The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-01-04
Death of the Man who had to Pay fO
Restoring the Column VendOme.

Gustav Conrbct, the wcll-known
French painter. has Just died in Swift
crland at the age of iifty-eight. lie was
Il painter OF ability and contrivcd in his
later years, partly by the affairs of the
Commune in 1871, partly by profession
al jealousics caused by them, TO gain Il
Worldwide notoricty. Alter the de-
chcdncc of September 4. 1870, Courbet
was named by the Republican govern
mcnt director of fine arts, sold one of
his pictures and with the proceeds had
east cannon, which he offered to the
committee of national defence. AZ
ter the outbreak of the Commune in
March, 1872, he was elected member
of that body, which charged him with
the rcopcning of the galleries and the
organization of the annual Salon. lie
was one ofthe minority which opposed
the creation of committee of public
safety, but on the 9th of April he urged
earnestly the carrying ont of decree
already passed on the 18th, ordering the
demolition of Nendomc Column. This
act, for which he has been so bitterly
censurcd, was not really to be attribut-
ed to political motives, for he had pro-
found hatred of the trophy from an ar
tistic point of view, deeming il wretch
eddy conceived and executed, u belief
i'll which he was by no means alone.
However, the energy and delight with
which he undertook the direction of the
work of demolition sufficed to earn for
him in popular esteem fatal reputation
but little inferior to that in which Ra-
oul, Rigault and Fcrrc were held.
Courbet was also a member Oft COM
mission charged with preserving the OBJ
jects of arts belonging 10 NJ. Thiers's
collection. Up to the last moment of
the Commune's existence he made one
of the moderate minority, which, view
ing with especial Indignation the re-
prisals instituted by the majority, main
tanned an opposition dangerous to the
Commune and which contributed ma
terially to its downfall. When the YER
sailles troops re-entered Paris Courbet
for some time concealed himself from
the search made for the Federal leaders
lie was arrested in June, and by mil
itary tribunal, which apparently did not
regard his offence by any means as I'M
layorably as had that section of the
press which had howled against him,
was sentenced to six months imprison-
ment. This sentence he underwent
the latter part Oft in hospital, his health
having badly broken down. The ultra
reactionary sheets, like the Figaro and
Gaulols, still pursuing him with their
clamor, the government instituted
against him n civil action to recover the
amount expended in restoring the Col
umn Nendome, obtained verdict for
the full amount, something in excess of
100000. 1t levied upon certain sums
due him by others, but finally COM
promise was made, giving him term
of years wherein TO discharge the in
debtcdncss. AS part of this same strife
may be mentioned Mcissoniers declar-
alton TO the jury charged with the ex-
animation of the pictures for the Salon
of 1872, that the pictures of NJ. Conrbet
should no longer be admitted, on the
ground of his connection with the Com
munc. This exclusion, which was in
spircd as much by professional spite rs
by patriotic sentiment. was carried.
When il was announced that Courbct
would contribute 10 the Exposition of
Paris this year, similar hostility was
manifested. After his liberation NJ.
COurbei made Switzerland his home.