MySource:GayelKnott/Bruce Horsfall news clippings, 1891-1898

1891

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1 Jun 1891, Mon, Page 7
"Mr. Bruce Horsfall, the talented young artist who received the Duveneck prize, was given a farewell Friday evening at the studio of Miss H. Marcia Hunt. The affair was informal, bringing together about twenty-five friends of the young artist. . . . Some interesting sketches were shown by Mr. Horsfall and his brother, Mr. Zettel and Mr. Stedman. Miss McIvar's singing added much to the evening's enjoyment; . . . . Mr. Horsfall will leave the city in a few days, but does not sail before August. He expects to go direct to Munich, and will remain abroad for several years study. . . .

1897

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 25 May 1897, Tue, Page 8
"Monotypes" - "The exhibition of monotypes, which commenced yesterday at Closson's Art Gallery and will continue through the week, is most creditable to the members of the Cincinnati Art League, and it is the first exhibit in the history of the league. . . . As the league is an organization for the advancement of art and the proceeds from the sale of monotypes will be used for the improvement of the rooms and for a reserve fund, the exhibit deserves a generous patronage. Mr. Bruce Horsfall, who is the Chief Instructor and Director of the Art League, is represented by a fine study head, which . . . . represents an old man with a great deal of character in his face, . . . . It is quite Rembrandt in effect. Mr. Horsfall's Indian in feathers galore also represents a strong countenance. One of his landscapes is especially good in perspective, and in addition he shows a study head of a pretty girl in fantastic Spanish headdress. His monotype of clovers and butterflies in greens shows his great versatility."

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1 Jun 1897, Tue, Page 10
""LOONCH'" - Given To Mark the Art Club's Season's End. "The picturesque home of the Art Students' League, on Fourth street, contained more fun to the square inch last night than has probably been put in so small a space in this city for years. It was the ending of the fall and winter term of study, and the boys celebrated it in a thoroughly Bohemian manner. There was a tempting 'Dutch' lunch, an adequate supply of beer and a mandolin orchestra, a combination set out of which a great deal of fun can be had, and the art students had it. The programme was entirely impromptu, but the genius of the members was on tap, and happy thoughts flowed as freely as the beer. Quite a delegation from the Art Club came to the affair and assisted in making the night a red-letter one in the history of the league." Among those present were Bruce Horsfall and Emil Horsfall.

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 6 Jun 1897, Sun, Page 8
"Society of Western Artists" - Local members meet to organize exhibition, inc. F. Duveneck and Bruce Horsfall

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 27 Jun 1897, Sun, Page 20
Permanent exhibit a success, Bruce Horsfall exhibited "'Handsome Interior' with a babe in a cradle"

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 18 Jul 1897, Sun, Page 22
"Works of Local Artists" - "Mr. Bruce Horsfal has completed two handsome miniatures of Mr. and Mrs. Philips, of McMillan street, Walnut Hills. . . . During the past week Mr. Bruce Horsfall was so fortunate as to receive a buckskin Indian jacket as a gift from his friend, Mr. Paine, who traveled some time ago in Canada. . . . Mr. Horsfall's panel, just completed for the panel exhibit, represents two lions stealthily advancing upon their prey. . . ."

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 29 Aug 1897, Sun, Page 32
"Doings - In the Realm of Art" - "The school of the Cincinnati Art League opens the first Tuesday of September. The members of the faculty will be Mr. Bruce Horsfall, . . . ."
"Mr. Bruce Horsfall and Mr. Emile Horsfall have been engaged upon some fine monotypes, which they will send to be exhibited in New York. . . ."

