New-York tribune., 1884-12-14
JuLkS BlSriEN.LEplGg.
REMlNlscENcGs OF rus DEAD ARTIST
INCIDENTS Is us tire ASp sseronsa ~ nts
AclirVlMtNiA


| Tho origin of tho name llaationsI,cpagc.
which fo Of only thirty ak years sullcc u fchirr
famous ropresont,a story Of gratitude AMI aliA afee
iion, When this young descendant of line OF peasants
Wa, found TO ho Akoohlng everything which foil Ia hl'
way a. DouYors, and eager 10 proh by ahoh local In
slructon could be cbtane tho claims of art woFo
recognized but there was dimenlty In providing tho
| means for sending jules Ba,tlcn to Paris Then
| his mothers father. Lepagc. came forward, ami
| out Of hls savings tho hardworking Old
peasan gave the the money where with 10 secure an
education art After minor In the Ecoie ds
Esaur arts and in Cabanels studio, after the usual
poveryplnched but insouciant existence In the Lata
Quarter and after experience in the Francst'reWs
during the Franco the young artist painted
picture upon which lie hoped to found his reputation
This first important work portrait OF the kindly
grandfather, Lepage And when the canvas WIS ready
for tine Salon. the artist signed 1t not Jules Basten but
Jules BastenLcpage that he might do honor to the name
OF the whose loving generosity had given him his
opportunity
During his days of struggle and OF privati0n In the
Latin Quarter Jules Bastien, his brother Emile an archt
tect aud many other young artists habitues OF
once famous restaurant In the Rue Saint Benoit whose
proprietress was Mdlle. Anna, a woman whom many
painters remember second mother. For thef
hostess sympathzed with their hardshps and the ank
ness of their purses and granted indulgent credit
And so it happened Jules Bastien became indebted
the OF 800 francs To Offset this he painted
for her picture, called Jeunesse DOrt In forest
with loves lowering above the heads
OF young lovers 1t was In 1872 that this picture
was hung the smoky wall Of Mdllc Annas
restaurant. Afterward when the name of Basten-le-
page grew and great people We'd with each other
TO secure portrait from his hand Mdle Anna was Of
fered four times 300 francs for this little picture But
she steadily refused every Offer and preserved the paint
ing by her renowned protese until her death
The portrait OF his grandfather brought Bastien-
aD,la al,t far
class medal After this triumph he and seven artist
friends went down to for,s the old visit, al thes s
boon companions have since achieved reputation Iney
Bonyere Gourtois Eaeeat wHS ms
Charles Baude, the engraver Emile Lepage ana ).
Alden Weir of this city At Demyiilers the young artists
painted the notable picture. Mes Parents In the gardcl
behind his home tne same saen i IN @ %cn IL Ibe R,toa
Art Museum
The portraits of the banker Hayem and Of NJ Walen,
Minister OF Fine Arts represent adv ancng stages IN to
uaiuters career Ills failure obtain the Pitr dc Rom
With his picture. The shepherds" in ls75 wa,
really great His picture was the iaVori,e
with artists but the jury refused it the prize Oh teen
ncaty. Their reason was that the appearance 10 tns
shepaheds as they watched eE he HOOKS
In the afternoon when the saton doors were qIenfs 81
Ind that the Prir dc Rome had been awarded, ,riSd
ComGTTe rn snASnorsy ney M Ea'ySs9 Wer paced sps
of laurel on the frame suddenly salsn sdr pe,% anG
harlt stalked through the crowd or artists amateurs Anu
| pauslng
Shepherds and fell upon the sprg OF laurel Poln,ns
To 1t with sweeping gesture she eAe!ained, es UNIV
| place" IL is well placed"
| That night Bastien Lepage and Comere with thef
friends were assembled In the restaurant OF Mde NINA
Eager partisans talked loudly OF the two pictures Wn
hI led the competition for the Prir Ne Rome. All around
IN" room hung paintings 10y various artists and the pic
| lures by who had won thn fTx de Rome III pSs pSS
ycrs We're crowned with wreaths OF laurel Late IA tne
evening Young American artist rose from his seat "
pages table and waving laurel wreath en
whom the artists awarded the Prir Instantly
his comrades raised him their shoulders Coerrcs
WAS borne aofi across the room through the brosea
ranks Of Comerres parsans and crowned with h's 'u
rel wreath Bastien-Lepases picture Jea'eS~ D0rf'
The original sketch for the picture. Pram Assns
Achilles ior the Body OF HECTOR which BasonlE!ass
entered the f dc Eom in $50 IN The & po'ssga s,eir,
| Jailed on its merits OF Baseniepagcs !a'cs sar s
ccsses with Les sias The n ro'a!G rbo "'I pir.,
,S Commanion." Joan Of Are, and portraits Of M NJ
reaTiet the Prince OF Wales, sarah bernnaint sni @
crs N is unnecessary to speak here Tie ony hnisne
nct,lrcs by him In this country are me Joan oi ~
Which perhaps remains the WORK b Wien , ne shown a
preferred to be- Judged and la !eae fa"rt"' Sno"" "
| the Barthodi Loan Exhibition 80. ,.,a,
Eastien-Lepagc was the second really brlllan, hf
wno" ,I. Mo met With an untimely death IN 20
Franco Prusssn Carolus Duran Puvs ar ,nts
nis and other famliary known fIench artists
n,s -nIi.p rronp Iiasen- Lepagc had become stryns
influence Ia Tie French art OF the day and he nae
srtiss an example leaving the studio and eans ~.
doors pant. Ills pictures, notably me joan s ssr.
|
rounded when painting In tho open air and lel ..
times show too consequent apparent lack OF ias
tive aud o graduated effects OF shadow VA
greens OF his pictures usually inerserscu H,si ,15 nc.
seem oftentimes harsh and crude comlafse N 'ths
lures in which natures cDoring has been sottene ao
light OF the studio or all this Basen Lepase .s ous
and yet persisted resoutey In his eloft 70 ier.
and express truth In nature that he bce'no .us
Certain qualities which may appear 10 20 a., asilen-
Lepage's msconccived example that We n' o"c psris-
fuse use OF crude green's and dirty gray oy Sybt thai
American painters. But there Is no reason 10 un
his art was the expression OF an earnest If Arc
Imaginative powers, Illustrated IN tne ,. oi view
Whatever variance there may be In individual Pnst
those who knew Bastien-Lepagc pes, m""" -" absolvt
| everything no did In art he was guiaeo W ~
sincerity.