The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-04


been announced, and G6r6me intended to offer
the world something great. both as regards
could do in the line of "grande peinture," and
he selected ne his subject The Age OF Angus
lus." which he proposed to treat IN canvas OF
ten metres by eight He undertook q journey
TO Russia. in company with n friend. his pupil
Lelor. in order to study ~ far NJ possible from
nature the barbarHns that we're to crowd the
vrstbule Of Augususs pnlace-ngures each
one Of which Is indeed masterpece. The
plan. G6r6me was compelled to abandon Inc
idea OF directing hrs strIs TO the wild regions
OF ukraine, and to content himself with de-
landing OF the steamer TINT 1oatcd them
down the lower part # the river. the two artists
Using on their Instruments sOmu patriotic
march. shall never forget hose musicians"
years after the incest NC mad taken place. "The
IMPRESSION that their picturesque rags pro-
duced upon me- Ia something that no one but an
artist can understand. Had / not sketched
them ON the spot believe 1t would have made
no difference. see them to-day as clearly Hs N
l. how G6r6me" writes Monsieur dc Tarbal.
having started from Par for the purpose oI
draw ng the vassals Of old Rome met the actors
Of n little page OF contemporary history the
modest figures Of which eclipsed. alas those
of Bruius and Nrgi that he had placed in his
0vershndowed by lis neighbor Homeris
Apotheosis.' but the Russian Musicians could
be- eclipscd by no other painting"
Rendered wiser by these failures. he deter
mined upon demanding once more the inspira-
ton OF the Eastern nation. and started on Q
Journey to Egypt, We would call him the ORR
entalist par ercetlenre; his Oriental paintings
have undoubtedly not tho sonbre and sinister
touch of Marihat they have. by no means the
luminosity Of those of Drcamps the Neronese-
like color NJ the works oi Delta roix or the poeti-
cal sUituess OF thosr oi Eromentin; but he II the
trurst and most complete OF painters who de-
scenery. Nothing is artificial in his renditions
they are all thoroughly real. He looks nj
everything with AN iiuiassive and serene eye;
hence his eXactness his lrmncss. those quali-
ties, in short. that give his paintings the au-
thority OF genuine and untmpeachgble dOeu-
menis; Gerome II not specialist; he has not
reproduced any peculiar feature Of lie in the
East, he has reproduced II entirely according al
the fancy or the route he was following sug-
gesi"d to him..
HIS own works TO which Ger0me Is most par
tial are Alter tho Bal Almeen which he
regrets that he ever sold; His Grey Eminenee,"
. Phryne.' and RemDrandt in his studio"
ment, 80 deep "A critical power and such u thor
ough knowledge OF his own capabilities. as 10
very seldom to be met Ia an artist.
GerOme is eminently man OF order and
method in everything. HIS step IL M regular
hs the MOTION Of penduluu; he walks straight
and almost stln. HIS attire is invariably ~
neat smooth. and elegant as his canvascs. His
Prince Albert coat H. always buttonsd up 70
the neck the bow Of his neck tie is always
geOmetricaly ARRANGED; his iron-gray goves
are always fresh, and his silk hat always as
shining AS though 4 had been bought but few
moments before HIS lace II strong. float urtd
and rather bony and yet IL is full OF charm and
goodness. Eyes o. fire. u large brow. XII say
N
mMcstc though uuassumlnR counter nco will
completo his portrait. such II the man. and
such the painter. In his painting Disorder
Itself Is orderly arranged: everything there IL
neat and symmetrical; the blood flows there
regularly rags are elegant. coguettish. Without
ceas ng to be real rugs +; everything Is finished
rs carefully in his paintings ms IN hia DIR 'ssing;
not gram OF dust on his coat. not slot on his
anvases an exquisite care OF every detail, and,
AT the same time that j. ne sdiS qHOL robust
naughty and energetic. that distinguishes the
painters cOuntenanco.
