The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-02-06

All Italy did homage to the conoueror
and it was, therefore, very natural the
sculptors and painters should endeayor
to draw some advantage from this enthu-
siasm for its deliyerer, and that they
| should endeavor to represent to the adj
mirers of BQnaparte his peculiar form of
! countenance.
Brt Bonaparte did not like to have his
portrait painted The startling watchf0i
gaze of an artist was an annoyance 10
| him; it made him restless and anxious, as
If he feared chat the scrutinizlng look at
| his face might read the secrets OF his soul.
I ct st ,josephine's tender and pressing
request he had consented to It's beng ta-
Ken by young painter, lie eros, whose
DISTINGUISHED talent had been brought to
his notice.
LIE Gros came, therefore, to Montebel-
10. happy III the thought that he could
immortalize himself through successful
portrait of the hero whom he honored
s.:th all the enthusiasm Of a young heart.
But he waited in vain three days for Boz
naparte to give him a sitting. The Gen
eral had not one instant to spare for the
| unfortunate young artist.
At last at Josephine's pressing request
Bonaparte consented on the fourth day
to set for him one quarter Of an hour at
ter breakfast lie Gros came, therefore,
delighted, at the time appointed, into the
cabinet Of Josephine, and had his easel
ready, awaiting the moment when Bona
parte should sit in the armchair opposite,
But alasl the painters hopes were not
10 be realized The General could not
bring himself to sit in that arm char, do
ing nothing but keeping his head quiet,
so that the painter might copy his fea-
lures He had no sooner been seated
than he sprang up suddenly, and declar-
ed it was quite impossible to endure s1ch
martyrdom.
LIE Gros dared not repeat his request,
bu5 with teas III his eyes gathered up his
painting materials Josephine smiled.
Il see very well, :" said she, that must
have recourse to some extraordinary
means to save for me and for posterity a
portrait Of the hero of Arcola.
She S; down in her arm CHI; III. d
backoned to LIE eros to have his easel in
readiness Then with d tender voice she
called Napoleon to her, land opening both
arms, she drew him down on her lap, and
in this way she induced him to SIT quietly
a few minutes and allow the painter the
sight of his face. thus enabling him to
sketch the portrait.
At the end Of this peculiar sitting, Bo-
naparte smilingly promised shat he would
next day grant the painter a second one,
provided Josephine would again have
the extraordinary means ready. She
consented, and for four days ID succession
lie Gros was enabled to sit before him
quarter of an hour and throw upon the
canvas the features Of the General, while
he sat quietly on Josephine lap.
The picture which lie Gros thus pain
ed, thanks to the sweet Y'use of Josephine
and which was scattered throughout 1u-
rope in copper-plate prints, represented
Bonaparte with uncovered head, holding
a standard IN his hand, and with face
turned toward his soldiers, calling on
them to follow him as he dashed on The
bridge of Arcola amid a shower OF Austri-
an balls
1t is beautiful and imposing picture,
and contemporaries praise 1t for its likeness
to the hero; but no enc could believe chat
this pale, grave countenance. these gloomy
eyes and earnest lips, which seem incap&-
bic of smile, were those Of Bonaparte as
he sat on the lap Of his beloved Jose hine
when LIE eros was painting Il.