The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-04
LEON 8BROME AND MS WAYS OF WORK
ING AND TEA CHING.


height Of his influence. Artists feared only his
silence. rs the latter meant for them oblivion
and death beyond resurrection. He was born
art critic in the highest sense Of the word. II
man ever was. His mind was opened to the
appreciation Of artistic beauty. no matter what
form il assumed. Good natured unprejudiced.
impartial. he would bring forth with few
strokes OF h Ia pen the merits OF painting no
matter whether II came from the brush Of a
classic or romantic painter from coioffst or
from an enemy OF color. He has been styed
the astronomer Of art criticism" Though
reverently Rlorifying the stars that shone in
fun over the artistic world. he more willingly
would direct his efforts to the discovery OF I'M
known stare. He was never 30 happy M when
amid the immense numbers Of cnnvases that
covered the walls OF the Paris salons. he could
discover some hidden gem that had remained
unnotced and uniustly dealt with by hanging
committees. The Paris Salon Of 18i7 bad Just
opened. The Roman OrRie." ny Couture had
set the city wild. Newspapers magnihed more
AMI more every day the SUCCESS OF thus painter.
They all thought that there was nothing else
worth mentioning. so much did COutures can
vas excel as they believed, all other works in
the exhibition when a criticism bearing the slg
nature Of t. Gautipr appeared in La Presse.
which boldly warned Parls,ans against Couture
exaRgerntlons. The year lS4I." he conclud-
ed, will. however mark u memorable date IN
the annals % French art. A great painter Is
will be famous. He is called Leon Gcrone."
Snort sighted ~ he was, Thcophile GHuter
mn nlsc go am2ng ths eayas.s near tnS
Fight" and he had drawn n sensational pen
and ink sketch OF II. such M he alone could do,
From the morrow critics and laymen crowded
around G6r6mes first essay. 1t seemed a reve-
latIOn To all. and the artist had already attained
celebrity. The Jury. making AN exception. re-
considered their verdict. and awarded Gerome
an extra prize. H. was then % years old and
did not know Gautier even by sight Ger0me
~ nf NnAL n
his. and often We have heard HIM repeating:
But for my father and Theophie Gauticr
would, perhaps. have remained in obscurlty my
Jean Leon G6r0me was born at vesoul. In the
Department Of La Haute SaOne. on May IL, 1924.
His father was goldsmith In comfortable err
cumstances and quite AN artist in his trade.
and II was his ambition to make his son n law.
yer or physician. The boy was sent TO school
TO vex his soul with Latin and Greek authors.
for whom he had no TASTE az the time, but whom
he studied very carefully afterward when he
intended 10 try hia hand ut historical painting.
The Impressions gained In early youth from
the study Of the classics, he will say. when
questioned upon the subject, are more poeti-
cal, and accordingly best suited to the purpose
OF painter. when one studies them later IN
life. one Is liable to grasp rather the archteo-
logical than the poetical aspect Of Greek and
Roman lie." His historical paintings are per-
haps AN Illustration Of the truthiulness OF his
remarks AT all events, II the boy did not be-
come proficient scholar In Latin and Greek.
he proved he excellent draughtsmHn by
ing at the public school OF Vesoai. The dream
of his soul ut the age OF fifteen was a box Of
colors He so tormented his father in order To
have one that tho latter finally yielded. aud on
his return from trip TO Paris brought him the
longed-for box. The event decided the young
mans career. That night Gerome did not 40
To bed Having retired to his room, he passed
II in experimenting with colors, and curly next
morning ne was Installed IN the parlor OF the
house before a stray canvas Of Dseamps that
had accidentally found its way thither. lew
days later the copy young Gerome had made Of
II was topic OF general conversation in the
village. An intimate friend Of Paul Delaroche.
himself great connolsseur OF paintings. hap
pened to be AT Vesoul on visit TO some acquaint-
ance. He saw the picture. and the old gold
smith was readily persuaded by him 10 send
his son TO Paris; Young Gerome shortly started
Paul Delaroche and $40. upon which he was to
live for year
The school OF Delaroche at the Academy OF
Fine Arts was at the time, the best " which
young man could gain admission. Ii wns ut
tended by sixty pupils. some OF whom had al
ready alta ned reputation. Before year was
over. Gerome had. however. won the sympa-
tines OF both teacher and fellow pupils. 50 lar.
indeed. rs to become a kind OF n leader among
the latter regards art as well as mischief.
