The record-union., 1895-11-16
THE PRIZE OF ROME.
An Annual Award by the French Gov
ernment for Art Works.

An Annual Award by the French Gov
ernment 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 Villa de- Medic. 1t is
beautiful building. standing in the mid
/ die of a garden 1Illed with statuary and
| fine old trees. commanding view of the
famous old city, and fitted up with SUI
! perb 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 political
affairs OF Italy. Here each year are sent
| four young Frenchmen-a painter,
| sculptor, an architect, and a carver of
precious stones. These lads are chosen
by a competition held at the School of
Fine Arts in Paris every spring. The ex-
amlnaIlons are very searching, and the
! successful candidates are greatly envied,
as well 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-aIl 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 10 be desired, but the youth
who gains the distinction Of being the
man. His work is watched for, his future
! progress is noted, and his career may be
said TO be definitely made The condi-
tlOns under which the examinations are
made are very strict. Preliminary trials
take place early III the season. All who
desire to enter iuscribe their names at the
Government School. OF course, only
| French lads may try. For the painters a
subject is given out-perhaps some Incl
! dent from the Bible, or an episode from a
NEUROLOGICAL 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
authors 90, as they say in French en-
| loge, which means that each man OF the
| ten enters small studio, where are an
easel and materials for work, and he is
allowed such models as are necessary to
complete his picture. His 1irst sketch of
! the subject given out is handed to him,
and from this he must make a painting
about three feet by four in size. He is
not allowed TO make any material
! changes in his composition, but must
keep very closely to his original design.
| Outside his door sits an enplOye of the
school,, known as a guardian, whose
/ business 1t is to see that the student re-
ceives no help; nor may he leave the
building. save under charge of this
! sentinel, who is watchful and keen, and
not to be tritled 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 jury
composed OF distinguished artists deliber-
| ate on the merits OF the works to deter
| mine the order OF their excellence. FL
nally day comes when all is arranged.
| The ten pictures are placed in gallery
| of the school, and each is mum bered; the
doors are opened, and the anxious crowd
| of students rushes in to lear the decision
You may be sure that the happy Num-
Der One 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 ii he gives way to lot Of
boisterous nonsense for few hours. To
| Numbe Two there is some consolation
for so narrowly missing the great end be
| has aimed fora sort of consolation
prize" being awarded TO him in the
shape OF sum of money that enables
him to travel for year Besides he will
| compete the next year, ana 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
kgoes 10 Rome. Each year he must send
homo evidences of his application and pro-
| gress, that the State may know that he is
Improving his time.-"A Famous French
Painter" by Arthur Hoeber in st.
! Nicholas.