The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-12
TWO GREAT ARTISTS.

| JEAN L T. MEIsSON1ER-JNo. EVERETT MILLAIS
The annual Of Phrenology pu blishes portrait,
and sketches of the two greatest painters Of
| the age We reproduce the sketches:
The portraits represent two pal n ters, each il
the foremost rank of the artists of his country
Perhaps our reader has more frequently heard
OF the Frenchuan, NJ. Meissonier as he is deem
| likeness of Meissoner shows combina.
tion of the mental and motive tempersmenty J.
with fair support from the vital. The motive
temperament is very strongly marked and has
| prominent influence in his mental disposition.
Character of a most forcefnl sort is N pressed
upon his portraits; everything about that or
gan ZA6ion is endowed with emphasis. His
every movement and word, all his thoughts
and purposes are as pu u"itive as a clenched fst
may be said to be, as compared with the open
hand; yet the features have ertan quality
ef fneneos aboat them which Indicates eIeya-
tion, rein ement, spirit activity.
Notice the eye; how full, sharp, intense His
power of expression in words is al once conf
ous and concise. There 10 capability for the
lingpist, yet too mnca positiVenees for the
teacher, s,ill he i3 able to express his opinions
m ore clearly and effectively than most men.
He has hiEb temper, yet we think that he
rarely qIArTes with thoss who are Gcq1ailtsd
with hIm, as ii Is natarai for his associates to
eudeavor to adapt the emIelveI to bis ways and
opinions. Indeed, he molds aud fashions his
surroundings to his own puTposes, and people
instinctiveiy adapt themselves to bim. As
"
minstioD. His tirmness and courage, combined
with his ambition, tend to the acq uisition of
whatever he may desire. He is organ ID GER
tainly on high-pressure principle, yet well
centered, steady, and able to control his force
rarely losing poiee and steadir ess Of aim. With
such orgau'Z stion, it is not q marvel that
Meissonisr has achieved SO much celebrity in
his ohoser sphere.
Jean Louis Ernest Messonier was born in
Lyons, France, in 1911 or 1Sl3-the precise
date not being known. He commenced the
ofr. 4 Nfo IL = f.
cided prediction for it; wss sent to Paris for
the purpose, and there received instruction |
from N. Leon Colmiet and others, In 1876 he |
exhibited picture entitled Little Messen-
GER" which drew attention to his peculiar |
as painter. DevotinR himself |
10 one class of treatment, he has become per-
naps the most popular and the best paid ofliy-
ng French painters, and is said to have done
more than any other artist for the main lace
'r rather preeninence of the genre school.
Comparatively few of his works have been
brought to this country, except, however, in
site features are smallness of canvas and gceat
lelicacy and finish in execution. The artists
WE claims to fame rest upon the hneness or
loseDess of his observation and his manual
kill, and so uncommon are these qualities, and
o high the 1egree of excellence to which 9
as brought them, that he stands nnrivRled in
is own department among the painters of the
'orld. I
His canvases rarely exceed twenty inches |
9 quere-even " here numerous figures make mp
group. his figures are portraits faithful to
fe. 1t is said that his fidelity in this respect
'as attained from the habit of sketching the
lbjeots life-sizs first. Among his best known t
ictures arc '"The Chess Play ere, ;" "The Read {
=" "a Game of fPiquet," THE Painter in his 9
tudio," "The Skittle Players" "The Body Il
nsrd," and The Reading at Diderot's" Some g
stOrieal works have been wrought ont by il
m, to wit Tho Emperor St Solferino;" "Tbe "
barge of Cavalry" which was sold for some. s
ing like thirty Thousand dollars and is now z
vned by gentleman of CinoinDati "a Bar. p
cade, June, 1S45 !" Eighteen Hundred and Il
'ven," which wbs purchased by Mr.. A. T. o
ewart and sold shortly after the death of
at New York merchant.
has designed for several publioa- q,
1ns, notably, BSlzac's "Comedie Humane" b,
ID Paul and VrGinia." In 1S46 he was made 81
knight of the Legion of Honor, in 1868 q "
embsr of the French Institute and has also al
en honored by several decorations OF o char. A.
ter very highly esteemed in Europe, and ar
lich are the gifts Of royalty. ds