The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-03
WANTS STRANGE SUICIDE.
SHE MAIN CiUSE or mrs SUDDEN
And TRdGIC DEATH.

Love Intrigue In ROmc-The End Of Bril-
liant aud successful Career aa an Artist
some Of his Earlier and Later Works.
The death of Pietro Vani was not gen
orally known to his friends and brother artists
until the publication yesterday OF the account
OF his suicide. Expressions Of sorrow, recollec-
tions Of his character and life. aud conJectures
as TO the motives OF his startling action have
since been drawn from many quarters In which
he was acquainted. The true explanation OF bis
strange eud Is undoubtedly furnished by occur
rences In Rome prior to his departure from that
city. In the sptng OF ls12 he was concerned In
n love intrigue. unfortunate and deploraole IN
all respects which eliminated, after long
period of torment and distraction. IN an attempt
60 take his own life with a dagger. his wounds
were not fatal, only combining him to his bed for
few months. The circumstances attending
this incident gave rise to much scandal, and
placed him in very unenyiahle position. His
friends and family used all efforts TO suppress
the circulation Of the story A correspondent
ofthe London Times sent that newspaper a re-
tress to Nani and those concerned for him. The
other newspaper correspondents In Rome were
entire ted to make no mention " the scandal
and silence ON their part was secured. Entire
suppression. however, proved impossible. Naini
finally determined to quit the city where such
source of annoyance existed for nm lie took
his departure Tor New YORK. arriving here In
April, 1872. The unfortunate int rigue In Rome
United states. IL was also, doubtless, the main
cause OF his suicide.
WANTS CAREER IN NEW YORK.
From the first he proved very fortunate in this
city. He acquired warm friends like the Dore-
muses., whose good will he frequently expressed
himself as very fortunate in possessing. His
talents as an artist received the highest appre-
citation His income the first wear after his
arrival Ia said to have been over $500. He won
portraits Of Gabrielle Greeley. Mrs CYRUS w
Field, Mrs. John A GRAY, Mrs Doremus, Nine
lice Chsse' as we'll as Of NAM many =, other ladies'
equally well known. In the depressed condition
income fell "a LARGELY. He found II dificult to
get IA remuuerative work as he bad received at
FIRST, and he began TO take gloomy view of his
pecuniary prospects.
In addition to this he conceived fear that
the story Of his experiences ia Rome would be-
come known here. His dread Of that disaster
haunted HIM constantly lie believed that
should this hapuen, 1t would destroy at once
his hopes Of pecunary success and Of distinc-
tion as an artist. 1t would subject him to ridi-
Guile, and elienate bis best and most valued
friends His pecuniary condition I'd not i'm
proved recently. He spoke of this TO his friends,
aud they advised him to sell some Of the valu-
able pictures that he had In his studio at auc-
tion Several Of these compositions were con
sidsred worth from $sOo to SlooO each. They
were works OF merit, which had stood the test
OF criticism In art galleries Of Brooklyn and New
York. lie set, however, too high a valuation
upon them, and feared that he would have TO
sacrifice them. He proposed some time ago to
assist fellow artist who was engaged on GER
labor and sh re the proceeds He also pro-
posed to help him on a nodel he was preparing
for the Centennial Exhibition. Nothing came
was.prOportOnately Increased.
WAS THE Suicide PREMEDITArEp?
Some OF those who knew him best are de-
cidedly Of the opinion that his suicide was long
premeditated. 1t Is thought that in choosing
an occasion and circumstances so peculiar and
dramatic. he contemplated an Impression upon
those whom he knew at Rome that so far as
concerned his acquaintance here he cared less,
but that he desired strongly to Impress Others.
VINO mad known OF his earlier and abDrtiye a T.
tempt at sef-destruction. He was impetuous
and passionate and lacking ia judgment, but he
was generous and afectionate, ana esteemed by
all. lie bad host OF frteuos both At Rome and
Italian officials with wuom he came into ass ocia-
tOn In America. The report that he was con-
nected with the Italian legation at Washington
T. erroneous nut II Is true that he was AN in
tmale FREUD Of Count Coru. lie was a warm
patriot, and did all he ceuld u advance the in
tercsts 90 Italy In the United states. lie took
an active part in the estabd.hment ~ the free
Italian scnool in thus city. painting for 1t, In a
ton, whi,h was much admired for its excel
ience. He also painted portraits Of Salyni.
Ristori, and other artists In whom. as an Italian
lac gOricd.
MS REPUTATION As AZ ARTIST
all agree IN placing high. lie was especially
seilfu with oil and pastel. His portraits we're
noted FOR faithtulness of expression. He re
celved while young a very thorough artistic
education. Among his fellow students were
Moriauo Furtuny, Edward Lamacois. and Henri
Hegnault' all OF whom have since died, but
whose ropntations as artists have attained
man he received unusual announcement while
al me- not9 IRON the foreign aud the home
Iortr It Of Mrs Doremus, done in pastel,
%mcl vs. one OF the most success
America, The next cohpositi0n which he
sSmut,d illustrated tragic incident from
ipT ntine history. veronica Cibo, duchess,
jealous ~ her husband, having procured the
mlrder of her rival sent her vlciim's head 20
her husband orndmented with rufIes. The pic
t,ie show the duchess contemplating the
Iut.tll head upon "A table before her. TINS
w"rs H. s.ill in the studio IN Finn avenue. lie
painted number Of Z binet pictures, mostly Of
women III modern costumes. One which was
mat Of Young and pretty woman sing a
lr1pk ON mOulucring log IN the woods, at
irac,ed much attention al GOupirs, where IL
hi- large picture AFTER the War" which
- exhibited last Year at the Academy, pre-
stuted - nc ther and child begging by the way.
SIDE iu winter. At tue recent exhibition he had
cabinet picture, Fathers Photograph" and
little girl weeping over a dead Bird. One of ria
most popular paintings was " he Page" for
which d handsome nttle Italian boy Of about
seven years, who waited IN his studio and i'd
'uitted visitors, was the model. 1t was highly
complimeuted oy his friends, some Of whom re-
earded 1t as his best creation. His latest works
portraits Of Nine. kstOri and her daughter. ON
Hstorls depa ture from New York she ordered
them to he sent TO Rome, thus preventing their
exhibition here. The ffesco work IN the new
Huh Avenue theatre was done 10y him, In con.
defatigable worker and often. when with his
aud hustle - this metr polls with the sluggish
atmosphere ma slow ways ~ Rome.
THE STUDIO IN FIFTH AvENUE
was ycsteriay placed In charge Of Signor de
Iuca, IT," Italian tousul-GeHeral. lie is max
irg an Inventory Of the effects, with the assist
hhce OF y I. and MIs. Durrmus. Pending in
btrurtiOns from the family at Rome. he viii at
tend u all tue ali ms of the de. easrd artist lie
was much attached to Nani who WIS such a
tdvorite he SAYS, win his wife ana children as
family.
lhe Consu-Generrl gave farther part culars
81 the young artat lie, lie was pupil OF
lfar t-7tii, who dled N his arms FOriuny, Of
whose paintings several al rned Wants studio,
was one Of his warn, friends. Connoisseurs ia |
tun ins say ia they discovered IN Nainis |
Projections traces Of the style of Frac.ssiui !
aud Furtuny and that they expected his WORK |
inlY o equal in time that of his models. Ills |
pictures we're at times bought eagerly at high |
prices Even sketches hastily dashed N have |
Teen curiiad away before the cOlors were dry |
INC I4rIIlaLds Mnd MOlls. A. l. hIeMArt. N oses |