Evening star., 1898-05-28

now Nine. Bouguereau, and Lucy Lee Rob-
bins. who is also blessed with a foreign
name and still under her American appella-
ton exhibits figures not always clothed.
but probably in their right mind because
they are right in drawing; and Mrs. Went
worth, who is now a marquiSe. with a pic
ture in the government gallery of the Lux
embourg? Or shall they emulate Mary Cas-
satt. who has gone her lone and indepen-
dent way since she left Philadelphia, many
years ago, and is now esteemed by all Pa
risian authorities for her advanced art
quite the latest impressionism - without
ever having had a medal at all? The con-
clusion of every such discussion is invaria-
bly, that-the Salon must be got into.
UngalIant Male Students.
The male student imagines that the
American girl will have an easier time of
it this year than himself He has already
been complaining of the girls for some
years past. To his suspicious mind they
take advantage of their weakness. He
charges them with slyly changing profess
SorS till they find one susceptible to their
coaxings and entreaties. 1T is such a lit
tie thing, professor And 1T is not as if
1 were man, professor 1t may be only
a poor little miniature born to blush un-
seen in Its little corner throughout the two
months of the exhibition and then be pack
ed away triumphantly to Kalamazoo or
Springfield. but there it is, and there is no
getting over 1t that one more American girl
has got into the Salon.
The young men have to go about matters
more Systematically. Some have begun a
year before, and have sacrificed part of
their summer vacation, and brushed in and
out SO many of their hearts aspirations
that they have hypnotized themselves into
believing their canvas second to none but
the best of the old masters. month be-
fore the pictures have to be sent in, to be
sat upon by the jury, all the great art
classes are thinned out in the afternoon II
Is understood that the absentees are work
n thair Col af..s,,
have private studio work at home. others
get quarters in the studio of some indulgent
friend who knows what the Salon fever is
himself.
Field is Limited.
Half the space at each Salon is reserved
for the members; that is, for artists whose
reputation is already established. Half the
rest is sure to go to older men who are
long since out of the classes. So there is
little enough chance for the raw student
but he goes in for it all the same When
at the last moment, he has left his picture
in the hands Of the attendants who are to
deposit 1t where the jury can inspect it,
the breathless young man is dazed by re-
ceiving No. 1900 for his receipt And he
knows that only 800 will be hung Alto
gether, of which about 200 will be chosen
from among those still in the classes. 1t Is
then he reflects with bitterness on the
American girl, who takes away his chances
of fame and so forth.
see one of his professors privately-one or
other of them is sure to be on the jury-to
confide to him his Salon aspirations and
ask leave to show his picture to him. for
final advice, before it is sent in. The pro-
fessor, who has been there himself is
obliging and promises to remember his
pupil, occasion offering. And he keeps his
word. unless the canvas he is invited to
consider is too, too bad-a regular crust"
as the French say. BENJAMIN Constant
who has reason to like Americans who
give him so many orders for high-priced
portraits. will even visit the struggling
young artists studio, take up the brush and
put in dab of bright color of his own to
remind him of the promised favor when the
picture comes up before the dreaded jury.
The Model ms Guest
1--WE all go today-come, I'll give you a
ride!" says the artist nervously to his
model, when the picture is finally to go off
to the Salon. She-it is regularly she for
the male students, the girls often choosing
to paint gaunt Italian men or boys-is sure
to be on hand. The picture Is hers quite
as much as the painters, and she is bum
died into the handcart along with the fin
ished and framed canvas If the artist is
popular, his friends come to give him a
send-off. and he. too rides triumphantly
while the others push the cart to its desti.
will not break the struggling art student
One after the other comes up to the
great arch of the Galerie des Machines.
where the two salons are housed together
this year % acounk q ths yreparasAons