Very attentive To his duty during work hours.
no, IKE the others, was unnianageablo in the
hours devoted tO recreation. They all were
constantly playing tricks upon one another. the
inventive genius Of Gerome surprising in
this connection that Of his 9omrades more than
in matters of art. Occasionally blows were ex-
changed and duels were fought the issue of
which was sometimes no trifiing matter. Della
70 he IN vain endeavored to maintain strict
discipline in the school Every day his pupils
promised him to behave. but no sooner was he
out OF sight than the trihtng began anew. Al
last something happened which caused the
death OF ono Of Delaroche's youngest pupils.
The muster closed the school. discharRing ali
the pupils without making any distinction be-
tween innocent and culprns. Gcrome was AZ
that time on visit at Yesoul. but his Alib was
said the old man 10 him: have had enough
of them. You will enter Drollings 3 hool
aud prepare yourself for the competition
OF Rene. The young man insisted and
begged In vain. but he was so earnest In
his appeals that Delarocho. embarrassed by
his entrraties. finally sud: could not tnke
you. even II / wished. | am To take charge OF
the Academy Of the Villa Medici' at Rome"
will not 40 10 Drolling's." was der6me's re-
ply, do not care 10 have two b'achrrs. |
Will accompany you TO Rome. il YOU will allow
M 10 do SO. will follow YOU. IL you do not
With $40 am sure can live at Rome since
lt-decide." The lonyed- for Come escaped
rs masters lips, and G6rome went with him,
ne remained AT home one year. II was there"
ne WIS wont to say that learned how little
knew about painting" Modesty being prom
inent feature Of his character. he repeats To-day
u his friends that he knows us little about his
art as he did when he WAS only 90. That
year he worked most earnestly vel more from
nnture in the studio and outdoors than in mu-
s"uns He WIS IN the habit Of painting most
rapidly ana wei say some OF his fellow stu
merciessly erased with the knife landscapes
such IA many painter would have taken pride
IN signing, eNelaming with COMPLETION. THAT
which is done quickly cannot be done we'll /"
This IL ono Of the fundamental precepts ac-
cording To which he has shaped his manner OF
painting. and ho is never tired OF repeating il
10 his pupils.
GerOme had now spent almost five years with
Dcaroche and his father. "A practical man had
seen no substantial result Of the sacrifices
which he had made for the education Of his SON
Dehroches letters Ia the goldsmith were very
niirrlng 10 the Young man, and aroused the
formers ambition. You made a good copv"
old GerOme WIS saving to his son the very
FIRST day You had n box Of colors ut your service.
and IN nye years you have produced nothing
ihal VIII not do, You must set yourself imme-
diaiely 10 comp.te for the Prize Of Rome and
prove to me that You have done something else
thnn Ia Head the life Of Bohemian" The SER
mon WIS so often repeated that G6rdne per
celyeI that he had no course but To comply
win his fathers desire, though his moIrsty
ana umidtty made him shrink from entrrint,
inc contest. As III" testimonial Of n master liv-
ing IN France was needed for permission 10
compete. GerOme r"turned 10 Paris and entered
bleNrrs studio, where he remained three
months. Most successful In the trinl of sketch
my, ne Jailed in printing the nude and the
pfi1' 81 home was awarded 10 another artist
70 thbhnel, n our memory serves us right
FAILURE stirred his feelings his father as
matter OF course. adding fuel TO the fire Bogun
rs mere study 81 tho nude the Two nrnrss
ne lhcn printed. became nftrrwnrd the
Cock Fight " which made him famous. TimLnl
GGr ',, .Rat GeFome was far from being salts.
hrd win this work. ~ try TO paint like an
honest man" he said to Dclnroohe. To- whom
n had submttcd his picture; hut / feel
al