National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-08
ENAM ELL.
The Art One OF the Oldest in tho Civil.
ized World.

tAeu nOrlus
London Telegraph.
Tho Renaissance enamels Of Limoges in
general, and of Leonard Limousin in
particular, must, although during many
generations they suffered under surious
depreciation in price, continue 10 be
precious and eagerly sought for, for tho
simple reason that 'grandes pieces" of
this wonderfully beautifully ware arc
exceedingly scarce, and that it was pro.
cisely in 1855 that his raro talent had
reached its acme. Enameling is one Of
tho Oldest arts in tho world; but that
which may DO termed painters enamel,
or enamels executed on single surface,
instead Of inoised surfaces, is q distinct
outcome Of the Renaissance, and was
provoked by the desire 10 possess imper-
ishablo reproductions for decorative pur-
poses Of tho great works Of art which
had been painted In Italy by Leonardo da
| Vinci, by Rafaelle, and other successors.
Tho movement began In tho frat year OF
the nineteenth century; among tho first
promoters OF tho now process was a glass
painter of Limoges named Nardon Peni-
caud, one OF whose masterpieces, exc
cutod for tho poet King, King Reno. OF
| Vauoomont aud Lorraine, aud dated 1903,
is now in the Cluny museum at Paris. In
1889 Francis l, of France, who, with all
his faults, was as magnificent patron Of
the arts as our Charles l was afterward
caused to BIO established n nufacture of
enamels at Limoges, the direction OF
which no intrusted to Leonard, called
lie Iimousin" or "Limosin." The
artist, by the express directions from his
! sVN0a NaH lNat.
rate copies of the best works Of Raffaelle,
Giulio, Romano, and Pinnaticcio, and he
also had recourse to tho best draughts-
man and sculptor of tho French
Renaissance, jean Cousin. The earlier
works Of Lo Limousin had been
medieval and almost Byzantine mn
style, but tho contemplation of
tho Renaissance models sent him from
Italy led him to initiate tho purer aud
more correct forms of revived Greek art.
His mode OF treatment was essentially
his own. The general effect of his work
was brilliant, light, and harmonious, 70.
lieved and cheered by bright sky, blue
tints, and turquoise blue sparkling on a
shining ground. He was specially dis
tinguishablo by a bright yellow, which
introduced into the hair of his personagcs
and by pink and limpid flesh tints, which
| oUuou w viz icOiihk Va hOllRuIlul
prise excited by his enamels, the effect OF
which has been compared to the cham
eleon-like brilliancy Of shot satin. No
one knew so well as he how to make
touches Of gold with which to brighton
the effect Of his medallions on black
ground. During his years Of active life
his productiveness was astonishing, but
his later enamels, which come down Il
1874, show tho marks ofan aged aud falling
hand. Yet, Notwithstanding the multi
tudes of dishes. vases, overs, goblets, por.
traits, and plaques in grissaile, cups
and bowls signed by his well.knowr
monogram Of IL. L." sometimes accom-
panied by heur do lys, the more i'm
portant pieces Of THE Limousiu," soor
grew rare. Many Of his works have
teriously disappeared. A large pro
portion of these vanished enamels were
in all probability, melted down durnl
the stormy days of the first revolution IL
France, the perpetrators of the acts O.
vandalism being under the impression
that the enamels wero painted on golt
and silver plate, whereas, in the grea
majority of instances, a substratum o.
copper was the material used. A very
singular fate overlook no fewer than
score of enamels on which he had mos
sedulously labored. Francis l, being do
sirous of decorating the saloons Of hi
newly erected Chateau de Madrid, IL
tho Bots de Boulogne, with tn
most splendid specimens procurabl,
4 of Limoges enamels, commissioned
3. The Limousin to paint twent,
1'pictures of the extraordinary dimension
Of five feet in length by four feet Il
height, illustrative of the heather
mythology. Twenty years were spent b.
the master EVANGELIST of Limoges and hi
pupils in execution of these pictures, blu
Francis died in 1874 aud not one of tn
twenty ensmoled pictures was eve
delivered. They remained in the posses
sion of tho heirs of Leonard 10 Limousil
until the outbreak Of the revolution
period of more than 200 years-and
French critic, writing in 1910, stated tina
the twenty enamols of extraordinar,
dimensions were purchased in 1903 by
Milor Anglais, who sent them to Eng
land. Where are they, and how man.
guineas apiece would they bring wer
they put up at pubic auction?