New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-20
ALPHoNsE N. A. DE MELVILLE.
PARIS. May 19.-M. de Neuville, the
painter OF military pictures, is dead.


Alphonse de MELVILLE who had achieved an honorable
reputation painter OF military subjects was born at
Saint omer in 1886. His education excellent for
he belonged to wealthy family and the honors which
he gained school confirmed his parents in their idea OF
an official or diplomatic career for their To this
the young Melville strenuOusly objected His prefer
ence was for military life, and despite all Inducements
10 the contrary he entered the preparatory school OF
Lorent Here his aptitude for drawing quickly gained
aim the notice OF his INSTRUCTOR Professor Buhousset
But Difference the wishes Of his family De Melville
passed three years In nal connection with the law
school in Paris although the greater part OF his time was
spent sketc-DoOk hand the military school or at
reviews the Champs de Mars He returned home to
declare his resolution TO beooe painter, and this
resolve he adhered to against the opposition OF bis family
and the advice OF artists Ike wen and Picot He left
his home aud began the life OF young artist In Paris
More fortunate than most Of his associates, his first
painting ~The Geryais Battery" accepted at the
Salon and received third-class medal He gained and
pronled by the friendship Of Delacroix In 1860 the
Cerele Arfstique commissioned him to visit Italy and
paint The Taking of Naples by Garibaldi" but the
picture IA spoken OF an unsatisfactory work In 1851
lie received a second medal at the Saion for his
Chasseurs OF the Guard and began to be generally
recognized OF the more promising OF the french
THIS recognition, however was not 80
substantial TO remove the necessity OF drawing for
illustrated publications and preparing wsodcuts, field
in which De Neuyllle was proline workman.
bought By the State for the city OF Saint-Omer. In
| 1868 HIS painting Of The Chasseurs Crossing the
| Ichernaia Foot purchased for the Museum Of
Lille. Naturally the FrancO-Prussian war absorbed al
his energies and furnished the subjects OF most OF the
larger pictures which he has painted since. on these
mixtures his reputation chiefly rests His Biyouac
before Bourget purchased for the Museum OF Dion
The Last CartOnohes at aan, exhibited In 1873, was
awarded the Cross Of the Legion 0f Honor The Attack
by Fire on u Barricaded House at Balan exhibited in
1874 was considered Mants and other critics his best
August 1870" and In 1877 he showed An Episode In
the Battle OF Forbaeh, August q, 1870" and portrait
one of his most important" paintings, lie Bourget.
is IN the collection OF Mr. W. II. Vanderbilt This picture
tells a story made familiar through engravngs OF the
handful Of French officers soldiers who held church
against division OF the PrussaI army until cannon and
mnsketry nearly destroyed the building and almost
annihilaedlthe heroic band This painted In 1873,
aud is the finest example OF the artist IN this country
In 1881 NJ de Neuvllln was male "a Ches alier or the
Legion Of Honor Mr.. W. T. Walters or Baltimore, owns
hia Engineer Officer Reconnaissance" ana Ills
pictures frequently met with In our private colec-
lions aud exhibitions lie worked In water coors as
we'll as In oils, and he painted few non-miltary
pictures pupil OF Picot, lie little Influenced by
his master. In the popular mind he was associated with
certain miniature which Ii not characteristic
OF De Neuvle The latter Is always spirit ed In his
rendering of the figure although sometimes less accurate
than Detae. De Melville did not choose the highest
branch OF art did he attain the very highest rank In
his specalty But he leaves reputation founded upon
excellent work with which any ordinary artist might be
content performances have too much real merit 10
be dismissed merely brilliant but superficial story
| Telling.