, 1883-08-18

luerty. Au revOir.n
The moment his visitor had left
the studio Wiertz, seized palette and
brushes, placed fresh canvas on his
easel, and dashed in the outlines of
the portrait from memory. He paint
ed as il for a wager while the sum-
mef daylight lasted, and, thanks to
bls marvellous rapidity of execution,
when evening came the picture was
all but finished.
JIG had represented the old notary
serted at table strewn with papers
and parchments, his full face turned
toward the spectator. The head was
brought out in mastery relieGagainst
l1adowed background, and, paint
( ~ - tie artists best styiey bold,
| flee and unconventional, showed no
signs Of its hurried execution. The
likeness was striking in its fidelity,
giving not only the features but the
character and expression Of the orig
inal, so that the canvas seemed in
stinct with life.
The following morning Wiertz
gave the finishing touches to his
work, put it in a frame and dis
patched 1t to Van Spach, instructing
the messenger to wait for an answer.
He rubbed his hands with pleas
ure as he pictured the old gentle
mans delight and astonishment, and
anticipated the sensation which this
tour de force would create in artistic
circles.
In due time the messenger re-
turned, with the picture in one hand
and a note in the other Wiertz
hastily dismissed him, opened the
letter and read rs follows:
SIR:-I beg to return your extra
ordinary production, which ! cannot
suppose is intended fora portrait, rs II
hears no SOFT Of resemblance to me.
In art, as in everything else, | like
70 have my moneys worth for my
| money, and l do not choose to pay
you the sum Of 5000 francs for one
afternoons work. As you do not
! consider me worth the trouble of
painting seriously, | must decline
| any further transactions with you,
anp remain, sir, yours Obedicntly,
\ PETER VAN SPACH.
When tho artist recovered from
his astonishment at this remarkable
Pistle, he burst into u flt Of laughter
Which made the studio ring.
ellis moneys .YOrth-ha, ha
Haitrc Harpagon has overreached
himself for once. lie could have
sold it for five times what II cost him
the benighted old Philistine,"
NO placed the rejected picture
! once more upon the easel, and re-
/ garded 1t long and critically, only tC
become more convinced Of its merit
lie knew that art Judges would pro,
nounce it a chief d'guvrc. Iii,
amusement began to give place ia
irritation at the indignity to which
his work had been subjected, and
vague projects Of vengeance rose be-
fore him as he paced the floor, with
bent head and knitted brows.
Suddenly he stopped short, hi,
eyes sparkling with mischievous sat
isfaction at an idea which had sud.
denly occurred to him. He took NJ
his palette, and set to work upon the
picture again, adroitly altering ant
retOuching.
In an incredibly short space Of time
it underwent startling metamor
phosis.
While carefully preserving thC
likeness, he had altered the face h!
exaggerating it characteristics Civ
ing a cunning leer to the dceply-se
eyes, grimmer curve to the thin
lips, a scowl to the heavy brows. !
stubby beard appeared on the chin
and the attitude became dropping
and decrepit.
Then the notary's accessories van
ished, the background becoming tn
wall of a cell with a barred window
while the table, with its litter Of pa
pers and parchments, was trans
formed into a rough bench, beneatl
which might he discerned a pitche
and a loaf.
When this was achieved to his sat
isfaction the artist signed his work
and gummed on the frame a cOnspic
] uous label, with the inscription, "Tm
prisOned for Debt"
Then he sent for a fiacre, an,
drove to Melchior's, the well-knowl
picture dealer in the Rus de la Ma
define, whose window offers sue
constant attraction to lovers Of art.
! 81 have something to show you,
began Wiortz. 81 have just finishe
this study, which l think is fairl
successful. Can you find room fC
II In your window :"
'Find room for it! Ishould thin
50, ,"'exclaimed the dealer enthusia,
tically. .'My dear fellow, it Is frs
rate. l have seen nothing of youl
more striking and origInal-and thu
, Is saving much. What price do 20
put upon It ?"
81 have not yet decided" reptile
the painter "Give It a good plaC
in the window, and If a purchase
presents himself let me know"
The picture. was Immediately II
, stalled in the place of honor, an
soon attracted curious group. A
/, day Melchoir's window was su
rounded and next morning the p
pers noticed the wonderful pictur
and sent fresh crowds to look at 1t.
Among the rest was friend
> Maitre van Spach, who could hard