Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-27

1
| The cost Of casting an ordinary sired
figure In plaster IL about 800, aud in
bronze about $1,000. When the figure Il
TO be reproduced In marble, the work Ia
done by measurements from the original,
by skilled artisan stone cutters. IL is
most won6 erful that the expression can
be reproduced so perfectly.
We were much interested In visiting
with an artist friend the julien studios,
the most famous school In Psris, and
| watching the students paint and draw
from models. They tell us 1t Is very
hard to get model who is good at
posing, but the studios are besieged with
applicants. IL occurred to US that II
might be good scheme for some Of our
Weary Walkers" and DUSTY Rhosdes''
and others troubled with "that tired
feeling" to come over here and earn n
franc an hour, sitting still, but when
they have to stand still all day, II Is u
different thing, aud good many Franks,
and rs many Bills, with an occasional
Tom and Jerry thrown 10, would be no
inducement TO Us.
Ii was also very interesting to visit the
exhibits OF the women's Art Club, and
that Of the mems, and III we do say
| it as shouldn't" the work of the women
was far superior, with the exception OF
few paintings by the most celebrated
French artists, Duran, Bonnat, Constant,
and Bouveret.
You doubtless know that the Louvre
| is the greatest and most famous art gal
lery In the world Ii takes two hours 10
walk through II, il you don't look at a
thing; but we shall not expatiate on its
wonders and marvels 10 any great ex-
tent, and only show you the most i'm
portant things, fearing you will get art
sick as well IA heart-sick, ss We have
perhaps given you enough OF dose Of
the art galleries In London.
The name OF the Louvre comes from
an ancient hunting chateau situated here
several centuries ago, In the midst OF =
forest infested by wolves, and called the
Lourerie. The present building is OF
historic MS well as artistic interest. For
years Ii was the home of the sovereigns
OF France. and during those terrible
nights and days Of the massacre Of st.
Bartholomew In August, 1872, when by
the command Of their Italian queen
mother, Catherine de Medici, the life OF
every Protestant must be murderously
sacrificed, the blood OF the Huguenots
flowed like dark stream around Ii. The
building WAS begun In l5il by King
Francis |. For about one hundred years
il has been used as museum and pict-
ure gallery. At the time Of the Com
munist war In 1871, the immense treas
u'es were severely damaged by fire.
IL Is interesting to know how the
government came into possession OF all
these costly and famous works. The
history dates from the time OF the French
Renaissance. In the sixteenth century,
when the French first began to pay
homage to Italian art and culture. The
king invited Michael Angelo, Da Vinci,
Del Carlo, and all other great artists TO
his court, aud their gifts OF works OF art
found their surest passport Into his
favor. In the reign OF Louis XIV, whose
ms gnificent style OF living Is n matter Of
history, his love Of splendor and power
induced him TO cultivate art, and m any
tre ,sures were added TO the collection ;
and later, when Napoleon'S victorious
| armies returned To Paris from csmpsigns
in Italy, Germany and the Netherlands,
th.y brought immense stores OF ransOms,
in the shape Of paintings and other valu-
able material with which TO enrich the
galleries and museums of Paris.
We will first introduce you TO that
wonderful Aphrodire, the Venus de Milo,
the most celebrated treasure OF the
| Louvre, and most famous statue In the
whole world-but you must not be dis
appointed IL she does not offer to shake
hands with you. This reno yned figure
was dug up out OF the ground by farm
er, in Milo, in 1920, and sold by him for
1920, but no amount Of wealth could
purchase it to-day, as II is c,n.idered
priceless. No one knows the sculptor,
though researches are continually being
made, but 1t is popularity supposed To be
Phidias, the great master Of 2400 year.
ago. The form Is powerful and majestic,
and plainly shows that In the days OF
true at, tight lacing was not mark OF
beauty. Even the draperies themselves
are soft and warm to the gaze, II not to
the touch, but the pure, noble, and
beautiful expression Of the face, from
which 1t seems soul shines forth and
illunines the inanimate marble, i'm
presses US far more than the exquisite
beauty Of form, and we can almost fall
down and worship at her shrine; and
find it hard to tear ourselves away from
this enthralling and irresistibly fasclnat.
ing presence.
But perhaps more inspiring figure Il
that Of the Nike, or Winged Victory, q
female figure OF heroic size, mounted or
an immense pedestal hewn from one great
block of stone, In the shape OF an ancient
boat. The whole structure was dug out
Of the earth 10 the island Of Samothrace
in 1863. The head is gone, but the
wings are so full of expression and AMI
nation and life, that they might almost
make you feel yourself endowed with
"the wings Of a dove" and could "fy
DER land and sea-"
Avid, sad story Is told OF the statu o,
the Apollo Belyidere herc-ihe story ol
beautiful dreamy girl, the daughter Of
Baron Gros, who used to sit for hours
:. gazing on the peerless statue, as II tt
yItalize that marble bosom, by thu
warmth OF her own adoring love. Every
day she came with wreaths Of flower,
and laid them at his feet. One night sh,
did not return, and when they sough
her, she was found leaning against th'
pedestal, as lifelesshnd cold as the n -bl'
god Of her alteration. Her father, al
hOn0red and wealthy portrait painter
threw himself into the Seine, from grief
soon after.
| Another celebrated picture gallery Il
the Luxembourg. This also was former
| ly royal residence, and later converted
into prison; and It here occurs to u
that about every building here that hal
any claim to antiquity, was once elthe
palace or prison. The paintings her
are only those Of living artists, thei
works being sent to the Louvre abou
ten years after their death. The gardel
is the only remaining Renaissance gardeI
In Paris, resembling with It's marbl,
fountains, balustrades, and steps, th'
famous Boboli garden at Florence. Her
Ne see the famous Bacchaute-
statue which has kicked up such . rumpu
with our Boston city fathers.
II In the vicinity. b the former chapel o
Is n0nastsry, n0toyioua tor the masseere