Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-02-12
The Painter DuhObret.

Among the pupils of Albert Durer, in Nuren
burg was one whom he had received out of char
ty, discerning in him traces of talent which he cor
sidered worth cultivation. This cultivation wa
not hopeless, under the eve of the master even il
one who had passed the age of forty, who was poor
even tondgence, and who had hitherto contrived t.
gain scanty subsistence by painting signs on the
coarsest tapestry, at that time much nsed in Ger
many. The name of this man on whom fortune
seemed to have wreaked her utmost spite, was
Samuel Duhobret He was short in stature, crook
ed, and ugly to Proyerh, and withal had an i'm.
perfection In his speech that rendered his enuncia
tion difficult, and at times unintelligible He was
in consequence the butt Of his fellow pupils, and
they were continually breaking jokes upon him.
which he bore in patient silence. Still harder to
endure were the unfeeling taunts of Madame Durer,
who occasionally visited the studio and always had
something harsh to say about the pupil who bro't
her husband no recompense for his trouble. In
short poor Duhobret's existence was joyess enough;
and would have been burden intolerabe, with his
crust of brown bread, when he had it at home, and
his lonely life abroad but that he sometimes found
himself able to escape from toll and humiliation in
to the country. There under the free sky, with
the smiling landscape around him, with ths sound
of streams and the song of birds in his ears. the
heart OF the desolate artist would expand. He
amused himself with sketching some of the beauti-
full country seats in the neighborhood of Nurem-
berg. In this pleasing occupation, and no one near
to laugh and jeer at him, Samuel was no longer
the same man, The ablect and melancholy express
sion disappeared from his face which lightened and
glowed with the strange happiness he felt as droop
ing plants revive and brighten in color under the
influence of sunshine
Choosing some quiet and sheltered spot, Duhob-
ret was accustomed to pass many hours Of the day
seated on the turf with his portfolio on his lap
1t was then that be produced those happy touches
which gave himself confidence to undertake labors
of more Importance, and energy to shrink from no
toll or privation. When he returned to the city
he carefully put aside the unfinished pieces, not
daring even to show his best sketches; for he knew
they would bring upon him double portion of
scorn and derision. He applied himself quietly to
his daily tasks in the studio and while he improv-
ed in the mechanical part of his art nourished con-
ceptions that gave him world of his own crea-
ton.
Every day, as general rule, Samuel came early
to the studio of Durer and remained until evening
Then he retired to the comfortess cell in which be
lodged and worked in the silent hours of night to
transfer to his canvass the dreams of beauty he had
brought from the couptry. He submitted to In
credible priVations to obtain the means of procur-
ing pencils, cnlors &C.; nay, ardent was his long
ing for progress without obstacle that he is said by
the historian of his lfe to have been only withheld
by stern principle from stealing those indispensable
articles from his companions
Thus passed three years. and during that time
neither Albert Durer nor any of his pupils knew of
the nocturnal labors of Duhobret How the pow
ers of his physical nature sustained under the
incessant asking of their energies it is impossible
to imagine
But nature at last gave way. The painter was
seized with fever which rapidly reduced the little
strength that remained to him. No one came to
see what had become of poor Samuel, though for
week he had not appeared at the studio. No one
had the humanity to supply his wants, though he
had not for many days tasted food merely moisten-
ing his lips with water that stood in stone pitch
sr by his bed side. As the fever abated, the wild
dreams of delirium vanished, and Samuel thought
himself near to death. For the first time bit
terness entered his soul. He felt desire to pre-
serve the life which seemed so worthless to all the
world. He must procure food, and adopted des-
perate resolution.
Having risen from his miserable couch, he took
under his arm the last picture he had finished, and
went out, taking his way towards the shop of
vender of pictures. The piece was one on which
he had bestowed great palms, but he resolved to sell
it for whatever price was offered if only enough to
purchase single meal.
As he dragged himself with difficulty along the
street; he passed house in front of which crowd
was assembled. On inquirng the cause, Duhobret
learned that great sale was to take place. Va
rious work of art, collected during 80 years, by an
amateur, whose gallery was the admiration of all
Nuremberg, were to be sold at public auction, the
death of the owner having occurred
Struck with the hope of here finding market
for his painting, Samuel pressed through the crowd
to the salesman, and by dint of entreates and the
feelings of compassion awakened by his wretched
aspect, prevailed on him to allow the piece to be
offered at auction. The price at which he estima-
ted its worth, was three thalers "Let it co. said
the artist to himself "the money will procure me
bread for a week-if purchaser can be found
The picture was examined and criticized by many
persons. The exhausted and anxious artist stood
apart. AT last it was set up to sale. The monot-
onous voice of the auctioneer repeated sat three
tha.ers-who will buy its At three thalersp' There
was no response.
The stricken Samuel groancd, and buried his
face in his hands. 1t was his best work! The
salesman called attention to its beauties. "Does it
not seem," he said, "that the wind is really stirring
the foliage of these trees, and that the leaves bend
as they glitter in the sum- How pure and crystal
line is the water what life breathes in the animals
that come to drink at that stream; and the Abbey
of Newboug, with its fine buildings, and the village
in the distance" &c. ..--.I. ...T--5 b l.
"Twenty-fye thalers,' said dry, weak voice,