The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-01-21
rHE RoMAnce OF ! ploruRE.
Meissonier's Favorite Painting Res
cued from a German.

cued from n German.
William A. CONN, In a paper entitled
Souvenirs of a Veteran Collector" In
the Century. describes the unique art
treasures OF Mr.. Samuel p. Avery. OF
New York. Mr.. Coffin relates the fol-
lowing story OF one OF Meissionier's
most famous paintings:
The picture shows Marshal SAKE.
with body Of troops. interrogating a
peasant at a crossroads in the forest.
and taking notes. In 1850 Mr.. Will
lam II. Vanderbilt was sitting 20 Meis-
sonier for his portrait, and Mr.. Avery .
and Mr.. Lucas were invited by the I
artist to come to his studio during the /.
sittings, as Mr.. Vanderbilt did not I
speak French. One day Mr.. Wander /
bilt asked. what picture does NJ.
Meissonier think is the best he ever
painted?" Meissonier, replying through
Mr.. Lucas, spoke of two. the celebrated
1914" and lie Renseignement." The
latter picture, he said, with a sigh and
a deeply felt "helasr was In Germany,
In the hands of the enemies of France.
1t had been painted for the Exposi-
ton Of 1867, and was bought by NJ.
Petit, who asked fifty thousand francs
for 1t. Mr.. Walters had offered forty
five thousand francs, but a German
banker in Paris, NJ. Mayer paid the
price and got the picture. He was
well-known collector, and his family
home was in Dresden. When the war
Of 1879 broke out, NJ. Mayer left Paris,
and took the picture with him. Mr..
Avery had seen his gallery every time
he went to Dresden, and knew the
picture. The conversation In the stu
do continued, and Avery and Lucas
agreed that lie Renseignement" was.
indeed, wonderful canvas. Petit had
tried to buy 1t back, but could not get
1t. 1t was thought 1t would be impossi-
BILE to get Mayer to sell 1t, but Avery,
authorized by Mr.. Vanderbilt. resolved
to try. He did not wish to make trip
to Dresden at the time, so he wrote TO
Mayer that friend of his wanted the
picture, but not as matter of business.
1t was not to buy to sell again. The
banker replied that he had been often
, importuned to sell the picture, but had
invariably refused; yet, now that he
( felt himself growing old Che had then
reached the age of so, and that as after
, his death his family might not care TO
keep it, he would take a certain price
for 1t. He added that he might change
I his mind over night, for he found Il
= hard to decide to SELL Avery lost nd
t time in telegraphing, and the next day
. received the canvas by parcels post
: the marvellous picture was actually In
0 his room in the hotel! A draft on Lon
o don was sent to Dresden at once, anC
I. the deed was done.
/. Mr.. Vanderbilt and his two fellow
9 conspirators now set about arranging
: surprise for Meissonier. The mex
day was to be the last sitting for tn,
: portrait, and when they arrived Mt TIL
studio one of them carried a parcel
Il which was placed in safe corner. TIL
g sitting proceeded, and at last Nelson
!, Ter said the portrait was finished; Their
y was not another touch to be added
Now you may see me sign" he an
i, nounced, and the act was accomplish
% ed with a due observance on the par
;. of the company of the Importance Q
IA the moment. The artist then went Int
10 another room to put the little portra
III in a frame he had ready for it. II
~ RensVignement' was quickly take
@. from the corner, set In a frame on I'll
w easel, and the three men stood by I
o. see what Meissonier would do. "Whc
IS. he same in and suddenly saw the pi
nd ture," says Mr.. Avery, "he almost wei
r. crazy in his Joy. He got down on h
a knees before it so that he could loo
at it closely, and cried out, oh, me
II. bon ,ableau! Oh, mon bon tableat
and with difficulty found words to e
presA his delight. He loved his pi
ture that he never expected to s.
again, and his heart was full"