Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-11-29
THE PRIZE OF ROME.
An Annual Award by tho French Cover
nput For IT Works

An annual award by tho french SCNcrn-
ment For Art Works.
The French nation has for many years
owned a handsome palace in the Eternal
City, as Rome is frequently called. This
Is known as the Vile de- Medici It is a
beautiful building, standing in the mid
die Of a garden filed with statuary and
fine old trees, commanding a 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
arc 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 examinations are very
searching, and the successful candidates
are greatly enyied, as well they may be,
for, having won their houors, they are
housed, fed and provided with a 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
mUre 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, a subject is given
out-perhaps some incident from the
Bible, or an episode from a mytholog-
zeal 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 i'll charcoal Of the
subject.
Another selection is made, and those
chosen then make paintings This time
ten canvases are selected and their au
thors 60, 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 a 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-
fled 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 q hero and that he is carried
lround the Latin quarter on the shout
lers Of bis companions. The strain Of
he past few months is over, and we
nay forgive him if he gives way to
lot Of boisterous nonsense for a few
hours. To No. there is some consola-
ion for so narrowly missing the great
nd he has aimed for, a sort Of "conso-
alton prize" being awarded to him in
no shape Of a sum Of money that ena
lies him to travel for a year. Besides,
10 will compete the next year, and It
happens that the second man
me season is the successful competitor
f the year following.
The winning picture is hung perma-
Iently in the school, and the happy man
6es to Rome Each year he must send
ome evidences Of his application and
rogress, that the state may know he is '
his time. IA Famous o
french Painter" by Arthur Hoeber. in s
t Nicholas.