The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-05
THE poPE,s LAST PoRTRA1c
Artist Chartian Tells How He Sc
cured tho Commission to Paint 1t.
From the Ne,o York World,

SAA on bAO COLAI4l5StOI " EallL u
From the NeD York Word,
PARIS, Sept. 27.-The fashionable or
tistic sensation of the day here is the por.
trait OF Pope Leo XIII. 1t is not only an
admirable work of art but also of great
historical interest, since it is the first and
very possibly the last time that his holiness
has, or will, sit for his portrait to any ar.
fist, as his failing health makes such a tedi
Gus exertlon very ouerous to a man of his
| advanced age.
The matter has been kept very secret in
| order to obtain the value of a surprise.
Great curiosity is now expressed as
to how NJ. Theodore c. Chartian, the artist,
was fortunate enough to obtain this extraor-
binary privilege
The World correspondent called to-day
on M. Chartian at his studio on the Boule-
ward Malesherbes, and found him young
man OF genial manners, not at all pulled up
by his present notoriety. He is already
known In America through his admirable
caricatures of contem oorary celebrities,
which have been published in leading
American magazines.
When asked how be obtained leave to
paint the portrait he laugh and said:
For years it has been my greatest ambition to
paint the portrait of his holiness. | wished to
do it, not so much for the attention it will Sc
cure to me as because l am in love with his
strange beauty of face. pmbining perfect fl
Desse. diplomacy and intellect with exquisite
gentlenessi in fact face among thousand
have never seen the same combination of
qualities before. | was student at the French
Academy Of Rome sons years ago when the
idea first occurred to me. l saw his holiness
very often, and | cannot tell you how many
sketches made in the course of several years
After settling down here in Paris pursuin my
career. was successful, as you know, with a
number of portraits the latest being Mile Bran
a Is Emile Riaapf nd MOunet SplIv
old longing returned to me.
Every portrait painter will understand how
much the artistic value of he result of his work
depends upon the face ne has to WORK upon. ]
accordingly made the most lifelike sketch Of
Leo XIII was capable of doing. took great
pains, but it was a labor of love.
went to Rome with an introduction to Count
Lefevre de Behaine, our minister at the vatican
he kindly obtained for me personal audience
with the pope. / told his holiness my story and
exhibited the sketch He smiled and seemed
much pleased at both the story and the picture
His holiness then said very graciousiy that
although he had made it a rule not to sit to any
painter he would forego his determination on
account of the excelence of the sketch and NOT
only that, but he would allow nothing to inter
fere with it
The sketch impressed him; that is very clear
for he gave immediate orders that a studio
should be fitted up in one of the apartments of
the secret consistory, which was in every way
suitable TO the purpose. and also desired that
every assistance should be given me, while he
left the details entirely to my taste.
chose the chair of state with a very dark
red background. The pope, of course, wore a
white woolen robe covered by a red cloth man
tel, lined with silk, gold chain of Etruscan de-
sign around lis neck and gold cross studded
with diamonds and rubies on his breast
His holiness is an admirable sitter patient
and genial at all times He took great inter
est in the picture and gave me every assistance.
AS a matter of course worked rapidly, but
could have had more time if / had desired it,
However, was so familiar with his face that
knew exactly the points to be studied and de-
voted myself to them. leaving the minor details
to be worked out afterward
When the picture was finished his holiness
kindly said that he was quite content with it, in
fact, very much pleased that Leo XIII should
be remembered in the public view by my repro
duction of his features.