New-York tribune., 1867-08-01
LITERARY NATTERS IN FRANCE.
RAINDORGE-TAISR-THE COUNTESS
GUICCIOLIs "BYRoNn-MIsCELLANEoU
Hrnn Onr Sner,l Cnrr,snnndeni

RAINDORGE-TAINR-THE COUNTESS
GUICCIOLIS ONn-MIsCELLANEoUs.
From Our spse, Correspondent
PARIS, July 16, 1867
When, nearly year ago, il was first reported that
Thomas Couture was about to publish book with
preface by Geo. Sand, n newspaper wag remarked
that would be COutures Second Decadence and the
mot was generally accepted as just anticipatory
criticism Visiting in those days one of his eminent
brother painters who resides in the country. and
being asked by his wife after Paris news gave as
the latest the announcement of COuture's book "And
who is to write Z" straightway asked the really
amiable Madame -; then, smiling added: "TLis
is malicious is it not But know that our friend
Couture ended his schooling with the FEtres Chre-
items" The schools of the F,1res ChreGens or Iqno-
TdptiRs correspond somewhat TO country district
schools they thirty years ago. The lady
might have added, what our author tells us, that he
was dull scholar. / have heard him say that he
often left friendly letters unanswered, irksOme to
him was the effort of writing, so thoroughly was he
insted with the prevalent French doctrine that one
could not write who had gone through his classes of
rhetoric Well, here is the book-without ntroduc-
tion by Geo. Sand, though parts Of it in Ms. have
been much extOed by that first mistress of French
stylewalking right into the world of polite letters
none tho less welcome guest for a certain
fresh simplicity and awkwardness of manner.
The work has two essential values one for laymen,
one for painters more especially II is not delight
fully autObOgIaphICal for large part in the usual
acceptatiOn OF the term, with amusing narration of
incidents of this mans life and the painters progress
but s IN every page, whether ddactic narrative or
reflective the drectest expression of the very nature
OF the man-Of the ThOs Couture he is little given
to disguise aud quite incapable of it-with shirt col
lar Open ma blouse and slippers. The few rare at
tempts at literary dressing stand ont like purple
patches on his careless but not ungracefully worn
toilet. In this respect there reigns something of the
fascination OF Benvenuto Cellini and Haydn. 10 is
80 much more interesting to any man, though he
be in parts 0fquestonabe beauty than 20 be called on
10 admire his dress suit The title of the book is:
MethOde Ell BpfrefieRs d Afeiier-an uncommon
ly honest tile. Hero are nearly 400
pages. not of a professors academic lectures,
but of the talk Of practced painter in his
ateer 10 the student in his ateer and about art
and its related themes, full of matter always ger
name. but loose, free-howing, episodica aneedotal
Animated TALL of hand and autoschediastic" as Sir
Chas. Wetherell would say. il reads, or should be
read if improvised. and should not then despite
rs attraciiyeness Tor truest appreciations, he
-ead right through but rather be taken |
up from time TO time and day after |
lay. The material continuity of yerusal would be |
Ort Of PrOcrustean violation OF its loose ease
md So as always il mnst be- the oppressor and the
'ctm, the Ieader and the author will equally suffer