, 1876-01-30
MeiSsonier'S Famous Painting,
Purchased by Mr.. a. T.
Stewart.
German Royalty Going Around the
World in Eighty Days.
Grace Greenwood at the Tomb OF Charlie.
masne..." When the Pigs Be-
gin to Fly"

|
the Artist Club in tho Ffaoe Vendome to see the
famous painting by Melssonior, which is now
being exhibited there. You are probably aware
that this production OF the most celebrated
French artist Of the day, and which is known by
| no other name than the l2con1c appeAation OF
"1807" is shout to make its way acroas the At
lantic. there to be transferred into the hands OF
| its fortunate purchaser. A1r. Stewart, of New
York, for tho trifllng consideration OF 3oo'ooo
francsl IBupposo this is about tho largest eum
ever paid for the work Of q modern painter
| during his lifetime. Tho picture was originally
intended to have passed. into the possession OF
| Sir Richard Wallace for the sum OF 100000
francs, but whether that gentleman was not
pleased with his bargain, or whether the ARTIST
thought ha had lot him oil too chesp at tho last
| mentioned price, am not prepared to Say. Ger
tain it is that the American man of millions has
| stepped In between the hrst-made bargain and
it's conclusion, and carried of prize which will
| make him the envy OF thousand competitors.
| The TRANSACTION has been noticed in all tho lead
| ing journals Of this continent almost as
| much as II it had boen some impoE-
| taut political evout Thus the Independence
| Beige tells u.s. auropos to it, that Mr.
| Stewart psys income tax on declared revenue
| OF $25 600 200 per annum. Tho Figaro, OF Paris,
| relates how Mr. Stewart. finding tue Govern
meut of the North $50. 900. 600 in his debt at the
close Of the War, and fearing it might be in,
convenient at that moment to repay him. said
| tout supplement: ''Only 550000,000! Don't
| mention it!' And 80 scratched out the debt
with stroke of his pen. Tho same journal
warns it's readers not to confound "6tewart of
New York" with '' that other Stewart" (of Phi!a
delphia), who is the happy possessor OF the
finest collection Of Fortuny's paintings extaut
ito tho number. if I mistake NOT. Of thirty
nine). aud who, says Figaro, to dist'n;
n1amesako 1 is called s' Stewart the poor" having
only five millions a yearl - Paurre honln,e'"
exclaimed Figaro ''onty FIRE millions year to
spend :" But to return to the 1887 =" OF
Meissonier- The year and subject show thst
the picture is an episode, or rather prologue,
OF the battle Of Friedlaud, just about to be
fought BY Napoleon l.. then at tho apogee Of
bis greatness and power. There he sits on
horseback, surrounded by Ney, Lannes,
0udinot and the greatest of hls Marshals.
about to achieve second victory Of Marengo.
Hur1ying .long in fiery hasts to take up their
position on the approaching field Of combat, .
regiment of ponueroua culrassiers eaiute their
chief with cries Of almost frantic en-
impetuosty, as il already tramping the enomy
beneath their feet Nothing exceed the
sense of tumultuous force and energy conveyed
by their terrific rush, The figure Of the CON-
mar1ling officer at their head. who rises in his
stirrups and turns to brandish his sword and
salute Napoleon as he passes. is perhaps the
chef d'nuvre Of the picture in artistic power and
effect Nothing can exceed the beauty OF detail
and force Of action With which the aboFe figure
is given, and there arc many other points Of tho
picture. Auch ~. for instance, the miniature
painting OF the heads OF the Marshals, the &C
coutrements OF the r1dets, and tho minute
anatomy Of the horaes, IN which M the pencil
Of Meissonier shines With all ita wonted
power. But it is tims to mention at once,
the great interest and curiosity Of this work. and
also. it must be allowed that which lays 1t most
open criticism. 1t IS By far the largest picture
the artist has ever painted since ho has beeu
celebrated, being about S feet br 3 in slzo-
Mclssonier began with these dimensions, Dut
never gained repute anti1 be adopted the minute
style and finish which hayo made him famous.
He has now eone back 70 bis first love aud At
tempted an historical painting, for such his |
'18o7" really is, or pFetends to be. But though |
it displays wonderful powers Of execution and
great beauty OF detail (as how. indeed, could it
fail to do, painted BY such an artist o. it docs.
stituta tho chief e1cellancean picture OF that |
class It fails II composition, aud in illustras-
ing the historical epoch Of which it processes !
to be au exponent Diminish it in size to the /
write under it ST Review of Napoleon, or even |
al t'epieode do guerra" and it would be per-
feet. The foreground details, and minute fin, |
ish would all then be in their place, and would !
personages might be correctly and appropriately
thrown back into an inferior place in what would |
then be only sableau do genre. But what
shall We say to such date md name I
us ''1807." in which squadron OF curassiers
plaJs first fiddle, and, Napoleon aud his Massha.s
are thrown comparatively into the shade |
The error OF composition 10 t1Kgrant an1 undeni-
able. BY some unucky chance. too, hIeissonier,
who can and has SO often painted Napoleon I.
en- petit with the true type Of the uan,-as wit
ness his fino picture Of tho Emperor en- retrait.
has here apparently quite failed, aud has
given him, with the traditional dress OF the
chasseur do Ia garde, tho head and face OF fat,
rubicund bov BUTT is an ungrac1ous task to point
his art Mr.. Stewart has, think, paid dear,
very DEAR for his whistle; but he undoubtedly
possesses painting OF marvellous ability as to
execution OF hand aud eye, and ono the possess
sioQ and study OF which will bo invaluable for !
his artistic count1Jmen.
GERMAN ROYALTY AT AROUND THE WORLD
IN EIGHTY DAYS"
A Berlin lottcr to the Buffalo Commercial dd-
re7tise'' sagu: Determined to help tho Ber-
liners in starting tho neu year. VIC set out once
moro. and this time for the journey Around
the World in Eighty Dsys;'' and who else do
you think was desirous OF learning the art Of
traveling2 No less parsonage than the Crown
Prince, with his family. The younger children |
gave party in the afternoon from to :, but
they cano in u few minues afterwards. They
Bat in the first TOW. Charlotte, Is years old,
nice, sensible looking girl. strongly Ger
man, and dressed in plain black, with 3
little whita. rufle at neck and wrists. Next
came the eldest sou, II, Frederick Will
lam, in military dress; and behind them
tho tutor. Then two ittlc boys. Wlldcmar and
Heinrich, this prattiest Of the family, especially
Heinrich, a marked English face and bright eyes.
just ench dear little boy Of ~ you nould
take into your lap and pet Next TO him sat, or
rather. hopped up and down On her soft ouehion,
Victoria, yoara old, her ha1en hair held back
under round comb. and the sause plain dress1
and ruflles as her sister: She wore 8hite gloves,
played With her fan, and was % pretty and un-
conscious as many little girl can think OF at
home. Moreover. she wore tiny diamond ear
drops. And simple little necklace with locket,
in which aparkled q diamond Perhaps Santa
Clans brought them from her granilu,amna
Behind them sat the English govefness, and Just
by the curtain Was the Grown Pr1n-
cess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa, in deep Law
onder silk and whito bonnst, whom wo could dis
cover occasionally AZ sho leaned forward in con-
gegsation with the children. The Cronp-priuce
ntlnrTr FTt-sS |