The Master Painter (1913)
With an ultimatum from his landlady to the effect that he must pay up or get out of his studio, Robert Gordon, a young artist, takes a few of his paintings and goes out to sell them. He is unsuccessful, all the dealers being overstocked. On his way home he saves an old man from death under an automobile. The old gentleman is John Marshall, a master painter. He sees the paintings that Gordon is carrying and notices that he is evidently weak from starvation, in fact, he guesses at the young man's whole story. In gratitude for what Gordon has done for him, Marshall asks him to come to his home and study under him, which offer is gladly accepted. At Marshall's house Gordon meets Marise, the master's niece, and before long falls in love with her. Under Marshall's instruction Gordon progresses rapidly with his art and is soon engaged on a painting of Marise. The master himself is occupied with a painting that he imagines will be the crowning effort of his life. Marshall's painting, however, is really unutterably bad, for the old man is rapidly losing his eyesight and conception of color and line. When Marise and Gordon find that he thinks it a masterpiece and intends to enter it for the coming exhibition they are filled with pity for him but dare not tell him the truth. Night after night Gordon goes down into Marshall's studio and works on the master's picture, determined, if it be possible, to save his master's reputation as an artist. One evening he is discovered by Marise, to whom he explains his actions. Their constant association together has fanned the flame of love between Marise and Gordon and at last he goes to Marshall to ask for her hand. The old man is highly indignant and refuses to allow her to marry what he calls "an unknown artist." The night before the exhibition opens Gordon puts the finishing touches on the picture, which is a really beautiful work of art and would have done credit to the master himself had it really been his work. Just as Gordon is about to lay down his brushes for the last time, Marshall enters and sees him at work. Explanations cannot now be avoided and so Marise tells him the truth about his painting. Marshall is sadly disillusioned, but generously acknowledges that Gordon is now the master and he the pupil. Placing the hands of Robert and Marise together, he fondly bestows upon them the blessing that he had before refused.
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| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| L. Rogers Lytton | Director |
| Russell E. Smith | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| Sidney Drew | |
| Rosemary Theby | |
| Courtenay Foote |
