Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-08
PARIS AND lRT.
TIE GRAND MEDAL AND HOW IT WAS
AWARDED THIS YEAR.
The Grand Prix-A Partisan Fashion-The
Legend Of Pygmalion Dramatized
"A Chinese Story Notes.

ior painting was tLls yeai given 10 MI
Merot for his "Good Samaritan" the only
picture he exposes this year. He is hors
concoors, although few persons were fan,il-
lar with his works, and even this picture
excited but slight attention from the
public, as the subject is not uncommon and
contains but two figures. The judges,
more accustomed to approaching artistic
merit, understand how to look at pictures,
and perceive of course qualities which do
do not Immediately strike others. This
picture is quite large, being meters 60
centimeters high, and meters 5 cent?.
metres long, and in order to see it well
and perceive the effects intended one must
take his stand from another room, the door
of which is just opposite. Then the rocks
in the background, instead of being piled
one on the other, extend far into the dis
lance and suggest grandeur and sublimity.
THE GOOD SAMARITAN
Is an old man slightly covered, supporting
by his two arms wounded man whom be
endeayors to hold on mule as they de-
scend the mountain. The wounded man is
almost naked, and has his head bound round
with white cloth, The mule is wonder
fully life like, and seems about to step out
of the frame the water here and there
between the rocks on the ground is clear
and limpid, and refreshing to look at !; the
muscles of the good Samaritan suggest
wonderful vigor, and in color the whole re-
sembles the style of Bonnat, and is what
is called la grande peintRre. The majority
Of the public thought that this medal
painted an immense picture of Cain fleeing
from his conscience accompanied by his
household. The idea is taken from verses
of Victor Hugo and is terribly dramatic /;
besides there are numerous figures in the
picture, all larger than life.size, but the
scene is one horrible to gaze at and is
sufficient to give one the nightmare. Be
sides that, combined with its numerous
qualities, the picture contains some imper-
fections. In fact, at the first preparatory
balloting, Mr.. Cormon received nine votes,
Mr.. Morot four, and Bastien Lepage two.
AT the first turn Morot received eighteen
votes, and Mr. Cormon fifteen at the
second, Morot twenty-seven, and Cormon
sixteen at the third Mr. Morot received
twenty eight votes and Mr.. Cormon four.
teen, so that it may be seen the battle was
between these two. The public, however,
on reflection ale more than pleased with
the division of the jury, and, in fact never
has jury as on this occasion of the award
ing of prizes manifested so much Justice
and impartiality. Mr.. Morot has made
WONDERFUL PROGRESS
In lis art, for he is young man compare
lively, and the rapidity with which he has
gathered the prizes along his road proves
the amount of talent he must have started
out with. He obtained the pric de Rome
in 1878; this prize is never given but to
quite young men, who are then sent to
Italy to study during a number of years.
He received a third class medal in 1878, a
second, class in 1877, and first-class in
1879. Now he has reached the Grande
Medallle dHonneur, which is generally a
fruit SO high on the tree that one is rarely
able to pluck it before having reached a
wonderful hight in the estimation of his
fellow artists One of the four first-class
medals was given to Mr. Dagnan-Bouveret
for picture de genre, representing the in
terror of peasants house, where is seen a
little boy, who has met with an accident,
having his arm bandaged by the doctor
The principal object is wash. bowl nearly
filed with blood, which of course first con-
tanned water, a portion of the towel has
fallen in the bowl, and the whole presents
so much reality that no one has yet APP
rrra,ba1 4bo xrifhn,,4
preston to abs more or less audible. The
mother sits by the bed in corner weeping
the father, seated on the opposite side OF
the table, watches the doctor with an
anxious look An old woman, apparently
kind neighbor, cuts strips of cloth upon
the table, and the teamster who was the
cause Of the accident stands near by with
sorrowful face The little boy s countenance
is wonderfully expressive of resolution and
interest in the operation in spite of his pale
face. The details are carefully treated
even to the cat under the bed. This
picture, called "L'Accident," has been
the great success of the salon. and every
one in Paris has had much to say about
that marvellous g bowl of blood" One of
the other frst-class medals was awarded to
Mr. Lerolle, whose picture possesses the
modest title of ''Dans la Champagne" The
picture is very large and represents vast
field, with clump of tall, naked trees,
with ash looking trunks, in the center,
whose delicate tints, however, prevent the
eye from being drawn away from the land
scape. In the foreground is young peas
ant glrl walking and holding green branch
behind her, which one of number Of sheep
who follow her is nibbling at far off in
the fields a man is seen blowing. The
whole picture is
MOST BEAUTIFU1,
Filled with light, harmony and truthful
ness which leave a lasting impression. An
other one of the first-class medals was
given to Mr.. Cazen for his Ismael,
which may be very fine, but which, aside
from the poetical intention, cannot dis
cover all the merits attributed to it. The
picture is large, and represents vast de-
sert of sand and rocks; scarcely detached
from this is seen slight and small look.
ing woman, with her face covered with
her hands, against whom leans a naked
boy, with arms raised in consoling atti-
tude. The boy is most beautifully drawn
and fine in color, but there seems so little
body to the woman, and she would easily
be taken for half-starved washerwoman,
yet the effect of desolation is good, and the
color of the sand is excellent Mr. Cain
is particularly appreciated for his original
ity and his genre, which belongs to him.
One of the second class medals was accord
ed to Mr.. Dantan for his picture, which
is quite remarkable one, represent
ing an artist, with back to audience
and chisel in hand, carving at vast mar
BILE bas relief, whose design is clearly rem
lered and figures exquisitely detached as
difficult as such thing may be in paint
ing, for the picture is not large and the bas
relief counts numerous figures In the
foreground, at one side, sits the model,
with a small scarf thrown around
the lower part of her body, and
who gazcs at the artist with much
attention. The figure of the model is
beautifully nodded and exquisite in color.
Another of the second class medals was
given to Mr.. Bernard for picture titled
l.. nofo