New-York tribune., 1882-03-04
mercial supremacy, she must do her best and
do it without delay.
LIREL IN WATER-C R-COLORS.

a
Paris is a city that laughs easily, but if the
bouleyards were in o litter q fortnight ago
there was reason for 1t. An ingenious artist
had succeeded in making so imposing per-
sonage as NJ. Alexandre Dumas the victim OF
libel in water-colors. N. Jacquct had been
fattered by the notice which was taken OF
one of his pictures by so distinguished con-
noisseur, and had sold it for what he consld-
cred a song, making the sacrifice under the
impression that it would be permanently ex-
hibited by his patron. The academician either
got tired of the picture or was anxious to
drive sharp bargain, for he sent the picture
to dealer and got $4,000 for it, which was
considerably more than he had paid for it.
NJ. Jacquet happened to have i'll his veins
blood that was warmer than his own water
colors. Enraged at having his gift-horse not
only looked in the mouth, but traded of on
the boucvards, he thought only OF revenge.
Arming himself with the only weapon known
to his craft, the brush he painted Nj. Dumass
portrait in Hebrew pedler's curiosity shop
and sent it to the WaterColOr Exhibition
under the title of " Portrait of n Jewish Stall
keeper at Bagdad." The Hanging Committee,
recognizing the portrait at a glancc-and, in
deed, it is said to have been remarkable
likeness-were unwilling to receive it, and NJ.
Dumas, being informed OF the liberties taken
with his well-known lineaments. demanded its
removal but NJ. Jacquct had right, as
member of the Society, to a certain amount of
wall-space, and insisted that the picture must
not be disturbed. Accordingly, NJ. Dumas was
unveiled before laughing Paris as an Oriental
Hebrew and pcture-p -pedler, and for a season
was fairly stared out of countenance.
The acadcmican naturally appealed to the
courts for redress, but before his application
could be considered his son-in-law, NJ. Lip
mann, who was the artists neXt-door neigh
Dor, had taken the law into his own hands.
Entering the salon where the watcr-cOlOrs
were on exhibition, he made his way to the
offensive picture, and, before the bystanders
could interfere, succeeded in wrcaking his
vengeance upon it. He smashed the
glass and thrust his cane through the
picture in several places, attacking it
with such III directed vehemence that
the head of his father-in-law escaped nm
harmed. Although there were rumors i'll the
evening of an impending duel between the
artist and the ruthless destroyer of his work,
it is probable that the closing scenes OF this
amusing art comedy will be enacted i'll Court.
NJ. ,Jacquet talks of suing NJ. Lipmann
for $4,000 damages, and NJ. Dumas. who
seems to have had no part in his son-in-
laws marauding expedition, has already OBJ
tained a provisional order for the removal
of the picture from the salon pending
proceedings to determine whether its destruc-
ton shall not be completed on the ground that
it is a libel on private character and artistic
| ,1ai, fnr n,r.a-
will hold.
Whether NJ. Jacquet succeeds or fails in his
effort to make his next-door neighbor pay him
for the mutatcd picture is not matter of
public concern. Whatever may be the award
for damages, he will profit by an exploit that
has made him known throughout Paris, for
the public will rush to see his next picture
and will pay for it well. What is of more
pressing interest is the bearing of the law
of pictorial libel. For it is not the ingenious
| and malignant artist alone who Is guilty OF
| pictorial libel. The spring exhibitions at our
| own Academy have borne evidence to the fact
| that ignorance as well as malice can wreak its
vengeance upon innocent victims that are
made, sometimes inane. Oftener revolving, on
| canvas. Too many times on those walls have
we seen eminent juIists transformed into
retired pirates, or revered clcrgymcn into
transparent imbeciles, by fashionable portrait
| painters whose best intentions have been
distorted by the worst art. Victims of the
modern art of portraiture in all civilized
countries will breathe more freely II NJ
Dumas can induce n Paris court to decide
not only that the picture must be destroyed
| but that the artist must pay round sum IN
damages for the indguity of making him look
like himself and a Hebrew pedler as well.