Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-08-10
STORY OF A PAINTER.
Jules Basticn-Lcpage and the Coveted
Brix h. Rome.

Jules Basticn-Lcpage and the Coveted
Prix de Rome.
The greatest prize of the many hon
ors open to young French artists is the
Priz dc Rome. The winner is sent to
Rome to study for four years in the
French Academy, the president OF
which is an officer of the Academy OF
Fine Arts at Paris. The Government al
lows the young artist four thousand
francs. or nearly eight hundred dol
lars yearly. and for four years after
his return the allowance is continued
from the fund of Madame Caen. So
for eight years he can devote himself
to art undisturbed by any thoughts OF
money. Moreover. the painting to
which the prize is given is hung in the
Academy of Fine Arts. with the pict-
urcs successful in the competitions OF
preceding years. No wonder that
Jules Basticn-L,page set his heart up
on winning tie Prir dc Rome.
The competition is accompanied
with curious formalities. Every de-
sign submitted is covered with tracing
paper, which is sealed down. and a
tracing OF it made. This is to pre-
vent the artists from changing the de-
signs after they are handed in. Only
q few very slight alterations are per-
mitted. and these in accordance with
rigorous rules. The artists selected
for the excellence of their designs to
enter The competition are obliged to
remain shut up in separate rooms and
carefully watched for ninety days, SC
that each shall paint his picture with
out any outside assistance. Then
Jury of distinguished artists examin q
the work. and awards the prize.
The subject given out in 1874 was
the "Annunciation to the Shepherds
who watched their flocks by night
when the angel appeared to them ant
announced the birth of Christ
Upon this picture Bastien-Lepag'
worked most earnestly. When it wal
finished, he felt confident of success
but when the day came for making
the award, and Bastien-Lepagc, will
his eager friends, gathered at tn,
Beaur arts, an ominous whisper wa
heard that the jury had given til,
prize to Comerre The rumor was con
firmed. Cabanel, Bastien-Le page
, master, had voted against his pupil,
was said.
Afterward it was said that the jur,
decided against him chiefly on technic
al grounds; one reason being that tn
. Annunciation occurred at night, Will
: Bosticn-Lepagc painted it as if late il
the afternoon.
o That evening all tho artists met a
dinner in the restaurant of Mile Anna
On the smoky walls hung pictures b.
artists who had frequentod the place
I and all the pictures by men who ha'
e gained the Prri1 de Rome were dccorat
@ ed with wroaths of laurel. Comerre
I the winner, and Bastien-Lepage tn
loser sat at adjoining tables, each sur
: rounded by his friends. AS the Dime
drew to close young America
= painter rose beside Bastan-Lepag
!, and said: -.-t us crown the picture q
= the man TO whom the artists hav
,. awarded-the Prir dc Rome,
, He held up laurel-wreath as h
spoke. Instantly all the artists in til
room were on their feet. The friend
l of Comorre angrily struggled to pre-
Q vent what they counted an insult Blu
the others lifted the young America
on their shoulders, bore him throug
the opposing crowd, and he hung TIL
[ Laurel wreath upon Bastien-Lcpagc'
picture, Golden Youth" Amid up
roar and conflict tho artists testifie
their admiration for their peasan
brother
l There was tho same feeling at thu
t Bedu1 arts. Every day heaps of flow
, ers aud laurel-wreaths were laid befor
The Administration 10 the Shepherds.
They were removed by the guardian
Of the galleries, only to be renewed tn
next day. So. although Comerre wa
given tho great prize, and Bastlen
Lepnge obtained only the second, hi
failure was really success. -RpIel
Hi hcoct, IN 81 Nicholas