The Portland daily press., 1876-04-18
Art and Artists.

A remarkable Rembrandt-the partrait of
an wearing wide hat and holding a book in
his hane-recently sold in Paris for the extra
culinary price of $1,000. The purchaser was
Mr.. Wilson, well-knewn Partisan amateur.
Miss Elizabeth Thompson, who painted the
"Roll Call" has been at work for some time
past upon new war piece, to be called 9Th,
Return of the Six Hundred from Balaklava."
This will probably be her last battle painting,
as she designs giving her attention entirely to
religious subjects after having taken a course
of study at Rome.
The celebrated English artist, Whistler, sew
eral Of whose pictures are now on exhibition at
Baltimore, puts on his color with a palette
knife instead of brush, and in the most lib
eral manner. Whistler's paintings, and par
ticularly his etchings have attracted much at
tention in England, and have found great fa-
vor among some of the pre-. Raphaeites.
A Cincinnatian who had purchased an oil
painting at private sale called on Tom Lind
say the artist, to consult him as to how he
should hang it. Tom looked at it long and curl
ously, and then said, 81 wouldn't hang it. if l
were you" Wouldn't hang it? Why not@
Because the sentiment of the age is rather
its sentence TO solitary Imprisonment for life."
M. element de Ris writes to the Chronioue
IN confirmation Of the note that appeared in
the last number concerning the rapid deterio-
ration OF the fine picture by Perugino, The
Family of the Virgin, in the museum of Mar
eeilles The panel of wood on which it is
painted was, he says when he saw the picture
inNovember, 1875, split in.hree places; assures
were also visible across the figures of the Vir
gin and st. Anne, and the figures of st. Mary
Cleophas and St. Mary Salome were in a yerv
bad state; besides, the picture is bllstered in
places, and some scales have already fallen.
The picture which Mr.. Poynter will send TO
the Royal academy is the Race of ATLANTA.
The painter has chosen the critical moment of
the contest, when the maiden is STOPPING 10
PICK up from the ground the golden apple that
her competitor has thrown down, and the mo-
tive OF her figure, with one arm stretched to.
wards the earth and the other held up to bal
ance the sudden movement, is the principal
achievement of the design. The elements of
repose in this gesture are contrasted with the
swift and energetic action of the male figure,
who is represented at full racing speed. his
glance directed towards Atalanta, and the
hand which holds the remaining apples held
behind him; while as background to both
stands an imposing architectural structure, in
the openings which are to be seen the crowds
of eager spectators who have assembled to view
the contest.
Every one has heard of Messonier's methods
of study, While at work on this last picture,
he has fairly outcome himself in scrupulousness.
he has spent days mixing snow with mud, in
order to get the proper effect for the surface of
his battlefield; he has had horses trotting up
and down in his yard for hours together that he
might study their every movement; and he has
literally levied on every specialist in France
for the knowledge of military equipment which
the picture shows. He is SO very exact and
fine in his manner Of work that Eugene do Ia |
Croix once said of him: "Well. Meissonier |
will be com PEELED to stop work for a lime |
now" "How is that?' said a listerer
why" answered the great artist. scoffinoiv
everybody knows that MISSIONER paints pnii11
with brushes made from the eyelashes of new
born infants; and perceive that none have (
died during the last eight days. Letter.