Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-31
Death of Meissonier, the Famous
French Painter.
LATE WAR NEWS FROM CHILL.
Stricken Down at Salvation Army
Meeting.
RUSSIA AND THE SEALS.
DEATH OF MEI>soNIER.
The Most Celebrated Painter Of His Time
PASSES Away.

The Most Ceiebrated Painter OF His Time
PASSES Away.
PARIS Jan sl.-Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier,
the painter, who has been i'll for several days.
died in this city at O'Clock this morning.
Jeen Louis Ernest Meissonier Was born in
Lyons, France, in 1914. He studied art in
Paris under Leon Cogniet exhibited in 1876 his
Little Messenger" and soon acquired repn-
tatlon as painter OF miniature subjects Of ex-
quisite finish and dehcacy. Among his beSt-
known pictures The Chess Players" The
hoader," "A Game Of Piquet" and ''lhe
Skiitle Players" Among his larger pictures
are "A Charge Of Cavalry Oss7l. which was
sold for 10000 francs. and is IN = private
gallery IN Cincinnati. and The Emperor
at solferino" Ols64l. He has made
designs for Balzac's comeslie
humane, 'raul and Virginia" and other
works. He received medals for artistic merit
IN ls4O, ls4l, ls43 and ls4s aud receiYed the
ribbon Of the Legion of Honor in ls.6 In 1856
he became an officer of the legion. He is a
member Of the Institute Of France and an hon
orary member OF the ROYAL Academy, Lordon.
he was made grand officer OF the Legion Of
Honor in 1851
His pictures brought great prices and there
are several Of them in the United States. His
famous work ''ls0s" sold at the recent stewart
sale for seS, 600. and is one of his best known
subjects. Ii is q view of cavalry DASH
Ing. in front Of Napoleon l in review.
with the emperor himself in the background
lhe picture IL one OF Meissonier's largest
canvases and bought from the artist by
A 4. stewart Cornelius Vanderbilt purchased
II at the sale and presented il to the Metropoli-
tan Museum of Art in New York. Mr.. Nm 4.
Walters has two OF the great artists oil paint
ings in the Walters Gallery IN Baltimore. The
principal painting. "lsl4." is considered by
many the very masterpiece of the artist and is
| a wonderful production. The other is The
Jovial Trooper"
The artist is represented in all the noted col
lections, both throughout the east and west.
Several of his works are in the collection q
VIM II. Nanderbllts widow in New York. Two
others, entitled Bowl Players in the Posse al
Antilles and "Delberation. are TO be sold in
the middle of February with others Of the col
lection made by George l. Seney.
Of all the great artists of the present day
| none were better understood or more highly
valued In America than Meissonier. He was
the most celebrated painter of his time and his
pictures have commanded immense prices un-
known until his brush brought them. Meis-
| sonier was not considered 20 surpass in design
or originality. but the finish and minute atten-
| ton given his productions gradually forced
their merit to the front.
An instance Of the thoroughness with which
| he entered into his work is told i'm connection
with his studies Of military art. Himself an
enthusiastic horseman be undertook 10 master
the pose and action Of that noble animal On
his country place at Poissy he formed n we'll
furnished stable, where his horses were always
found ready TO be mounted, in order that the
painter might observe their varied movements.
Some would be grazing at liberty on the lawns
under the eye OF the owner. who thus examined
them both in action and repose. He had them
TO gallop over plowed ground or in fields of
grain arranged in his park in order that he
| might note the disturbances left by their hoofs.
Meissonier studied the human form carefully
as he had studied horses and his constant aim
| in life has been to become absolute master d
the art of faithful delineation-