New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-13
FROM LEAGUE TO SALON.
AN ART STUDENTS CAREER.

from, casts and from life, and sometimes p"'"e
little, although the majority never 'ouo"
brush until after they have drawn for n'e o' 'l>
wears. The instruction at the L%aeue "a,
ceent about as good, in fact, as tine s'uue"' WI.
oot anywhere, and when he decldes W y" "
Euroue. Il is by no means because ne mas eAn""e''
America. but because Of the isolation loreen resi-
dence offers to one who yearns 10 "a'e ia''e'
and mother and cleave only TO MS ar" .s
before ne goes over, his plans Tor stuoy Oh VI.
other side are fully made to be sure ne a,lnoo,
invariably changes them down to the smaiiis' ue,""
as soon as he gets to Paris, but TINS is u"i'i''
portant. p..ux r,s
Most of the League professors are Dea.A-n' :.
men. and it is natural that the pupils snoui" "i''
IN follow in their masters footsteps. Du' "un
sion TO the Beaux-Arts is attended WIN 30 manS
formalities. examinations In various h'ei"is
branches etc; that large percentage Oh n.n..
cans prefer the private ateliers one s'uoen' na'
talked matters over with his faVori'e pioi''-
who gives him much good advice ana iei"ap
little substantial assistance in the rorm Vi ievs
or two 70 artists or other people who can renoef
small services to the stranger In 'eiS ''''"e0
land. IT,; u
It is all settled. lie is to go 10 fariS hiN a.
lowance is agreed upon; his 1are"ehS arc 0''.
no sails away Soon his feet tread the pa'en'en''
Of Paris. He probably knows few ie'iows VIM
,,,o,t over q year or two back, and they help to
instol him in one of the small hotels in the Latin
ouarter This is lucky, for the newly arrived
docs NOT know word of French. Before ne came
he did or he thought he did, put
no soon finds that there is difference
hotyeon explaining himself to the garcoh
or the concierge; and translating glibly; CaVpso
M nouvait SO consider du depart dUlysse
Having finally decided upon the Beaux Arts' leu
ia say. he loses no time in entering. Inere afe
at least two ways of becoming pupil at the doV-
eminent school One is to enlist the services Oh
the American Minister, who requests PERMISSION
for the applicant from the Minister OF Fine Ar's.
letter of introduction from some resident OF fars
or from some well-known American is necessary
The Minister of Fine Arts Sends through the Amer
lean Minister, card of admission. which the
student presents to the Director Of the school, ana
after some unimportant formalities is enrolled,
Another way is to go directly to the Master ana
ask permission to enter his classes. An interview"
with Gerome is apt to BE- rather awful. for that
great man is very stern, and somewhat forbidding
of ASPECT He puts volley Of questions to the
embarrassed youth, in a quick dry ton,, and asks
to see his drawings II they are satisfactory, the
student is told to enter next Monday morning
Sometimes the applicant thinks he can make @
better impression by leaving his drawings ut home.
Then he is sent into the antique classes, where
he is lust as we'll off, because il he deserves to WORK
in the life he will Certainly be sent up after the
first concours. or quarterly examination OF draw
ings.
When he is finally admitted to the life class,
he feels that his student days are commenced III
earnest. All his previous expert noes were pre-
liminary Now he is "NOuvead" he goes
errands he fetches beer and black soap for the
atelier, and tarts for the models lunch he under
goes various ordeals which differ in intensity ar-
cording to circumstances. II the model for the
week is an especially interesting one, no one feels
like sparing time for hazing. But If the atelier
is in an idle mood, the nouveau is subjected to
as much good-natured abuse as the ingenuity OF
so or 100 young savages from every quarter OF
the globe can devise. Woe betide the youth who
fails to take his initiation in good part. His cake
is forever dough in the schools. There is record OF
fiery young Spaniard who drew knife on his
tormentor on one occasion. He was kicked out or
the atelier and never permitted to return.
But the reports concerning these practices, fag-
cling and hazng, are much exaggerated outside.
1t is not entirely unfair. if an GRAND has to be
done, to make the last fellow do it, if only for
the reason that his time is less valuable than that
of the older students. As for the ancient in
stitution of hazing, the greatest minds have
long differed on the question Of its legitimacy, and
will probably continue to differ, world without
end
The students draw from the nude model
from 8 in the morning until l O'Clock. There
are afternoon classes sometimes organized and
there is another called the Cours d'YvOn, in
charge of the painter WON, which meets from
4 until 6. Attendance at this class is n
matter Of choice with the students. but most Of
them do elect it, In sunny France" winter
mornings are frequently dark that work before
10 or even later is impossible. This shortens the
day materially.
The Cours d'Yvon is practically night school.
as the gas is always lighted Drawing by arti-
fetal light has its advantages; the chiaroscuro is
very decided. and the great masses Of shadow
can be seen more simply than in the daytime.
WON is something of a character. His criticisms
are made with the rapidity of lightning, but with
great accuracy and intelligence. Seating himself
at one mans easel he dashes the charcoal over
the drawing. Your figure is slightly out Of
angle; raise the shoulders and place the left
foot little farther back" Then without
rising he attacks the next easel, and those
directly in front This arm is too long-that
bit Of foreshortening is bad-this form-that
leg-ben.7 And WON is half through the room.
Gerome's criticisms very BRIEF very severe.
hut very just and absolutely correct He has
much of the soldier in him, and eXacts the
most rigid obedience of his pupils. He is a very
hard worker and has patience with lazy
people With all that he Is honored--reverenced-
by any man who ever worked under him. Cabanel
was delightful. lie was always very carefully
dressed. and so dainty was he that he handled
charcoal without soiling his lilac gloves, and
wandered among closely crowded easels without
rufng his plumage in the least. But the students
were always careful TO give him a little extra
space.
The schools close in July, and the students
betake themselves IN the country Norma ndy or