Maryland free press., 1867-03-21
The Poor Painter.

The Poor Painter.
Samuel Duhobert was one of the great
German painters's (Albert Durer, } pupils.
admitted into his studio out of pity, and
in spite Of his age and poverty, for Sam
:uel was almost forty, and had no other
means of livelihood than that of painting
signs and house decorations, a kind OF or
namentation common in Germany. Un-
dersized, ,hunchbacked, extremely ugly, and
moreover, suffering so badly as not to be
able to pronounce two sylables, consecu-
lively, it may easily be supposed that he
was the butt Of his fellow pupils, and that,
whenever any practical joke was to be
played in the studio it wss always levelied
at Samuel. Jeered at by his companions
tormented by his masters wife, who could
not forgive his being admitted into the
studio gratis. and having nothing for his
meals but black bread az (and sometimes
not even that. the poor fellow had no rest
or comfort but on the days when he could
escape into the country, to paint some OF
the numerous views in the neighborhood
Of Nuremburg. Then he was not like the
same man. His downcast melancholy
look passed entirely away, as he sat upon
the grass, his portfolio upon his knees.
trying to catch some of those admirable eff
feets of light which he excelled in produ-
cling. After spending the day in the man
ner, he returned to Nuremburg, but did
not mention in the stuGio his excursion of
the day before, still less did he show the
sketches he had made.
Except on these rare occasions Of his
visit to the country, Samuel arrived at the
studio every day at dawn, and remained
there until nightfall. He then returned
to his garret, and reproduced on canvass
the views he had sketched in the country.
To procure himself brushes and colors, he
imposed upon himself the hardest priva-
items. .-..t
Three years went on this way without
Samuel having betterd his condition in the
smalleat degree, or either his master or
his fellow pupils being aware of the night
labors which he had been pursuing How
he Succeeded in preserving himself from
death considering the privatisps be had
to endure, is a mystery.
One day, however. he fell i'll; a violent
fever seized his withered frame, and for
nearly aweek he remained lying on his
pallet, without any one coming to take
compassion on his sufferinys. With burn
ing brain, and feeling that he was dying,
abandoned by all, he took desperate res
olution; he rose took under his arm the
last picture he had painted, and stage cred
toward the shop of a broker, in the hope
of selling it at any price. 1t so happened
that he had to pass in front of fousc
where great numbef or persons were as
sembled. He found that sale by auction
was proceeding, the property consisting of
arts collected by eonnoisssur with endless
trouble during thirty years, and as usually
happens, sold and disposed of without re-
morse by the inheritors of his wealth after
death. ......
Samuel went to one Of the auctioneer's
men and after great entrcaty. succeeded
in persuading him to slow the picture
which he carried under his arm to be put
up for sale with the other works of art.
One auctioneer estimated its value at three
thalers. ........ .,a-. p -... -.+
''Goodr said Samuel to himself, ''that
will buy me food for at least week--if
[ am fortunate enough to get purchaser" !"
"Three thalers going for three thalers
Will nobooy make an advance on three
thalcrs?" !.
Nobody answered.
60" murmured poor Samuel, "nobody
will buy it! What is to become of ME?
And yet he added, ''it is my best work
l have never never done better. The air
passes through my foliage of my trees, any
one who may see that the trees move, rus
tie and murmur. The water, is limpid it
is the Pregueitz, beautiful. pure and clear.
There is life in the animals coming down
to quench their thirst in it. And in the
background what an admirable view!
The Abbey of Newbonrgh whence the
monks have been driven out, and which,
| fear me much, will be demolished by its
new proprietor; for what will the good Lu-
thern Go with an Abbey and belfry?'
"Twenty-ave thalers," said a weak, dry
voice, which made Samuel, start, and stu
piGed him with joy.
He raised himself upon the tips of his
toes, to seeif possible who had pronounced
thrice blessed words. Surprise! 1t was
the broker towards whose house Samnel
was making his way. when his good angel
had inspired him with the idea of getting
his picture put up at auction. ..r4
Fifty thalers." cried loud voice.
Samuel would willingly have embraced
the big man dressed in black, who uttered
these two words. ~
"a hundred thalers," coughed the
ready little voice of the broker.
',Two hundred" .r
''Three hundred" H la.s.ge ~.
-Four hundred" a'
"A thousand thalersY iliis h.a lt,-:- "a
A long silence followed among the per-
sons present, who stood facing each other,
like two -combatants Samuel thought
himself dreaming, and uttered confused
exclamations. a-,.,e.. Iasr
Two thousand thalcrs," said the broker
with a short forced laugh. r. ..'
"Ten thousand. cried the big man, his
face getting purple Kith rage. s-a a.ai
g Twenty thQusand,0 cried the broker,
pale and feverish, clenching his hands,
and syying himself with couyulsive
movement. ass II $780,. .fi5J.if silf