Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-04-14
Prince Bismarck.

The American artist, MIR. Healy, who la:
just flushed portrait Of Prince Bismarck fol
Prince Charles Of Roumania, has returned tc
Paris, aud gives the following account to cor
respondent Of the New York Herald
The Prince was busy when the artist first
called, which gasc him an opportunity to ask
some particulars as to the Chancsor's daily
habits. He was informed that the Prince was
| in the habit Of working all night, and that he
rarelg retired to bed before six in the morning.
He generally slept until nooD, when he took a
cup Of tea. dressed and occupied himself with
his dispatches until Two, when he received his
Cabinet Ministers and Ambassadors At half.
past three he drove to the Parliament HOUSE,
where be occasionally took part in the debates
Between five and six he frequently went to see
the Emperor after which he dined.
At five o clock Mr.. Heay was sent for BY the
Prince. lie describes the Chancellor as splen-
didy proporlioned man, about six feet three in
height and with grave but courteous manners.
He told him that he had ordered two rooms to
be set apart for his work in that wing of the
Foreign office where his mother had died and
where he himself had passed much of his time
when O young man, the Minister of the day
| having been an intimate freud Of bis. he
asked the artist how macy sttings he thought
he would require, and 90 being told six (of two
hours cach) he expressed himself alarmed at
| the idea of losing so much valuable time.
After sitting while, however, he became
interested in the work, and as soon as he saw
! the head painted in he said
This is really remarkable; it is quite differ
ent from the German, French and English
| schools Who was your master? Where did
you study?"
II studied first 10 the United States" said
Mr.. Healy "and then in Europe. | never had
any particular master
Il Gao understand that" replied the Prince
You evidently strive to render the Individual
character OF each sitter. You have more to
do with nature than with schools"
The Princess saw the picture after the second
sitting, and from that time they both took great
interest in the work. The Prince went to the
artists room as often as possible, and some
times the sttings were very short. The time
he gave most unwllingly was for the hands.
He said be DcVcr saw an artist SO particular
about an exact likeness Of the details Of the
person OF the sitter.
Our painters depict handsome hands, he
added, "and that is all; but Mr.. Healy.
think, you arc right"
At one of the sittngs the PRICE asked Mr.
Healy il he had ever exhibited at the Paris
Salon The artist replied in the Affirmative,
but added that the works he had exhibited there
were principally portraits.
"Whosc porraits?' inquired the Prinoc,
with interest.
"Oh, good many, OF persons not known to
Your Highness, replied the artist, and some
that are--such as the Pope aud NJ. THEIRS
IL always liked NJ. Theirs, observed the
Prince. "lIe has all the politeness Of the old
school, which am sorry 10 say is fast passing
away, and must admit that | found him an
excellent Frcncbnan in everything relating to
the interests oil his cOuntry.
Another day. contrary ID his usual habit, he
entered the artist studio in purple dressing
gown and cap, and observing that Mr. HeaIy
was rather struck by this transformation, for
he is rarely or never seen out OF uniform, he
said 10 him with smile:
Il see that you admire my costume. Would
| not have made good bishop Z
After the reception at the palace on the Eul'
pcror's birthday he went straight to the studio
without changing his uniform, which, for iull
dress, was entirely white.
'[ am more at home 10 that, he said, point
ing to the portrait in which he is painted in
uudress uuilcrm, "and still more at homo
here" he added with smile, as he took
chair 10 front Of the picture. Il can tell you,
that | am heartily glad to sit down after stand
iug SO loug at that cercmoni0us reception.
The Prince seldom gives dinner parties and,
OWNS, TO the state OF his health, rarely dimes
out. Mr.. IIcaly. however, was honorcd With
an invitation to diuc with the family and a few
quests. He was seated bct~ecn the Prnce
and Princess at table and was greatly interested
by the Chanceor's conversation, which con
sisted principally Of anecdotes Of his early liie
# should be stated that Prince Bismarck and
his family speak Eoglish aud French fuently
and, indeed, automatically This contributed,
of course, very much to the comfort and ease
of our artist, whose stock OF German Is OF the
most limited kind
MIR. Healcy describes the Princes: as tall.
| graceful woman of about tilly, with splendid
| eyes and features c0mblning strength With del,
| icacy Her manycrs arc most gracious ami
sympathetic. Her daughter is huc young
| woman, with dark eyes and hal! aud very
clear, pure compcxi9o. Her lace Ia q most Id
| ;ercsliug ouc and indicates great sweetness oi
character. The son is about twenty four and
has = strong resemblance to hi= father. Tic is
in the aruy ani is said to be young man Of
high a,lainmeuls. What l. mast to bc admlI cd
| in this family Is the great moIesty and amabl!-
| itv Of its maubcrs aud their apparent uncoG
| sriouspesg Of the value OF their exceptional 20.
|
stl0n.
90 the 23i Of March tic portrait was shown
to several officials aud friends of the family,
and appeared to give gencral satisfaction Ihc
Dsrou dc HoIstcn, an amIa5Ie young oficer at,
| tacbcd 10 the Princes household, who had
shown Mr. Hcaly the grcatct attention since
his arrival 10 Bcriiu, was cXlaVagant 10 his
praise Of it, and pronounced it IAN immen5c
success" The Prince, smiling ln his eDthusi-
asm, Inquired of the artist II he could make
COPY OF the work which would be as good as the
original? Mr.. Healy replied in the negative,
uulcss with the aid Of renewed slttlngs, and
then the copy could itself be called an original
Prince Bismarck inquired the price Of O copy
made under such circumstances. When the
sum was named he observed, with smile r. r.
That is cobbcE's fortuue. but my vile
says she would prefer it to anyjeWe-no mat
ter how vaiuable-that | could present her on
} her birthday, so it must be done. ~,
| a., Il,