Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-12
poqrpI,a,.lqnu ys, Ar AREA Painter BY ooer-
This sketch is translation from the Coar
rier oies Eiats Unisi 2la91ah tI- 40 o.

\ This sketch Is d Translation from the COur.
rier des Etats Unisi 49l 10 T"
| An artist Of talent who has been making
| studies in Algeria, has recently Arrived In
| Paris, bringing from his artistic expedition
real treasures Of research and study; land.
scapes monuments, interiora, types Of ali
races costumes, animals aud stuffs. He has
observed and collected every thing, studied
every thing, with intelligence and with his
pencil, and has the materials for making q
multitude of fine and curious pictures.
He has brought also many things as mere
curiosities, and among these is q set of very
exact copies made by him of some original
! paintings which decorate one of the pleasure
houses of the ancient days, situated some
hours distance from Algiefs. ter .'... r
The copies at first appear singular, and
they are SO In fact but the circumstances
under which the originals were executed, are
| still more remarkable. .
1t was in the first years of the present CEN
tury.. The Dey of Algiers took fancy to
collect in the Court of the Kasauba all the
European captives that he had at that time
in his power. He arranged them in a line
and passed them slowly in review before
him
"Do you know how to paint? he asked
abruptly to the first captive. mo" replied
the prisoner, 81 don't how 10 paint The
Dey made sign and slave armed with a
Long yatagan, made the head of the captive
fly; p .-t,.. ~ .... + ..-..-, - =
''Do you know how to paint?" asked the
Dey Of the second prisoner, The latter,
frightened at the spectacle he had just seem
covered with blood, and not understanding
very well the question, opened his eyes wide
without making any answer. AT u signal
his head flew off like that of the first.
AT the question, "Do you know how to
paint2" the third, frightened out of his wits
answered, eyes, / believe do, think that
rAh, you are not sure" said the Dey, and
third head rolled in the dust.
Z "Do you know how to paint?' asked the
Dey, smiling, Of the fourth prisoner. This
fourth was bold and fearless Parisian; for
merly a Paris street-boy who had very often
stopped before the doors of wine merchants
or restanrateurs to see sign painters illustrat-
ing the outside with bottles and full glasses,
legs of bacon and venison pie. do know
how to paint, cried he "Certainly / do:
am the best pupil of the illustrious David,
painter to the Emperor. What do Won wish
for, most mild and clement Dew sneak nnd
be obeyed.p "You shall know immediately
what want" said the Dey, and went on
with the review. 5Ii HI. il Si-l.tl t1I
The example OF the Parisan had taught the
others what was to be done. All replied that
they knew how TO paint. The Dey, en-
chanted with the success of his measures, put
oil the painters, (there were about thirty, !
under the orders of the Partisan; he then led
his battalion of impromptu artists to one of
bis pleasure-palaces and directed them to Or
nament the walls with paintings like those
which decorate the palaces Of the European
sovereigns. r4i 1-ls - si
:. u want you to paint Mecca, the tomb of
the prophet, my principal naval victories.
and then anything you please, provided the
paintings be worthy of me ifthey are not,
will cut off all of your heads. i''
Light Of lights YOU shall be satisfied, re-
piled the Parisian o. l i.tU N-e '.aI 3
Colors and brushes were sent for, and our
artists went to work. The Partisan was not
destitute of imagination. The Mussulmar, re-
ligion forbiding the representation of a hu-
man form, the task was very much simpli6ed.
He painted the sea and navel battles, where
ships were to be seen but not O sailor. Bull
lets and bombs were crossing each other in
the air, which was darkened by smoke and
Redeemed by fire, but not an artilleryman
was seen at the pieces. u v7i' i q
Calling to his aid the recollections of his
childhood, he made skies of one bright blue,
in which he placed Mr.. Sun, Madame Moon,
and the Miss Stars. Then he painted the
great phenomena ofnature-storms, torrents,
volcanoes in eruption, vomiting fire and
smoke. The Partisan and his battalion of
painters made use of the most lively and
crude colors, the effect produced was not very
harmonious but it was striking. The Dey
was,enchanted. ril, - r-e,-l Fl
Happily, strangers who were connoiseurs
in painting, never penetrating into the pleasl
ure-palace, the yoluptuous retreat where the
favorites Of the Dey passed the summer sea-
son, no criticism was made and the Partisan
passed in the eyes of the Dey, for one of the
greatest painters in France. Not only he and
his assistants kept their heads upon their
shoulders, but to reward them the Dey be-
slowed upon them their liberty. ha1s
1t is these paintings which have been
copied by the real artist. Strange as they
are, there are some of them which show a |
singular intelligence on the part of the Paris
ian. These pictures are moreover, very in
teresting specimens of what can be done, by |
the most absolute inexperience, and the most |
complete ignorance of art having to con-
tend with necessity and Strengthened with |
the sentiment of the preservation of life.