreary, gray in tone, with brush strokes that are broad and haphazard in texture. The breaker stands looming over barren land. A symbolic cross in front of the breaker building, which just happened to be painted with red tones, could subliminally suggest evil or Satan. There are no human forms in the painting. All of the buildings are either warehouses or industrial. Raught’s view of the coal industry was evident in his painting, for all to see. This is a great example of how an artist’s style can change and evolve with their views on current issues.

The coal breakers were buildings where the raw coal was processed into smaller chunks and pieces for domestic and industrial use. These coal breakers littered the Pennsylvanian countryside. In 1910, when the industry started to wane, Raught began documenting them. These paintings are dark and dramatic. The coal mine and breaker paintings were a sharp contrast to the lighthearted landscapes that he was known for. The price paid by the local miners, which included sickness, loss of limbs and death, was part of everyday life in Pennsylvania. The toll on the land became the tragic cost of industry.

Viewing the history of our state was a great experience at the Everhart Museum, which has exhibits, events and plenty of activities. Currently, “The Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands” is exhibited in the Maslow Gallery, and it consists of 80 pieces of Eurasian steppe art from the nomadic cultures of Mongolia and Central Asia during the late second and first millennia B.C. It’s a collection of practical items artistically adorned by tribes. Animal motifs from wild boars to antlered stags are the primary symbols used for social rank and spiritual connection. These bronzes shed light upon the nomadic lifestyles within the tribes who traveled the silk road trade route.

The ornithological collection, otherwise known as the bird gallery, is definitely worth a look. A collection of more than 2,300 birds acquired by museum founder Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart and his colleague Col. L.A. Watres. Artists are welcome to sketch the collection.

The Everhart also has educational activities for children at Isaiah’s Corner, including summer camp programs and events. Taking inspiration from “The Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands Exhibit,” including author and illustrator Lindsay Barrett George and NPR radio personality Fiona Siobahan Powell leading a children’s event featuring storytelling, paper making and printmaking activities from July 12-16. For more info, visit www.everhart-museum.org or call the Everhart at 570.346.7186.

w