The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-12-03
THE ROMANCE or A PICTURE.


 William A. Coffin, in a paper entitled "souvenirs of a Veteran Collector" in the December Century, describing the unique are treasures of MT. Samuel P. Every, relates the following story of one of Meissionier's most famous paint ings:
 The picture shows Marshal Sake, with a body of troops, interrogating peasant at a crossroads in the forest, and taking notes. In 1880 MT. William IT. Vanderbilt was sitting to Meissonier for his portrait, and Mir. Avery and Mr. Lucas were invited by the artist to come to his studio during the sittings, as Mir. Vanderbilt did not speak French One day MT. Vanderbilt asked, 'fWhat picture does M. Nelson fer think is the best he ever painted?'' Meissonier, replying through MT. Lu- cas, spoke of two, the celebrated '1S14" and .Le Renseignement." The latter picture, he said, with sigh and deeply felt "helas!" was in Germany, in the hands of the enemies of France.
 It had been painted for the Exposi- tion of 1867, and was bought by M. Pe- tit. who asked fifty thousand francs for it MT. Walters had offered forty-five thousand francs, but German banker in Paris, M. Mayer, paid the price and got the picture. He was a well-knoWn collector, and his family home was in Dresden When the war of 1870 broke out M. Mayer left Paris and took the picture with him. MT. Avery had seen his gallery every time he went to Dres- den, and knew the picture. The con- yersation in the studio continued, and Avery and Lnlcas agreed that "Le Ren- seignement'' was, indeed, a wonderful canvas. Petit had tried to buy it back, but could not get 1t. It was thought it would be impossible to get Mayer to sell it, but Avery, authorized by MT. Vanderbilt, resolved to try. He did not wish to make a trip to Dresden at the time, so he wrote to Mayer that a friend of his wanted the picture, but not as matter of business. It was not to buy to sell again. The banker replied that he had often been impor- tuned to sell the picture, but had inYa- riably refused; yet now that he felt himself growing old Che had then reached the age of eighty), and that as after his death his family might not care to keep it, he would take certain price for it. He added that he might change his mind over night, for he found it hard to decide to sell. Avery lost no time in telegraphing, and the next day received the canvas by par cells post the marvellous picture was actually in his room in the hotel. A draft on London was sent to Dresden at once. and the deed was done.
 MT. Vanderbilt and his two fellow conspirators now set about arranging a surprise for Meissonier. The next day was to be the last sitting for the DOT trait. and when they arrived at the studio one of them carried parcel, which was placed in a safe corner. The sitting proceeded. and at last Meissonier said the portrait was fin ished; there was not another touch to be added. ''Now you may see me sign" he announced, and the act was accomplished with a due observance on the part of the company of the impor- tance of the moment. The artist then went into another room to put the little portrait in & frame he had ready for it. .'I,e Renseignement' was quickly taken from the corner, set in frame on the easel. and the three men stood by to see what MelSSOnler Woulu uo. " IeH he came in and suddenly saw the pic ture." says MT. Avery, "he almost went crazy in his joy. He got down on his knees before it so that he could look at it closely, and cried out, oh, mon tab tabIeaul Oh. mon bon tableau" and with difficulty found words to express his delight. He loved his picture that he never expected to see again. and his sAart was full"