The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-05-09
AN ARTISTS REVENGE.

AN ARTISTS REVENGE,
The amusing correspondent of tue COur-
rier das Etats Unis tells the following; "Ouc
of our most celebrated painters had made,
with the view of exhibition NJ the Gallery,
the portrait ola lady, whose fortune has ena-
bled her TO occupy aYery brilliant position,
aud who had been, for n long time, regarded
us one of the most beautiful women Of Paris.
Unfortunately this reputation is one of such
long standing, that it is already on the wauc.
The lady in question has already reached an
nge to which no one is ever willing Ia ac-
knowledge, however much it may have been
eXtollcd by the witty pen of Bazac. The dus-
~ files of the Civil Registry kept the secret
of her forty summers, which she concealed
as well us she could, with wonderful skill,
and by her great eud1avors 10 be MS attract
i've ms ia times past. Paris is place of great
resources; ointlnents for all wounds are TO be
found there, as well as admirers of all ugcs,
Our heroine maintained her pretensions
bravcly: her vanity was tolerated. and being
DESTROYS ofgiving publicity 10 her attractions
by an exhibition at the Louvre, she had her
portrait painted. She prepared her best looks
for the purpose, wearing her most becoming
dress, assuming position most favorable 10
her charms, seated before her toilette table,
leaning negigently on the arm OF her chair,
and smiling upon her own reflection in the
mirror, which of course, was 10 he most COM
plifnentary to her charms. The painter
sketched most striking likeness; in doing so,
he did Just what he should not have done. A
little more hattcry. and little less eXactness,
would have been far more acceptable. The
perfectncss otthe likeness made her less will
ing to recognise its merits. The model decar-
ed she could not see any likeness in il, and
the painting was left on the hands of the un-
fortunate painter.
This was double wrong TO our artist. At
tackled both professionally and pecuniarily,
the painter had not sufficient resignation 10
enable him to look on coolly and see por-
trait worth n thousand crowns, left on his
hands. 4 way TO he revenged, or rather t0
do himselfiustice, presented itsefto his mind,
aud he set himsclfut once about putting it in
execution.
A few DAYS before the time fixed for offer
ing paintings for the exhibition at the Louvre,
the lady who had refused to Take her por-
trait was informed, by some friend, that the
rejected portrait had received sundrv add-
tinns, Ola character far from complimentary.
She immediately repaired TO the studio Of
Our artist. The portrait was still there; the
likeness of the face as perfect as ever; only
the painter had somewhat the brows dismnn-
tied, and the person ST. faithfully represented,
was holding in her hands two lunches of
fIlse curls. Upon her toilette table were
found several phials, upon which were lcgihly
written these words: "toh'te ieT4;" vegetable
rottge;;' ''cosmetc for the remoua' Of ,crink'cs;"
"tOaters for dyeing The hair" Then in the midst
ofall this artillery, could he distinctly seen
three bilets signed by three different chris
tian names.
"Ths is ahominahe!' cried the lady; sit is
all tissue OF calumnies"
'Of what do you complaint replied the
painter, very coolly. "Fiase you not insisted
that there was not the least likeness of your
self here? You were perfectly right. This
is no likeness of yours, it is a mere fancy
sketch, and as such mean to exhibit il"
"What. Sir! Do YOU mean 10 exhibit that
pninting?'
"Certainly, madame, mean TO exhibit it
MS fancy sketch, as the catalogue will show,
in which YOU will find il set down under the
title Oft coqietie ofJorNfre."
At this last blow the lady went into hystcr-
les. As soon ms she had recovered herself
she FASTENED 10 effGcta compromise with the
painter The painter effaced before hcr own
eyes the offensive additions, and the painting,
restored 10 It's original condition, was pur-
chased at the price originally stipulated, three
thousand francs.