The Portland daily press., 1884-11-06
The Enamelling Art.
One of the Oldest in the WOrId-WOrlEs OF
Leonard Limousln.
CTondon Telesraph)

NAOAuOh 1oAcBKapuJ
The Renaissance enamels of Limoges In gen.
eral, and Of Leonard Limousin in particular,
must although during many generations they
suffered under a curious depreciation in price,
coutnue to be precious and eagerly sought for,
for the simple reason that "grandes pieces" of
this wonderfully beautiful ware are exceeding
ly scarce, and that it was precisely in 1855 that
bis rare talent had reached its acme. Enam-
eling is one of the Oldest arts in the world; bat
that which may be te-med painters enamel, ,.or
eDamels executed on single surface, instead
of the incised surfaces, is distinct outcome OF
the Renaissance and was provoked by the de-
sire to possess imperishable reproductions for
decorative purposes of the great works Of art
which had been painted in Italy by
Leonardo da Vinci, by Raffsells and
their successors The movement be-
gan in the first years of the sixteenth
century; among the first promoters OF the new
process was glass painter OF Limoges named
Nardon Penicaud, one of whose mssterDieces,
executed for the poet King Rene OF Taude-
mont aud Lorraine, and dated 1903. is now in
the Cluny Museum in Paris. In 1882 Francis
OF France, who with all his faults was al
magnificent patron Of the arts as our Charles
l. atterward caused to be established q
manufacture OF enamels at Limoges the direc-
tion OF which be intrusted to Leonard called
lie Limousin" or "Limosu." This artist,
by express directions from his royal master,
procured from Italy accurate copies Of the
beat works OF Raffaelle, Giulio Romano and
Piunat.ccio, and he also had recourse to the
great draeghtsman and sculptor Of the French
ksnaissance, Jean Cousin. The earlier works
OF Le bimousin had been medieval aud al
most Byzantine in style, but the contempla-
tion OF the Renaissance models sent him from
ltaly led him to initiate the purer and 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, relieved and
eheered By bright sky, blue tints and
turquois blue sparkling on a shining
ground. He was specially distinguishable by
bright yellow which he introduced into the
nair OIL his percentages and by pink and limpid
flesh tints, which added to the feeling Of de-
lighted surprise excited by his enamels the ef-
feet OF which has been compared to the chame-
lou-like brilliancy of shot satin. No one knew
so well as he how to make touches of gold with
which to brighten the effect OF his medallions
on black ground. During his years Of active
life his productiveneBs was astonishing but his
later enamels, which come down to 1874, show
the marks OF an aged and failing hand Yet,
Notwithstanding the multitude OF Dishes vases,
ewers, goblets, portraits and plaques 10 griss-
ale, cups ana bowls, signed by his well-known
monogram of IL. L." sometimes accompanied
by hsur dedys, the more important pieces of
no lluOuSlh SOON grew rare. Many OF his
works have mysteriously disappeared A
large proportion of these vanished enamels
were in all probability melted down during the
stormy days OF the first revolution In France,
the perpetrators of the acts OF vandalism being
under the impression that the enamels
were painted on gold and silver
plate, whereas, in the great majority
OF instances, suostratum of copper was the
matsrial used. A very singulac fate overlook
no fewer than a score OF enamel ON which he
bad most sedulously laborsd. Francis l., being
desirous of decorating the saloons of his newly
erected chateau de Madrid, in the Bois de
Boulogne, with the most splendid specimens
Drocurable of Limoges enamels, commissioned
the Lmousin to paint twenty pictures Of the
extraordinary dimensions OF 8 feet In length
by feet in height, illustrative of the heathen
mythology. Twenty years we're spent By the
master enamelist Of Limoges aud his pupis in
execution of these pictures; but Francis died
IN 1914, and not one OF the twenty enamelled
pictures was ever delivered. They remained
In the possession of the heirs of Leonard le
Limousin until the outbreak of the revolution
"a period OF more than 200 years-and a
French critic, writing in 1910, stated that the
twenty enamels of extraordinary dimensions
were purchased in 1908 by Milor AngiIais,
who sent them TO England Where are they
and how many Puineas api ce would they
bring were they put up at public auction2