Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-09-08
TIE TWO PORTRAITS.
BY FRANCIS A. DURIVAGE.

''BEAUTIFUL! beautiful p exclaimed En-
nest Lavalle, as, throwing himself back in
his chair, he contemplated, with eyes shut, a
lovely countenance that smiled on him from
a canvas to which he had just added few
hesitating touches. 1t was but sketch
little more than outline and dead coloring,
and misty haze seemed spread over the
face, so that it looked vision-like and intan-
gible. The young painters exclamation was
not addressed to his workmanship-he was
not even looking at that faint image; but,
through its medium, was gazing on lineaments
as rare and fascinating as ever hoated through
poets Or an artists dream. Deep, lus-
trous blue eyes, in whose depth sincerity and
feeling lay crystalized; features as regular
as that of Grecian statue; lip melting,
ripe and dewy, half concealing, half reveal
ing, line Of pearls; soft brown hair descend
ing IN waves upon neck and shoulders of
satin surface and Parian frmness. Such
were some Of the external traits of loneliness
belonging to
IA creature not too bright and good,
For human natures daily food
who had completely actualized the ideal of
the young Partisan artist, into whose studio
we have introduced our readers. The fair
original, whose portrait is before us, was
Rose d'Amour, a beautiful actress of one of
the metropolitan theatres, who had just made
her debut with distinguished success.
There was quite romance in her history.
Ut unknown parents, she had commenced her
career-like the celebrated Rachel-a street
singer, and was looking forward to no more
brilliant future, when her beauty, genius,
and purity Of character attracted the atten-
ton of a distinguished newspaper editor, by
whose benevolent generosity she was enabled
to prepare herself for the stage, by two or
three years of assiduous study. The success
OF his protege more than repaid thekind pat
ron for his exertions and expenditure.
A word of Ernest Lavalle, and il shall
suffice. He was the son of an humble vine
dresser, in one Of the agricultural depart
ments OF France. His talent for drawing.
early manifested, attracted the notice of his
parish priest, whose earnest representations
induced his father to send the bow to Paris.
and give him the advantages afforded by the
capital for students of art In the great city
Ernest allowed none of the attractions. by
which he was surrounded, to divert him from
the assiduous pursuit Of his beloved art
Ills mornings were passed in the gallery of
the Louvre, his afternoons in private study,
and his evening at the academy, where he
drew from casts and the living model. The
only relaxation he permitted himself was an
occasional excursion in the picturesque en-
virons of the French capital and he always
took his sketch book with him, thus making
even his pleasure subservient to his studies.
Two prizes obtained for a drawing and pic
ture, secured for him the patronage of the
academy, at whose expense he was sent to
..'aly, to pursue his studies in the famous
galleries of Rome and Florence. He return
ed with mind imbued with the beauty and
majesty Of the works Of those great masters,
whose glory will outliye the canvas and mar
bic which achieved it, determined to win for
himself niche in the temple Of Fame, Or
perish in his laborious efforts to obtaiIn.. it
At this time he was in lis twenty-second
year. A vigorous constitution was his heri-
tage; and his rounded cheek glowed with
the warm color Of health. His strictly class
steal features were enhanced by the luxuri-
ance Of his hair, which he wore flowing in
native curls, while his full beard and nous
tache relieved his face from the charge Of
etfeminacy.
Arnest was yet engaged in the contempla-
ton OF the unfinished work-or rather in
dreaming of the bright original when a
light tap was heard at his door. He opened
it eagerly, and his poor studio was suddenly