Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-05-15
The Painter Dubobret

ANe RAINIER DuhObret.
Among the pupils of Albert Durer. j
Nuremburgh, was one whom he had re
ceiyed out of charity, discerning in hir
traces Of talent which he. considere
worth cultivation. This cultivation wa
not hopeless under the eye of the mas
ter, even in one who had passed the ae,
OF forty, who was poor, even to indi
gence, and who had hitherto contriyet
to gain scanty subsistence by painting
signs on the coarsest tapestry, at thai
time much used in Germany. The nam,
Of this man en- whom fortune seemed e
have racked her utmost spite, was Sam.
uel Duhobret. He was short in stature
crooked and ugly to proverb, and with
al had an imperfection in his speech
that rendered his enunciation diAicult.
and at times unintelligible. He was in
consequence the butt of his fellow pu-
plis, and they were continually breaking
Jokes upon him, which he bore in patient
silence. Still harder to endure were
me unleeling taunts Of Madame Durer
Wno occasionally visited the studio. and
always had something harsh TO saw about
The pupil who brought her husband no
rccompense for his trouble. In short.
poor DuhobrePs existence was iovless
enough and would have been burden
intolerable, with crust of brown bread.
when ne had 1t at home, and his lonely
II HE abroad, but that he sometimes found
himself able TO escape from toll and hui
/. - /
der the free sky with the smiling land
scape around him, with the sound of
streams and the song of birds in his ears,
the heart of the desolale artist would ex-
pend He amused himself with sketch
ing some of the beautiful country seats
IN the neighborbood of Nuremburgh.-
In this pleasing occupation, and no one
near to laugh and jeer at him, Samuel
was no longer the same man. The ab-
eet and melancholy expression disap-
peared from his face, which lightened
and glowed with the strange happiness
he felt, as dropping plants revive and
M brighten in color under the influence OF
III sunshine.
IL Choosing some quiet and sheltered
1 spot, Duhobret was accustomed to pass
| many hours of the day, seated on the
| turf, with his portfolio on his lap. Il
l was then he produced those happy touch.
Il ts which gave himself confidence 10 un'
/ dertake labors of more Importance, anc
/ energy to shrink from no toll or priva
II ton. When he returned to the city, h
Nj carefully put aside the unfinished pieces
Il not daring to show even his best sketch
Il es, for he knew they would bring upo1
L him double portion Of scorn and deri
L sion. He applied himself quietly to hi
I daily tasks in the studio, and while h
III I'M roved the mechanical part OF his art
nOurished conceptions that gave him
world Of his own creation.
~ Every day as general rule, Samue
Il came early TO the studio of Durer, an
n i remained until evening. Then he ret
red to the comfortless cell in which h
i lodged, and worked in the silent hour
Of night to transfer to his canvass tn
dreams Of beauty he had brought froi
g, lhe country. He submitted to incred
!, ble privations, to obtain the means
Vprocuring pencils, colors, etc. nay,
b ardent was his longing for progre
les without obstacle, that he is said by Il
Historian of his life, to have been on
.S Withheld by stern principle from stea
ing those indispensable articles from h
lTgs companions.
de- Thus passed three years and duril
ICY that time, neither Albert Durer, nor
7. my Of his pupils, knew of the nocturn
III abors of Duhobret. How the pcwe
= Of his physical nature were sustaint
Onder the incessant tasking OF their e
ergies, it is impossible to imagine.
IL But nature at last gave way. Il
, 'I,a. painter was seized with fever, viii
a'ult rapidly reduced the little strength tn
arti. Remained 10 him. No one came to $
. az! what had become of poor Samuel, tt
.'Ss;. fof week he had not appeared at I
studio. No one had the humanity
lE. Eupply his wants, though he had not
Oily naOy days tasted food, merely moiste
lkef ing his lips with water that stood in
= 'one pitcher by his bedside. As t
ever abated, the wild dreams Of deli
I'm vanished, and Samuel thought hi
Ii Zen near death. For the first time
ssnsp MeTness entered his soul. He felt
enter. sslre 10 preserve the life which see
assure 50 worthless TO all the world.
ting aN procure food, and adopted desl
Z Tvs we 1e resolution.
Nv "a N5yiDfr