New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-29
GEROME.
WORKS AND LIFE OF A CELEBRATED
FRENCH MASTER

GBROME. The Life and Works OF Jean Leon Gerome
By Fanny Field Herring. From AntobioSraPthc an
Introductj0n bv Auclistns st. Gaudcns including a
Portrait OF Gerome. nineteen flll-p Pho,oer1, ure'
and twenty five full page PINOT process Rrpioaut
tons Of his Paintings and ~cu'p'ure. together with
Pencil Drawings. made especially for TINS BOOK ON
Gerome. and executed by BOuSsod, Nalddon & Co.
successors to Goupil. Published by Cassell Pub
fishing Company.
In ls47 Theophile Gautier, the most famous
art critic of the nineteenth century. wrote the
following words of prophecy q" Let us marx WIN
white this happy year For painter Is born 10
us. He il called Gerome. To-day tell you MS
name. and | predict that tomorrow he VIII be
celebrated" The subject of this culogy was
young pupil Of Delaroche, then barely twenty
three years of age and the painting which had
attracted the admiration Of Gautier wac study
in life size bearing the title of the Combat de
CoQs." Although badly hung, far away above
the line, il won for the artist medal, was
bought by the French Government, and was a.
signed place among the lmmUtals in the Ma
tional Gallery OF the Luxembourg. From that
time forth scarcely year has passed without Jean
Leon Gerome producing works Of art both with
his brush and with his chisel which are not only
equal but even superior to this first picture
shown in the Salon OF s47. His name occupies
one Of the most prominent places In the ART
history of the latter half Of the nineteenth
century, and. while he may he described "a one
of the most prolific of contemporary artistic. Yet
the quantity OF his productions has never iu-
paired their quality. The marvellous compre-
hensiveness of his genius not only as painter
and sculptor but also a poet, savant and
teacher Is uncquacd since the days Of Leonardo
da Vnci Fortunately, his experience does not
in auy way confirm the ancient adagp, too often
true, that prophet is not without honor. say"
in his own country" For he has received from
France during the past five and forty years the
highest tributes at her command. by the hands
Of King. Emperor and President If the Republic
successively interpreting the sentiments OF an
appreciative and grateful people. Men 1llnstrio"s
in poetry, science and bcleslettres, proudly claim
him as p comrade: he counts only friendly rivals
among his brother artists. and the most captions
of professional critics are huShed into an admir-
ing silence before the beauty and power OF his
achievements, while. for thirty years. an ever
increasing throng of ardent students from all
climes and countries, >otaby our own. nave
pressed around him. eager 10 follow the path
which he has trod and in which he still leads
them.
A thorough study of the life and works of this
artist is 10 he found in the handsome volume just
issued by Cas-el & Co. Both text and illus
tratjons bear Striking tribute TO the vigor and
delic2cv Of conception and execution Of his num-
erous MASTERPIECES, both IL painting and IN sculp-
tures and furnish the reader with an insight
into the remarkable breadth and dignity Of his
srt-an art Strengthened hy the pTofnndity Of
the scientist. by the ina inatiOn Of a poet, nv
perception trained by years Of travel and research
and by a skill that triumphs over all difficulties
of technique
Gerome's productions may he grouped into
srveral distinct classes which draw their IN
spration from the Antique, the Orient Modern
History ard the realm Of fa1tasy-the latter mo
ing its theme anywhere il the wide region that
lies between ancient mythology and our ultra
civilization Each Of these classes is represented
ny superb photogravures in the present volume' and
we find in turn the Christian Martyrs" the
Ave Caesar" TIE 1.-TWO Aueurs,' Bonapartc
Before the Sphynx." THE Poets Dream " The
Marabout'' "LFminence Grise,' The Duel Al
ter the Ball" and The Two Kings" deicately
and daintily reproduced. III addition to the photo
gravures Of these pictures, many OF which are
familiar to the American public. there are some
fifty sketches drawn BY Geromc especially for
this volume and in,erpcrsed throughout the
text After pursuing this record of Gerome 5
achievements in all lis captivating details 1t
becomes possible 20 appreciate, at their fulI
value both the prophecy Of Theophile Gautler
and the declaration OF that eminent writer in The
Lordon Atheneum' who describes Gerome as " the
august leader OF the French school, in whose
hands than in those of any one else rest
the noble traditions of great and learned school.