Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-24
A Microscopic Painter.
THE METHOD AND PRECISION WITH WHICH MEIi
SONIER WORKS

Americans are well acquainted with Meisso.
nier's "lsO7," for which the late A. T. Stewart
on this painting, fact which will be readily
believed when his manner OF painting IS known.
Whatever be Its size, every figure he paints is
ire object Of special study The arm Of the
Ject OF series OF studies, each one of which Is
an admirable bit OF painting; the arm was not
decided upon until after he had tried seventeen
different positions, and had witnessed score
OF charges OF cavalry. No detail was put on
canvas that had not been repeatedly examin ned,
so that the picture represents over two hun
dred preliminary pictures. AS there was q dis
agreement between two veterans about the
color OF the collar Of the uniform worn by a
certain regiment, he spent week In various
Libraries In order to gather evidence about the
subject, and undertook journey to Bordeaux
to consult veteran surviving member OF the
regiment.
One cannot imagine how much pains his
"1S14," or the "RetreaJ from Moscow" as 1t Is
winter day the writer had gone to POissy TO-
gether with the celebrated art Critic Paul
Burty. 1t was showing, and there was foot
on the turret OF his chalet, seated in the war
costume OF Napoleon 1, on stuffed gray horse,
and painting the figure of the emperor as It
was rendered by large mirror that stood at
three hours, unmndful of the cold, and was
perfectly happy, as he said, because he had
found the sinister tones OF Russian landscape.
faul Burty Ventured to remark that as he had
already finished painting the landscape, he
might withdraw and continue his work in the
studio, without exposing himself to the same
disaster that overlook the "Great Army
"HOw could obtain In the STUDIO" Missioner
quite excitedIy rejOined, 'the right tone
and the true effect Of NapOleon's gray
coat in harmonious contrast with the
somber grays OF the sky and the SNOWY
carpet on the ground, and the just value
OF the flesh tones OF the emperors coun.
tenance, darkened by the dull atmosphere OF q
wtntry SKYE" 1t was there, on the top OF that
turret, that he completed what is perhaps his
masterpiece.
About month later the writer found Meisso-
nier in his studio Scraping the same figure OF
Napoleon, to paint which he had endured SO
many hours OF freezing temperature. "What
on earth are you doing now?" l asked, almost
DeW1ldered. IAN old servant OF the emperor
has been here" Meissonier replied, "who was
with him In Russia. He had tears in his eyes,
before my picture: After had coaxed him for
q long while to tell me whether he found any
thing tneXaC In the canvas the good old man
finally sad: During the campaign of Russia
his majesty wore the uniform OF the chasseurs,
not that OF the grenadiers. Moreover, his mai
esty never consented to have his epaulettes un-
fastened from his tunic. That VIII explain to
you why the arm-hOles OF his overcOat were sc
large had painted Napoleon in the uniform
side Of his coat. How could help doing what
l am now doing?" Thus, love OF truth oVerbal-
anced all other considerations, and MeissonieI
began studying anew the uniform OF the chaS
seurs, the effect produced by the epaulettes un.
der the overcoat and so on, until he obtained
the same perfection he had reached In the &C.
cess cries OF his previous PORTABILITY. Y. Sun,