The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-01
VAN BEERS FAIRY PALACE.
Marvels of the Paris Home of the
Fl Celebrated Flemish Painter

New York Times.
"a Modern Cagliostro' is how some
one described Jan Van Beers, the Flemish
artist, after a visit to M Van Beers
house in Passy, near Paris. This house is
regarded by those who know of it's ex-
lStence as one of the most remarkable
in the world. Few. outside of the artist s
intimate friends have BEEN admitted with
In its portals and the privilege, to go over
it is. eagerly sought by art lovers who
visit the French capital
The house Is the realized dream of NJ
Van Beers existence. He planned it many
years ago, when 1T seemed impossible of
being anything more than a dream and
many more years were spent after the
artist had become rich and famous in
carrying his plans out The house is
near the Bois de Boulogne and the forti-
hcations,. in "a. most picturesque situation
The exterior Is artistic, but not conspicu-
Gus. Once behind the doors, however, the
visitor finds himself in a modern fairy
land-a palace like those described in the
Arabian Nights" only of much more
civilized design.
1t is only possible to hint at the glories
of this house. The entrance hall is In
varying tints Of green, hung with great
curtains copied from picture by Paul
Veronese. The candelabrum is a copy of
the.E famous one in the cathedral Of Milan,
except that myriads of electric lights take
the place of the candles. Leading out Of
the hall Is a room which is usually en-
tirely dark except at one end, where a
mood of artificial light is thrown on a
hfe-sized tinted statue Of Eve the effect
OF realism being startling in the extreme.
In another room are thirty sized color
ed kittens scampering over the frieze, and
other details of decoration copied from
the 1nfanta's palace at Saragossa.
Passing up a splendid staircase, one
finds himself in the picture gallery 1t is
in the Greek style, hung and carpeted
with purple, and each picture Is on q
bronze stand crowned by a reflector,
which throws electric light on the work
A little Japanese room leads to the
artists bedroom, which Is in the Indo-
Chinese style, the colors being bright
green orange and gold. 1t is more or
less reproduction of the palace of Ang-
Korwat, in India: The bed consists of
four enormous palm leaves carved in
wood. On the ceiling is a colored bas-
relief representing a prince and princess
and their courtiers in a bark rowed by
thirty oarsmen. Facing the bed is
window, outside which is panorama so
skillful1y painted that close examination
is needed before one realizes that he is
not looking at landscape in Hindustan
The room Is lighted by branches Of metal
flowers, studded with emeralds
The dining room Is a riot Of famous
decorations, copied from cathedrals, pal
aces, halls of justice and other buildings
throughout Europe. The windows are
copies Of the rood loft at Limoges and
their support consists of undraped female
figures with transparent wings studded
with garnets From the center of the
ceiling hangs q big gold and silver bell,
suspended from a terrestrial globe at
tached to golden sun surrounded by
clouds. In and around these clouds are
angels-young and old-in high relief
The dining table is of glass and brass
the light coming from below, alternately
pink and yellow. It's center is a square
of ivory, framed in brass and studded
with precious stones. 1t is made to dis
appear at will, in its place coming up a
trayful Of fruit or other delicacies.
What has been described hardly begins
to tell the wonders of the house. NJ
Van Beers, much as he dislkes those who
wish to see his palace out of curiosity, is
less rigorous with Americans than with
persons of any other nationality, and q
visit to Paris can certainly not be COM
plete in future without at least an at
tempt to see this modern magicians s
abode