Miss Hoffman

The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, 10 Nov 1897, Wed, Page 10
"Dethroned. -- Young Artist's Reason. -- The Cause Advanced Is More Than Singular. -- Shocked By the Improper Conduct of an Escort -- The latter a Well-Known Painter and Illustrator. -- His Defense Puts a Different Light on the Claim Advanced By the Girl's Relatives."
"Clara Hoffman, a young woman who has attained a far more than local fame in the world of art, and who has for several years been regarded by the professors of the Art Academy as one of the pupils destined to take a place among the really great artists of the country, lies at the home of her parents, No. 1034 Dayton street, hovering between life and death. Her nervous system has experienced a shock which physicians are of the opinion will permanently impair her mind, even if she lives, and she raves night an day over the occurrence which brought about this lamentable state of affairs. . . . The father, mother and sister of the unfortunate girl charge directly that Bruce Horsfall, a well-known young artist, is responsible for her hysterical state, and that he was last September guilty of conduct of which they did not believe him capable."
Horsfall and Miss Hoffman had been friends for many years, he had been a frequent caller at her home and was liked by her parents. "Miss Hoffman had no time to indulge in sentimentalities; she was entirely wrapped up in her work; she was in love with art for art's sake. Suddenly there came a coolness between the two, . . ." Miss Hoffman claimed that while walking in the park, "'Bruce had taken her hand and tried to be foolish."
The Hoffman's advised their daughter not to be too harsh on Horsfall, which led to a reconciliation.
"Miss Hoffman had been almost unremitting in her work at the academy. She had aspired to the European scholarship, and, although a great many competent judges thought she deserved it, she was disappointed. She worked harder than ever, however, and under the nervous strain her health gave way, and her doctors prescribed rest and recreation." When Horsfall asked her to go boat riding, her parents advised her to go.
When she returned home, Miss Hoffman told her mother, "'Oh, mamma, Bruce went in swimming,' and from that time the hysterical illness which borders on insanity of Miss Hoffman dates." She claimed that he did so without her consent, that he disrobed and did not wear a bathing suit. . . .
Horsfall claims that Miss Hoffman gave her consent to his swimming, and that he wore a bathing suit under his clothes. They were joined soon after by his brother Emil and another young lady, and continued to row about until it was time to go home. When they arrived at the Hoffman's house, they had a pleasant conversation with Mrs. Hoffman and Miss Hoffman's sister Minnie.
"It is claimed by many that Miss Hoffman has for some time been in a condition bordering on the hysterical on account of overwork, and that while in this condition she has imagined that the river episode was of much more importance than it really is. That in her ravings she has given her parents an entirely erroneous idea of the matter and that when she regains her mind she will vindicate Mr. Horsfall of any charge of anything ungentlemanly."

Massillon Item, Massillon, Ohio, 18 Dec 1897, Sat, Page 3
"Insult Killed Her."
"A Handsome Cincinnati Girl Dies From a Shock."
"Clara Hoffman, a handsome girl of 21, and one of the most talented pupils of the Cincinnati Art School, died of brain fever at her home in Cincinnati. Her parents claim that her death resulted from a shock to her sensibilities last September, when she went out boat riding with Bruce Horsfall, an artist, who had paid her marked attentions. This view is confirmed by the doctor who attended the girl."
"It was a moonlight evening when Miss Hoffman and young Horsfall were out boating, . . ." when Horsfall went swimming, over Miss Hoffman's objections. When they returned home, "Miss Hoffman fell weeping into her mother's arms with the exclamation: 'Oh, mamma! Bruce went in swimming!'"
"She brooded over the incident until her brain became affected, and during the last five weeks of her illness she was delirious and continually raved about her former friend's insult."
"Horsfall, in interview, before and since the girl's death, declared that he took the plunge from the boat with her consent. This statement so angered Miss Hoffman's father that he attacked Horsfall in the latter's studio some days ago, and was ejected from the room."

Trenton Evening Times, Trenton, New Jersey, 23 Nov 1897, Tue, Page 5
"Shocked Her Modesty"
A Cincinnati Girl's Lover Prepared to Swim in Her Presence and the Shock Caused her Death
Cincinnati. Nov. 23 - "A singular and unfortunate affair was the death of Miss Clara Hoffman a handsome and talented girl and a bright pupil of the Cincinnati Art School. She succumbed to brain fever, at the house of her parents on Dayton street, and they think her death was due to a shock to her modesty last September, when she was out boat-riding with Bruce Horsfall, an artist, who had paid her marked attentions. This view is confirmed by the doctor who attended the girl."
"It was a moonlight evening . . " when they were boating, and Horsfall disrobed and went swimming.
"When they returned home Miss Hoffman brooded over the incident until her brain became affected and during the last five weeks of her illness she was delirious."
"Horsfall says Miss Hoffman was accustomed to drawing from the nude, and that it was ridiculous to suppose that she was a victim of shock, as asserted. He says her illness was the direct result of overwork at art."

