The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-11

Jean Louis Ernest Moissonlor was born 4

Cogniet when he was ~ years old, and Mt the |
age OF % his reputation rs a painter WINS al
ready established Ho WINS elected a member Of |
the Paris Academy OF Fine Arts in 1901 deco
rated with the Cross Of the Legion Of Honor in
1916. promoted to the degree OF officer in the |
order in 1856. and to that Of commander in |
1867. He has won moro medals Of honor in the |
great international exhibitions OF Europe than |
any other artist; he has been petted by kings |
and emporors and admired by thinkers be-
yond any OF his fellow painters. His works |
have commanded the highest prices. Artists. |
critics. and laymen have almost unanimously |
acknowledged him as n master. Millais has |
written that he is more complete than any old |
master ever was :" and Ruskin. who detests tho |
Dutch'school. has commended MISSIONER for
improving upon It. 1t is needless that should
dwell on tho merits OF this pantor's works.
There nre. however. features Of his life. both as
man and an artist. which arc not commonly
known. and these ! shall endeavor to illustrate
by means OF anecdotes which came to my per-
sonal knowledge during my FIVE years rcsi-
dence in Paris t1sG9 1874 when l had FREE
quent occasion to meet this artist, who has
found the secret OF painting so many great tab
loaux on 30 few yards Of canvas.
Meissoner lives at Poissy. in the vicinity OF
Paris. in a magnificent cottage he has built for
himself In an extensive and princely park. lie
rarely leaves his house and his studio. but has n
peculiar liking for his morning gown. which he
| wears almost invariably in his studio. 1t Is
always OF the same pattern such rs appears In
| the portrait OF himself that Melssoner exhib-
| tied at the Paris Exposition OF 1867. His hair
is iron gray; he is short. stout strong. and
younger looking than his years. His face be-
| speaks a mixture OF farmer. hunter. and artist.
| Tho same nrmness. sincerity. and robust Gle
1 ganee that characterize his paintings are
/ iii In fsatu ae
we'll Us In every motion OF his body. Mos-
sonier IL hard worker and his motto is
| perfection" He IL seldom satisfied with tho
work he has done. and / have found him often
or scrapinG than painting his canyases. He Ia
occasionally nervous and ill-humored. but
| when no is in an amiable mood. know OF no
painter more willing to chat. or whose CONVEX
saton is more solid and interesting. He thinks
a great deal OF himself but he IS also very lib
eral Of eulogy 10 many OF his fellow artists. AS
though contrast were the great law Of nature.
he Is the painter who speaks with the most on
thusiasm OF the passionate and broad genius Of
Delacrolx He Is never inactive; his hands
seem to be ever seized with the fever OF drawing
and painting: often. while the subject OF con-
versatiOn seemingly engrossos his attention. he
will take a pencil. sharpen 1t quickly. run it
rapidly over any scrap OF paper he can lay his
hand upon. and In a few minutes wonderful
sketch Is produced. without his having slack
ened for a second the natural flow OF words that
} is characteristics OF his conversation. When his
hands can do nothing else they caress the favor
ito hound that always lies at his feet. or comb
the painters thick beard. He manages boat
as skiltully as Alphonse Karr. tho immortal
author OF Les Guepes;" he rides like Bouch-
A. err lifts weights such rs Lttre would not dream
l Of moving. and shoots brace OF pigeons with
I as much nonchdiance as Capt BOgardus
I AIelssonier is very communicative about his
4 youth which. he says. WAS anything but an
( exemplary one." Il have boon very mis-
chieyous boy" he will add. with a sigh. and
. then relate some anecdOte illustrating that pe-
;. riod OF his life. Some extraordinarily charlta-
, Bile work had been performed by a Partisan
q crey6. which had called forth the highest COM
y mendations OF the Figaro Meissonier WAS
, | painting in his studio. while a friend read fol
, | him the paragraph referring 10 this noble az
3. ton. "Nonsenssl" exclaimed MISSIONER. the
! deed is. perhaps. nothing moro than restitu'
I tion." Tho writer OF this sketch could not for
I bear remarking that so much skepticlsm and
, passimsm was out OF place. when Meissoner
told us the following story:
=" | was about eighteen. and WAS still student
I at the Academy Of Lyons. On q cloar and
. | windy winter day was idly wandering with n
- companion through the remoiest part OF III,
= city Ii was IL o'clOrk-the dinner hour a.
a cording to tho patriarchal habits Of cur fathers
"A and tho strcot In which We were was almOs
i deserted. was lighting my Dipo with tindor
:. and flint. when standing by the door Of teno
g ment house | happened to notice tho mos
n peacoable donkey ever saw, yoked - "a WAGON
q Of common crockery. Tho itnernnt chin,
u seor had evidently entered the house will
!, some samples Of his ware Turning % M
/ companion asked: Would you like 10 81.
o that sleepy donkey wake Up and dance Mt one
y tho gidliest can-can you ever wltnessedF o
h course would. replied my sehoolmntc. smilin,
Il already at the prospect OF some fun: but
a. doubt whether Mephistopheles himself woul
Q have such power Let me speak one word I
d its ears and you shall see | replied. and the
"a approaching the poor animal, / dropped
e piece Of burning tindcr into one Of its ears
< Then as deemed 1t unsafe 10 remain on ul
Is spot we walked a short distance and stopped {
It see the results. Fancy tho braying. the wi,
+ running jumping, md capering OF tho unfor
10 tunate donkey. The wagon was overturnei
It and half the crockery few in a thousand pieces
% Attracted by the noise, the peddler and Tia
l. neghbors rushed for the street We laughe
ii no longer The china seller burst into tear
q and cries OF despair. That ware was all he pos
: sessed in the world. and the only means b
ii which he supported six children. Lend me a
?" your money. said 10 my friend. Fortunatel
|
7. sackine our pockets We were enabled I
% make the sum Of about three hundred frane
v which handed to the poor china pcddler sa}
y ing: We are sorry 10 have nothing more. an
a I was sorry indeed. We fastened away. a.
10 companied by the heartiest blessings Of tn
10 itinerant merchant and tho crowd that la
Il gathered around him. What a punishmel
n- were those blessings in my oars In the news
is paper next morning appeared the followin
y. local item: Our students OF the Acldem
x are continually giving Us fresh reason
al 10 be proud Of them. Yesterday, a don
IN Roy. becoming nexpcably wild. had W
e set a wagon Of crOckery To which II WA
yOked. and by breaking all the china ware o
the wagon had reduced 10 poverty It's owner III
father OF six children. Mr.. j. Maissoner an
"A friend who happened to pass by had the gen
crosby to give the peddler about three hundre
as francs. and walked away regretting that the
ui had no moro to give. Noble deeds such rs hi
'"a | Of the two young artists need no comment |
ed this way sometimes. history is written. and
a rascal that was. never had the courage 10 t.
~ tho TRUTH! Though nearly nifty years IN
ny | elapsed. Meissonicr in making this coniessiO
~ seemed To- fec the sting Of remorse most keen
al. | IT, and his gayety vanished. A short sienc
| ....ll HE mi krt.,. xuu