The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-29


Queen, after her return from visit to the
French Emperor in 1855. Being permitted to
return to France subsequently, he became in
volved in political troubles in 1851 and was
sentenced to fine and imprisonment
After the fall of the empire, Pyat established
in Paris journal called lie Combat, and it was
an article in this sheet which led to the serious
riots in the capital during the last three days of
October, 1870. Pyat stated that Marshal b.
zaines surrender of Metz to the Germans was
in the interest of the emperor, to whose for
tunes he still adhered, and that Bazalne had
rendered peace TO the enemy In the name of
Napoleon, on condition that he should be per-
mitted to march to Paris at the
head of his army and take possession
of the Government with the assistance
of the Germans, claiming that his information
was received from Rochefort, then a member of
the Government of National Defense, through
Gustave Flourens. Rochefort, however, repu-
dated the statement and bitter recriminatens
between him and Pyat followed. The serious
disturbances which ensued were finally sup
pressed, Pyat and the other leaders being ar
rested and imprisoned but Pyat was released
about two weeks afterwards.
After the capitulation of Paris Pyat was, on
February 8th, elected a member of the Con-
sttuent Assembly, receiving 141, 900 votes, and
standing eleventh on the poll of Paris. After
the ratification of the treaty of peace by the
Assembly, Rochefort, Louis Blanc and other
extremely radical deputies resigned their seats
because of the cession of Alsace and Lorraine,
and Pyat, refusing to resign, declared that
he would never again enter the Assembly until
the cession of French territory was rescinded.
He joined the Communists at the outset, and
was elected a member of the Communal Council
on Sunday, March 26, being one of the few
members of this body who were not unknown
to the world. Soon after he established lie
Vengeur, which became an official organ of the
Commune, and throughout the rebellion re-
manned one of its most prominent leaders.
Gustave COurbet.
Gustave Courbet, who was shot on Friday by
the Versailists, for participation in the Com
munist revolt, had record which was worthy
of better termination. Courbet was an artist
of prominence, and with well-earned reputa-
ton. He was born at Omans in the department
of Doubs, in the year 1919. He received his
early education under Able Gousset who after
wards became cardinal and Archbishop of
Rheims. Courbet was sent to study law in Paris
ia 1889, but did not make very much progress,
as his natural bent was in another direction.
After studying art for a number of years, he eX-
hibited Ills works for the first time publicly in
the year 1874. His style was independent, and
his productions rather shocked the followers of
the then reigning school of art, by his daring
methods and eXtravagant subjects. But this
opposition only made him cling the more closely
to his own ideas.
In 1S4S, dursg the revolution in ideas as
well as governments, Courbet became suddenly
famous, and his style found ready favor But
then his theories underwent a change, and from
that time he was a devoted champion of
realism only. He exhibited very intolerant
but indomitable disposition. At the Universal
Exposition of 1855, and also, in 1867, he refused
the places for exhibition offered him by the
committee, and in both cases opened inde-
| pendent exhibitions of his own. In 1867 this
private exhibition was In a small white circular
building near the Arch of Triumph, and in this
was brought together very fine though small
exhibition of the masters most characteristic
works.
He found that his works were more appre-
ciated abroad than at home, for in the art exhi-
bition in Munich in 1864 a special room had
been reserved for the exclusive reception of his
pictures. But few of his pictures are known in
America.
Courbet had great power as a draughtsman,
cultivated taste for color, and a remarkable
command of light and shade. His imagina-
ton, however, was uncurbed, and he was very
intolerant of the generally accepted laws of art.