Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-06-10
A Sad Story.

On April &c, Octave Tassaert, an az
tist who has had his quart dheure of
celebrity, was found dead in his garret.
Worn out at length by his weary strug-
gle for existence in old age, the painter
resolved to take his own life and COM
mitted suicide. Octave Tassaert first
won fame as portrait painter, two of
his pictures having been admitted to
the art exhibition of 1881. He then
began upon historical compositions.
and painted several pictures for the
gallery of Versailles. 1.-The Funeral Of
Dagobert," at st. Denis, was a work of
great merit, and is now held at a very
high price. After this success the
State gave him several orders. From
1881 to 1853 Tassaert did not miss a
single salon, and every year had one or
more of his pictures admitted. His
Mort du Correge," "Diane an Balm, I"
'Vieux Musicien," "Famille NAL
heureuse, and ''Marchand 'Esclaves, T"
with some six or seven more of his pic
lures, have been made popular through
out the world by the engravings made
of them. More than twenty of his
compositions were engraved for the
journal L'4rtiste. In 1888 he won the
first prize for composition, and took
another medal in 1919. A third medal
was given him at the universal exposi-
ton of 1855, when he exhibited his
"Sommeil de PInfant Jesus, the Fills
de Louis XVI. dams sa Prison." the
''Triste Nouvelle," and Sarah la Bal
gueuse." Since that time nothing has
been heard of Octave Tassaert in the
world of art.
But during this period of silence the
painter was growing old, and infirmi-
ties were falling upon him. His eye
sight began to fail him, and his work
became slow and difficult. He had
used up his savings just as the war
came on, and when the moment came
for asking help there was no patron
government to whom he could apply.
As want came npon him he gave up his
studio for smaller one in cheap
quarter, and few months later had to
content himself with modest gsrret.
As atrocious misery crept upon him he
managed to sell few sketches to the
brocanteurs, who paid him little, as
can be imagined, and at last kept life
in his body by painting signs. He
went without shoes for long time be-
cause cobbler had agreed to give him
pair for painting sign and had not
kept his contract. One day he had no
money to buy canvas and paints, and
owed 20 francs to a dealer, who refused
him further credit. All this time the
only companion the painter had was an
ugly little dog, and the friendship be-
tween the two was very strong, Just
as the bread gave out the dog was lost
or stolen. The loss affected Tassaert
seriously. He painted a small sketch
upon board, and on trying to sell it
to dealer was beaten down until he
finally consented to let it go for ten
sous. 1t is now worth hundred louis.
Instead of satisfying his hunger Tas-
saert bought charcoal with his remain
ing ten-scu piece, shut himself up in
his room and passed away stified by
the fumes of the coal which he had
voluntarily lighted. The grand painter
had become the "Pere Tassaert" in his
quarter, and no one dreamed, who
daily saw him taking his walks, that
he had once enjoyed so much celeb
rity.
1t seems strange that Tassaert did
not once more apply for and to his old
friends or the minister; but it seems
that he never had friends, and the
minister had already repulsed him.
Tassaert had never lived in society.
He was never known to have dress
coat, even, and was never seen on pub
lie occasions. He was not one to $50
licit and to serve" according to MIR.
Disraeli's expression; he had always
neglected his social duties; he did not
respond to letters or notice the cards of
friends, and this neglect was paid back
when he had need of friends. He had
turned his back upon society, and So
ciety dropped him and forgot him. The
indifference of society to his fate was
summed up in a single remark. When
his death was announced a .faneur
cried: "What luck have one of his
pictures, which bought for fifty francs;
1t will now fetch its weight in gold. J"
When a man scorns society and its
forms he should be rich and above all
chances of want, for the day may come
when he will bitterly regret having re-
pulsed the companionship of his fell
lows, and his own folly in not being
something of courtler, if he has to
make his own way in the world. Some
years ago Tassaert had reason to regret
his past life. Being in need of money,
he took few of his sketches to min
lister of fine arts, and after world of
trouble and many visits he managed to
gain admittance.
81 have come to ask your e1cellency
to give me an order" he said, modestly,
and at the same time he laid out his
sketches.
"But 1 have no authority-no fund, +"
said the minister.
"Oh 1 beg you do something for
me; am in great want. You see what
can do"
In an Indifferent way the minister
had picked up a sketch, and after
glancing at it looked sternly into the
face of the applicant.
"My good fellow" he said, "this is
not your work at all. 1 know that very
well indeed; it is by Tassaert."
''But, your excellency, 1 am Tas-
saert"-
"You?" And the painter had to
show his papers before the minister
could be convinced. After some wait
ing little help was given him and an
important picture ordered for the State.
But when Tassaert was again in want
he failed to reach the minister. His
hand had lost its cunning; he had no
clothes; his shoes were out at the toes;
hunger had taken away all his courage,
and he was no longer anybody but the
Pere Tassaert. He was ashamed to
ask his brother artists for money, for
he had shamefully neglected them in
his days of his property, and when he
could no longer work there was nothing
left but despair. To-day Tassaert's
pictures will command almost any price,
and from this time forward they will be
quoted at high rates at the public sales.
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