The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-01

GENERAL DIFFUSION ABROAD or rSrrRss,
IN rAISriSos-TuE TEACHING.

IN rAIHriSos-Tux TEACHING.
IA rHEN an art student fret arrives
w In the art world Of Paris he 10
overwhelmed by the amount Of good work
he sees on every hand, the number OF
workers In the field and the opportunities
which lie about him for lettering his
work.
The Julien academy Is where the largest
number OF students direct their steps.
When l first entered the academy on
Monday morning, the beginning Of new
pose, felt quite lost In the crowd,
crowd composed OF almost all nationalities
OF Europeans. Everyone soon gets bis
allotted place as the "massier" Zone OF the
students elected by the others as sort Of
plesidcntl reads OF the names, no one
being permitted to take seat TIL his
name has been called, names being
arranged In alphabetical order.
AS with everything else, you soon begin
10 sift and classify, and what seemed at
first TO be the work OF 300 advanced
students proves quite otherwise. The
great majority are struggling like your
self and doing very moderate work.
found that earnest work was most encour-
aged. The talented pupil who. though
doing well, did not do his best, wac
thoroughly reprimmded, while the
poor, talentless fellow beside him,
working most assiduously. accomplish
ing little, received good and lengthy
criticism. Good drawing Is considered the
foundation Of all good work. No individ-
uality or peculiarly on the part of the pu-
phi is criticized so long as he does not
carry u to the point Of hurting his draw
ing or color The teaching Is very broad
and generous In that II leaves the pupil As
much as possible the follower OF his own
dictations. The best drawings are often
chosen by the professors at the end OF the
week.
There is a constant stimulus In Paris
70 push forward and improve. Even
among the working people there is lively
interest la art, and the names Of the lead
ing artists OF Paris are entirely familiar
TO them.
One day while having cup OF coffee In
little restaurant In the outskirts OF Paris,
an old man with long, gray beard entered,
and sat at my table, opposite me. lie was
In good spirits, and q conversation soon
opened between us. II was about Salon
time. He soon found that was interested
in art matters, and so our talk ran In that
channel. He was workman who had
spent part Of his life in posing. was we'll
acquainted with most OF the noted artists
and their work, aud was the model for tho
noted figure Of "Cain." by Cormon, now
in the Luxembourg gallery.
II Is quite common 10 meet with like ex-
perienees even among the very poor Of
Paris; In fact II Is difficult to llnd yourself
In society where the arts are not
familiar topic. Most OF the noted artists
have a short time each week when they
gladly receive any Of their pupils with as
much work as they eau bring. This viii
lingness on the part OF the strong TO help
those who are struggling 10 one OF the
main reasons why there Is so much OF
what we call cart atmosphere IL
makes all In sense students. When
once really Ia tho current Of art move
ment in Pa,i. u Is seldom that one ever
wishes to leave; the constant help you re-
ceiye either directly or indirectly from
9oui surrounding, - naFuiy TcallIcu until
you have cut away from IL all. On Satur-
day all compositions OF some subject
which has been given out on Monday are
placed ~ easels and are criticised aud
ranged&ccording 10 their merit, the best
being No. /. Often us many as q dozen
receiy Numbers, the best being some
times placed upon the walls OF the ncad-
envy as specimen OF composition. No.
is always entitled TO the lrst choice OF
seats for the pose commencing the follow
Ing Monday. There being so many stu
dents, the strife for position becomes very
great, especially as every student Is apt to
come on Monday 10 secure his seat, even
though he may not appear again the re-
mainder Of the week, 40 that those whose
nmes are to be called last are forced 10
try and secure number on his compost
ton or be crowded TO the wall. Under
such continual pressure the best that Is in
the student Is likely to manifest itself,
whereas be would have done little II loft
entirely 70 himself. For eve are seldom
willing TO do all we are capable Of doing",
and need the art influence OF some society
TO give life and interest TO the work.
PERCY IvKs.