Ftf.a r..f utpft
at the Academy IN 1868, and was elected n mem
bar OF the Academy in 1865 to l the seat Of
lS4i, two second medals in 1913 and 1855. q
medal Of honor at the Universal Exhibition oil
1867. and another In 1874. He WIS elected
Chevalier OF the Legion OF Honor in 1905, pro-
NOTED TO the degree Of Officer OF the order in
1867. aud recently 10 that OF Commander, since
become u very domestic man. sincerely devoted
70 his wife and children. So fond is hc OF the
after that. though an enemy Of noise and q
slonally playing and ups.tting everything In
his studio. He is tho most mrthodica OF men
We nave ever known; his servants will Tell you
a any time where he IL and what he IL doing.
lie rises quite enrly. plays with his children,
takes cup OF coffee, reads his paper, writes q
few letters e. the hard task. rs he styles this
occupationl. has chat with his loving wife.
and then, proceeds. about 8 o'clock. TO his
studio. For the last twenty-five years he has
always brrakfast,i at IL o'clock at eat6 In
La hoehelaucauld street. where he meets hia
dearest friends, Jalab-rt and Boulanger. he
resumes work at and prints until 3, when he
rides on horseback IN tho Bots de Bou ogna an
exercise OF which he is extremely fond. and
IN which he indeed eXcrls the best pnrlsian
riders, He returns home Al D. studies and reads
until dinner time, aud finally spends his even-
lngs with methodical alienation. studying. re-
eeNing, or visiting his friends but always with
his vile; THIS routine IL subject to some varia-
ton in the days in which he hns to attend 10 hiO
lesson at the Academy of Fine Arts where no
Will invariably arrive Il, 20 or - minut, past g.
and remain until ten. lie spends the Surfing
and summer months nj his picturesque country
arrive ut the Academy exactly at the same hour
rs II ne came from his city residence. ana ride
Oark To liougival ~ IN the afternoon.
In both his studlns-in the city and In the
countrE-the same 5 systematic iran cement pre-
Nails. The Iorner Is situated on the ton floor OF
house IN Brussels street mo g. with windows
looking on the Boulevard OF Clichy Most fan
tastlc II the appearance Of the staircase leading
thereto. with the Japanese and Chinese paint-
inRs GA ilk.yases and Uronzts Of Eastern origin
fcrsian hanglngs, and Indian tapestry of tho
most costly Kinds that envslop the spiral flight
OIL steps. Tine studio Itself Is n large squnFo
room. with high ceiling AMI n large window
through which the light is equally distributed
10 every part OF tho room. There are no dark
corners no play oil shade anywhere. everything
appearing MS neat as the authors paintings.
ms Dust by Carrnux occupies the pace OF
honor. not out OF respect to himself. as Geromo
VIII readily tell the visitor. but out OF consider
alton Tor III master who made II and the artistic
value OF the memorial. Gohelins tapestry and
Turkish rugs. brouzrs. and marbles n b,auti-
iul model OF a Venetian boat a collection OF
4Tri-a-n iac OF me most exquisite character.
pieces Of furniture, armors and arms OF all ages
and nationalitlcs, few paintings, some nowers
aud some cmhroderies 10y Madame Gerdme
all disposed in artistic arrangement form the
Die oi the room in which this great artist
passes most of his time. At BOugiynl things
assume quite a different character. Tho land
scApe around Is SO enchn nting that Gtrome
To ENJOY II more fully. had his studio constructed
OF glhss framed in iron. which enables him To
paint outdoor effects without stirring rom his
studio. A rustic elegance prevails in this room
VOL IN Keeping with the surroundings.
GcrOme Is a generous man, who IL ALWAYS
ready 10 assist his fellow artists; OF amiabls
disposition, though occasionally quick tenn
prr"di modest and almost unconscious of hia
artistic power, he speaks with enthusiasm Of
many 81 his fellow painters, and very severely
about his own works particularly admiring the
qualities that he does not pOssess He will
teccumnend his pupils Ia beware Of exercises
hul 10 study Fortuny. of whom he is "A decided
adhlltrr. lie ~ very witty and interesting
conNersat loLalist, hut by no means great
Wlker. Always ready to admit visitors he pre-
lels To work undisturbed; re is keen critic
anu an eloquent speaker on art matters and
pethhps no otner painter keeps his ears go open
~ ne does sensible criticism or shows HIM
s'll SO ready to abide by the verdict OF compe-
~ VIII prove Interesting to add few words
IN MS muhherot painting and teaching Horace
NVThtt Wns wont 10 say that Gcr0mo saw his
painting finished before he hud put a touch OF
1rush on canvas, aud the saying is MOST trua.
}. Inc