The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10
Some Breezy Gossip About the
Artists in the French
Capital.
STUDENT PATRONAGE SOUGHT.
Though Most of them Are Poor
They Lead Merry
Life.

inces and the arrival of the newcomers
has been later than usual this year. For
the past week, however, the punchbowl
has been flowing freely in the gardens OF
the American Art Association. The new
arrivals are welcomed and introduced to
their brethren of the brush in this manner.
Along with the punch come petits galeaux
Qittle cakes). These refreshments are
served at 8 o'clock in the morning. That
is about the only time when you can call
all of the crowd together.
Numerous academies contend for the
known are Julien's, the Beaux Arts and
Collarossi's.
When he lands at Care st. Lazare he
asks, "Where is Julien in the best
French he can muster. Everybody knows
and can direct him Immediately to this
Mecca of his hopes. At this studio his
work is criticized by such artists as Bou-
guereau (whose best works, by the way,
are in America), Constant, Terrier,
Fleury, Laurens and Puech. The latter is
the only professor of sculpture at Julien s.
Here they draw in the academic way and
follow the strong men, the weak ones
seeking inspiration in the study of the
works of the strong-not bad idea in
theory, but retrogressive in practice when
one ate mpts to substitute momentary
inspiration for genuine originality.
The studio (of course there are others
with the shingIe swinging over them and
bearing the name of Julien) is on the Rue
Dragon, not far from the Boulevard st.
German, the old aristocratic quarter of
the city. The street is narrow one, and
has innumerable smells which may be
classified as old.
There is nothing artistic or picturesque
about the entrance-the court is barren save
many ateliers within have the traditional
dirt and dust of years. Everything is
strewn with PANTHEON, walls, ceilings,
chairs, easels and students. Even the
models come in for their share. Many
one there posing has received lasting
trademark in the form of daub of emer-
aid green and chrome yellow and Prussian
blue upon his or her loins and thighs.
The turpentine bottles must be kept in as
handy place as the paints.
On the walls hang the life drawings, each
Of which has taken a prize. Around on
shelves are rows of casts, statuettes and
canvases. Here and there are good carica-
lures of some of the students. The stove
is old and rusty. They may have a general
up UlIll6 mere once IN q QecdQe,
but l doubt it.
1t is a pleasant life the student leads.
He has score and more of companions.
All are merry, most of them are poor. Each
man has his favorjte kind of tobacco and
his pipe, and the academies are drawn and
esquisses painted and dreams dreamed in
the midst of clouds of smoke and a din of
puns and tests and all the choice bits of
slang of all nationalities, and a roar of
laughter and song which is supposed to be
possible only in the regions below. And
each gives vent to his spirits by suddenly
leaving his quiet task to mount the model
throne to sing his comrades a jovial song,
or to gambol with the models, or for a
grand wild frolic with both men and
models, as if row were the only thing
essential to his success and happiness. The
presence of the professors is the only thing
which brings absolute quiet. 1t is said,
however, that it is the Frenchman who
makes the most noise, and when he is
away on his vacation the others enjoy
greater peace.
In studio routine Monday morning
brings the liveliest time. To begin with,
the model must be chosen for the week.
Next comes the question of how each shall
be posed which is even more difficult of
amiable adjustment. Som etimes the fight
goes on the whole morning before the
question is settled. A pose lasts three
quarters of an hour and is followed by
rest of fifteen minutes. After the second
pose sortie is made upon the restaurant
near by, the Cafe de Dragon dor.
The students march down the street in
file, two by two. Their wardrobe is linn
tied. Coats and hats are LETT behind.
Some few have jumpers on their hair
Their shirtsleeves are rolled UP. All have
daub of paint upon some portion of their
anatomy. And all are yelling at the top
OF their voices. The old residents of the
Rue Dragon have long since ceased to won
der at the composite capacity of the stu
dents lungs.
The cafe is small, but we'll fitted up.
The patron (owner) comes forward, smil-
ing.
"Bon jour, messieurs"
a chorus OF bon jour, monsieur" fol-
lows his greeting and the gayety rolls on.
Chairs are piled on tables, tables are
turned upside down and studio songs are
sung.
Some take coffee, others beer and still
others wine.
Then they march back as they came--two
by two-with their mirth still undated.
On Saturday mornings come the criti-
cisms by the various professors and the
heart of the pupil is either gladdened or
saddened by the infection and information
of the masters zee n est pas NAL" The
vocabulary of the masters is limited, SO far
as criticisms are concerned. Bouguereau
has one other pet phrase. zee nest pas
luste" (values are not correct). When the
girls make caricature sketches of him at
the rue de Bien Atelier they always write
below ''Ce nest pas NAL"
The newcomer existence Is a trying
one for the first week. He doesn't know
how many "goats" he has to ride. For
merly he had to treat the whole crowd to
drinks. Now he puts in francs ($1).
The Frenchman likes nothing so much
as hazing or bullying, provided he himself
is not physically harmed or inconven-
fenced.
The Americans generally fare best at
their hands for the reason that they (the
Americans) come out winners in matters
of physical prowess and so command a
wholesome respect from the Frenchmen.
wild West Shows including an In
dian war dance and boxing and wrestling,
are the favorite entertainments furnished
by Americans. The memory of the boys
who have been lassoed in good cowboy
style fingers long in the mind of the
Frenchman and makes him leave the
American in peace. Howbeit, he does not
really like the American, but he reserves
his powers of wasp-like anncyances for
the Germans and English, whom he cor
daily hates.
The Ecole des Beaux Arts ia strong in