Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-11-21
The Two Portraits.


Beautiful, beautiful,'' exclaimed
Earnest Lavalle, as, throwing himself
back in his chair, he contemplated
with eyes half shut, lovely counte-
nance that smiled on him from canvas,
10 which he had just added few hesi-
tating touches. 1t was but a sketch
little more than outline and dead color
ing, and misty haze seemed spread
over the face, so that il seemed vision
like and intangible. The young painter s
exclamation was not addressed to his
workmanship-he was not even look
ing at that faint image; but through its
medium, was gazing on lineaments as
rare and fascinating as ever floated
through a poets or an artists dream.
Deep, lustrous blue eyes, in whose
depth sincerity and feeling lay crysta-
lized; features rs regular As those of a
Grecian statue; a lip melting, ripe, and
dewy, half eoncealing, half revealing,
line Of pearls: soft brown hair, de-
scending in waves upon neck and
shoulders of satin surface and Parian
firmness. Such were some of the ex-
teinal traits of lovlincss belonging to
"a creature not too bright and good
For human natures daily food"
who had completely actualized the
ideal of the young Partisan artist, into
,r-b,-a s-,,Ifn y-a ba,-a i,+rnJuaaJ our
readers. The fair original, whose por-
trait is before US, was Rose'd Amour, a
beautiful actress of one of the metro
pOlitan theatres, who had just made her
debut with distinguished success There
was quite a romance in her history. Of
unknown parents she had commenced
her career. like the celebrated Rachel,
as a street singer, and was looking for
ward to no more brilliant future, when
her beauty, genius and purity Of char
acter attracted the attention of dis
tinguished newspaper editor, by whose
benevolent generosity she was enabled
to prepare herself for the stage, by two
or three years of assiduous study. The
success of his prOtege more than repaid
the Kind patron for his eXertions and
expenditure.
\ word of Ernest Lavalle, and it
shall suffice. He was the son Of
humble vine dresser in one of the agri-
cultural departments of France. His
talent for drawing, early manifested,
the notice of his parish priest,
whose earnest representations induced
his father to send the boy TO Paris, and
give him the advantages afforded by
of art. In the great city,
Ernest allowed none of the attractions,
by which he was surrounded, 10 divert
him from the assiduous pursuit of his
beloved art. Ills mornings were passed
in the gallery of the Louvre, his after
moons in private study, and his even
ings at the academy where he drew
from casts and the living model. The
only relaxation he permitted himself
was an occasional excursion i'm the pic
furesque environs of the French capital;
and he always took his sketch book
with him, thus making even his pleas
ure subservient to his studies. Two
prizes obtained, for a drawing and a
picture, secured for him the patronage
Of the academy, at whose expense he
was sent TO Italy, TO pursue his studies
in the famous galleries of Rome and
Florence. He returned with mind
mbued with the beauty and majesty of
the works of those great masters, whose
glory will outlive the canvas and
marble which achieved it, determined
to win for himself a niche in the temple
IF Fame, or perish in his laborious ef-
forts to obtain il. At this time he was
N his twenty-second year a vigorous
was his heritage; and his
cheek glowed with the warm
,oIor of health. His strictly classical
features were enhanced by the luxuri-
tnce of his hair, which he wore flowing
n its native curls, while his full beard
md moustacbe relieved his face from
he charge of effeminacy.
Ernest was yet engaged in the con-
emplation of the unfished work-or
-ather of dreaming of the bright orlgl-
lal-when light tap was heard at MS
loor. He opened it eagerly, and his
poor studio was suddenly Illuminated, |
is it were, by the radiant apparition oil
Rose d'Amour. She was dressed with
charming simplicity, which well be-
.ame a sylph like form, that required
10 adventitious aid from art.
Good morning, Monsieur Lavalie!
aid the beautiful actress, cheerfully,
Is she dropped gracefully into the
'aateaH prepared for her reception.
You find me in the best possible
lumor to-day, thanks to this bright
sun, and to the success OF last
night. Non Dieu, so many bouquets!
you can't think, Really, the life of an
lrtiste begins to be amusing. Don't
you find it so, as painters
Il confess TO you mademolsehe'
have my moments of despondeucy.