The World, New York, New York, 23 Nov 1897, Tue, Page 1
"Fatal Shock To A Girl's Modesty"
Miss Hoffman's Boating Escort Had Disrobed for a Swim in Her Presence.
Cincinnati, Nov. 22. -- "Miss Clara Hoffman, a handsome girl of twenty-one, and one of the most talented pupils of the Cincinnati Art School, died of brain fever last night at her home in Dayton street, this city."
"Her parents claim that her death resulted from a shock to her modesty last September when she was out boat-riding with Bruce Horsfall, an artist, who had paid her marked attentions. This view is confirmed by the doctor who attended the girl."
"It was a moonlight evening . . ." when they were boating, and Horsfall disrobed in the boat and plunged into the water.
"When they returned home Miss Hoffman fell weeping into his [sic] mother's arms with the exclamation, 'Oh, mamma! Bruce went in swimming.' She brooded over the incident until her brain became affected, and during the last five weeks of her illness she was delirious and continually raved about her former friend's insult." "Horsfall, in interviews before and since the girl's death, declared that he took the plunge from the boat with her consent. This statement so angered Miss Hoffman's father that he attacked Horsfall in the latter's studio some days ago and was ejected from the room."
"Horsfall says Miss Hoffman was accustomed to drawing from the nude, . . . .He says her illness was the direct result of overwork at art. He deplores his foolish act, but claims to have had on under his street clothes ordinary bathing trunks, having prepared for the swim before leaving home."
"The Woman's Art Club, of this city, adopted resolutions in memoriam, and denounced the act of Horsfall as the cause of the talented young woman's death."

1898

The Cincinnati Enquirer Cincinnati, Ohio, 12 Jan 1898, Wed, Page 8
"Bruce Horsfall - Decides to Seek His Fortune in New York"
"Bruce Horsfall, the young artist who a short time ago came into a good deal of prominence in connection with the death of Clara Hoffman, . . . has decided to leave Cincinnati and will start fro New York to-day. Mr. Horsfall is quite well well known as an illustrator as well as a painter. . . . The unfortunate episode with which he was connected has led to his determination to go to New York. . . . After consulting with his friends Mr. Horsfall has decided that in this city there is a prejudice against him which he cannot overcome, and that it will be for the best for him to cast his fortunes elsewhere."

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, 23 Jan 1898, Sun, Page 29, p. 29 (details)
"Pictures Shown By The Manufacturers' Association"
"The Manufacturers' Association of this borough will formally open its new quarters on Montague street on Monday with a show of pictures, to which many people will be invited. Later it will be open to other invited guests, the exhibition continuing until the 29th inst." . . . .
"Bruce Horsfall, a Western artist, has placed at the Hooper gallery an exhibition of his monotypes. They deserve attention for their intrinsic merit and because it will be interesting to many to know what a monotype is like. They are not numerous, although Mr. Horsfall has been fairly busy in his field. . . ."

1899

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, 12 Mar 1899, Sun, Page 16
"In Local Studios"
"Bruce Horsfall, who is said to be paying more attention to monotypes than any other artist is doing at present, had an exhibit of his pictures at Hooper's Gallery, some time since. Mr. Horsfall and his brother Emil have a studio at 37 and 45 West Twenty-second street, Manhattan."

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, 30 Dec 1899, Sat, Page 14
"The January Century"
The January number of the Century Magazine comes up to a very high level in magazine literature; . . . . Two leading features of the number are poems by the two leading English poets of to-day, Kipling and Stephen Phillips. The former contributes a poem of four stanzas, . . . with symbolic illustrations by Bruce Horsfall; . . . ."