Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-30
The Greatest Living French Painter.

Inc greatest Living French Painter.
Personally Meissonier is man whom
1t Is difficult to describe. Picture 10
yourself "A little bit Of fellow, as
brisk and merry as If he was listening
TO some stimulating music, TO which
all other ears were deaf. On this body
iof a dwarf is set magnificent head
a head that Is almost that of vision
ary-with long locks of waving and
snowy white hair, and with a long
beard as white rs the hair. lie reminds
you of one Of those pcrsoniGcations Of
rivers in which the ancients delighted.
or, rather, of one Of those musinp faith
ers Of the earth that Coysevox has
carved for us under the thick linden
trees Of the park at Versailles. when
one looks at this imposing head and
venerable beard, one entirely
loses sight Of the slender body
that ends in pair of trousers
like those of the English horse
trainer. Learned and witty 10 the nj
most limit, and, like true Partisan.
fond Of ridiculing everything, with a
sharp eye 10 his own glory the great
painter is more interesting within the
walls Of his studio, surrounded by the
tokens Of his work The studio is an
enormous one, and fairly flooded with
light. IL is well stocked with pictures.
incomplete sketches, precious furni-
ture. arms and hangings tbs 50 large
that even the Marriage Of Cana" could
have been painted in it with ease. and
yet it IS here that Meissonier touches
and retouchcs, with religious patience,
those diminutiye pictures that the
amateurs are 50 glad TO cover with
gold pieces and bank notes. In spite
Of its size the studio is arranged with CO.
qucttishnc5s that is almost feminine.
Here and there on the arm-chairs and di-
vans are negligcntly cast clothes Of rich
ly ycolorcd yclyets. "A muskctcer's hat with
its white, trailing plume, a theatrical
sword with an elaborate carved hilt.
pile Of brilliantly colored silks and
Eastern stuffs. Everywhere, drawn
up in line, on cascls, hanging on the
walls and even resting against the
tables, pictures and quartcttes, which
We never grow tired Of admiring. Tho
work Of the artist that IS now the
furthcst advanced represents two
lovers singing "A duet. The man.
draped in a purple simarrc. is allowing
his fingers 10 wander over the keys Of
an organ. while his head is thrown
back toward her who stands beside
him. The picture contains all the
charm Of a mystic ode, all the tender
ness Of two hearts which are filed
with but one and the same feeling.
The red and green cylors in the
picture are as dazzling as oriental
goods spread out In the intense glare
of an Eastern sun. The master chats
pleasantly with such visitors and
friends as come in. Ills voice is clear,
but. At the end OF his sentences it bs-
comes weak. and has some almost
childish infections. lie taught easily
and readily, and, from force Of habit.
can listen gravcly and calmly To the
hyperbolical praises that are so prodi-
gally bestowed upon him and his work.
Mcissonicr does not content himself with
being one Of the great contemporary
masters. lie is. also. as learned a col
lector Of rare old books rs any bihlio-
pbilist Of the institute It is by study
ing those that he is enabled to produce
in his pictures such faithful representa-.
tons of the centuries that have
vanished, and Of scenes Of adventure
and chiyalry that have been forgotten
hy the common herd.