Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1895-11-30
THE PRIZE OF ROME.
An Annual Award by the French Govern-
ment For Art Works.

An Annual Award by the French Govern
ment For Art Works.
The French nation has for many years
owned handsome palace in the Eternal
City, as Rome is frequently called. This
is known as the Vile de- Medici. 1t is a
beautiful building, standing in the mid
die of garden filled with statuary and
fine old trees, commanding view OF
the famous old city and fitted up with
superb furniture, tapestries and pictures
the remains of the former greatness OF
the once powerful Medici family, who
for SO many years were high in the po-
litical affairs of Italy Here each year
are sent four young Frenchmen -
painter, a sculptor, an architect and
carver of precious stones These lads are
chosen by competition held at the
School of Fine Arts in Paris every
spring. The examinations are very
searching, and the successful candidates
are greatly envied, as we'll they may be,
for, having won their honors, they are
housed, fed and provided with studio
and an ample sum of money to pay their
expenses for four years all by the
French government.
So it will be seen that it is no small
honor to have passed successfully
through the ordeal, for not only is the
opportunity for the delightful life under
such splendid conditions to be desired,
but the youth who gains the distinction
of being the prize winner is for ever
more q marked man. His work is watch
ed for, his future progress is noted, and
his career may be said to be definitely
made. The conditions under which the
examinations are made are very strict
Preliminary trials take place early IN
the season. All who desire to enter in
scribe their names at the government
school. Of course only French lads may
try. For the painters, subject is given
out-perhaps some incident from the
Bible, or an episode from mytholog-
ical story-and sketches are made by the
students.
Twenty or thirty Of the most promis-
ing sketches are selected, and the young
men thus chosen are notified. These lads
then make drawings in charcoal of the
subject.
Another selection is made, and those
chosen then make paintings. This time
ten canyases are selected and their au-
thors go, as they say in French, en- loge,
which means that each man of the ten
enters a small studio, where are an easel
and materials for work, and he is al
lowed such models as are necessary to
complete his picture. His first sketch OF
the subject given out is handed to him,
and from this he must make painting
about feet by 1 in size. He is not al
lowed to make any material changes IN
his composition, but must keep very
closely to his original design. Outside
his door sits an employee Of the school,
known as guardian, whose business
it is to see that the student receives no
help, nor may he leave the building,
save under charge of this sentinel, who
is watchful and keen and not to be tri-
fed with. Three weeks are allowed in
which to complete the work Then the
ten canvases are placed in frames. The
works are the same size every year, and
the old frames do duty over and over
again.
Now is an anxious period while a
jury composed of distinguished artists
deliberate on the merits Of the works to
determine the order of their excellence.
Finally day comes when all is ar
ranged. The ten pictures are placed in
gallery of the school, and each is num-
bered; the doors are opened, and the
anxious crowd of students rushes in to
learn the decision.
You may be sure that the happy No.
is hero and that he is carried
around the Latin quarter on the shoul-
ders of his companions. The strain of
the past few months is over, and we
may forgive him if he gives way to
lot of boisterous nonsense for few
hours. To No 2 there is some consola-
tion for so narrowly missing the great
end he has aimed for, sort of 'conso-
lation prize" being awarded to him IN
the shape Of sum of money that ena-
bles him to travel for year. Besides,
he will compete the next year, and it
frequently happens that the second man
one season is the successful competitor
of the year following.
The winning picture is hung perma-
nently in the school, and the happy man
goes to Rome. Each year he must send
home evidences of his application and
progress, that the state may know he is
Improving his time.-"A Famous
French Painter, by Arthur Hoeber, in
ST. Nicholas.