Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23
coROTs OBSCURE DAYS.
of the Great French
Artist by Henri ROchefOrt.


My recent visit to the exposition of the
works of Corot made me feel at least forty
wears younger 1 knew the great artist in
my early youth. when lived at No. 10 Rue
des Beaux Arts in a little room on the
floor where his studio was situated. At
that time already so far off, and growing
more distant every day.the marvellous land
scapes of Corot were not quoted IN the
picture market. With my excellent and too
modest school friend, Dr. Trpier, one of
the originators of treatment by electricity,
who also lodged In the house. l often went
10 pay visit to the painter, who received
us in his frock, a cotton cap on his head
amid his studies littering the floor. And as
we picked them up for a closer lock, he al
most always said to us, but without the
slightest bitterness:
Garry away what you like. They do not
SELL
And, indeed, very few men in possession
of glory have spent moro time IN reaching
it. Ii is difficult TO form an idea of how
it was necessary to fight even with the
profe ssionals in art to get Corot accepted
A painter who is now famous, Rol the
author of the Joys of Life, the great sue
cess of the CEamps-de-M Mars Salon re-
minded me that at the beginning OF his
career when he was still feeling his way,
he had been In the last degree surprised to
read in journal this sentence over my
signature: .
Nothing Is mere beautiful IMAM peautl-
full Ccrot.''
Not until several years later, he con-
fessed to me, did he share my admiration
for the great landscape artist, who, to his
last day. beneath his heavy rustic wrap
ping remained a vertable flower of poesy
1 was so certain of the justice that would
be done him later that l advised all the
amateurs who talked to me OF painting TO
buy Corots. One day Albert Wolff, who
was a great gambler, accostinS me on the
boulevard, said:
LAST night 1 won 5000 francs at the
club, hut, as am sure to lose them again
tonight, 1 prefer to spend them today.
want to buy two or three good pictures
Do you know of any?'
| answered that l had just the thing for
him, and 1 took him to sort of broker
whose stall-for 1t was not even shop
was situated at the end of the Tue LATTE
at the right. This huckster was in the
habit of trading any trife with Corot for
one. two or three of his studies, which ne
took unframed and sold in the same condi-
ton
"Before long" insisted to Wolff. "these
canyases will cover themselves with gold.
Invest your 5000 francs in them, and you
will bring me good news of them
He followed my advice and bought a
dozen, which were the foundation of his
gallery. aud two CT three of which 1 saw
once more the other day, when visiting the
exposition at the Palais Galliera.
Corot left No. 10 Rue des Beaux Arts,
where he was replaced by the painter
Francois, his friend. I, too, had changed
my duu my HiiHHei u Ahc,
when, fifteen years later, in consequence of
an article which had published in LIE Fig
aro l believe, lauding to the skies mas
terriece of my old neighbor-"A Morning
at Vile dAvray." exhibited at the salon
of 1865 or 1861 received a visit from the
good Corot, who had mounted my four
flights to thank me, for there was still
much question as to his genius.
We recognized each other, and he said
to me with moving candor:
"Ohi II Is no longer 1t USED to be, they
are beginning to buy me now. Would you
believe that l have just sold my Morning
at Vile dAvray' for 1000 francs!
l do not know what has bee ome Of that
marvel. Bat whoever now should pay
15o,cOC francs for it would have magnifi-
cent bargain.
l confess that 1t was with a satisfaction
not unmingled with some retrospective van
ity, that listened the other day to the adj
mirirg EXPLANATIONS of the crowd that
stood before the works of a man whom l
had defended and extolled at a time when
his nest highly quoted studies were heaped
up in back shops, or even on sidewalks, to
the despair of picture vendors, who COM
planned that Their stock would not move.