The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-10-14
KING OSCAR AND ARTIST zORN.
Iatter's FranknesS In Dealing with His ROYAL
Customer About a Recent Portrait.

Tho most conspicuous object in The swedish
pavilion ~ tho Paris Exposition is n splendid
rull-hgure portrait " King Oscar H.. painted
in oil hv Anders Iorn. the artist whose work
was 50 popular in this country during and after
tho Worlds Fair. II has been widely repro
duccd as the latest portrait Of tho popular
monarch. There Is n later one by the same
artist, however, and an amusing story is told
concerning II.
When tho portrait which now adorns the
Swedish paviliou in Paris WIS finished King
Oscar vas 50 pleased with n that no sent one
n his chamherlain~ 10 Iorn with tho message
that he wanted tho artist 10 GO to work nj once
on n bust portrait " smaller Slzc.
YES answered Porn. in his usual shrill nasal
tone. looking ANYTHING but pleasant. Yes.
yes all right But toll his Majesty that I don't
want 10 paint him in uniform. ! don't want
il. and I am not going To do II. Will you no
sure to toll his Majesty thar
YES" replied tho chamberlain with n smile.
and thon no returned to the castle and told The
King that /orn was ovcrjoyed by the honor
shown him and would he happy Ia begin work
on tho new portrait At a stated date and hour.
The King, who possesses m fullest measure
the politeneSS oNuectnd 4 princes, was more
pnnctual AT The first sitting than the artist.
When Zorn. n little late. Was ushcred into the
royal presence he discovered At one" that the
King was in uniform
Why he exclaimed inhCSilllngIN, IN prclIV
much the same tone h" had used IN the cham
horlain, Il said ! didn't want to paint your
Majesty in uniform.
with n glance II surprise ~ The indiScrcet artist
Well, well. welt. m%utter"d Iorn,. while no
nut his easel in order But then I'll tell YOUR
Majesty in uniform ! shall have to charge my
""fiow much il that" inquired the royal
Iii +, .. 600 francs, your Majesty. &" explained
Zorn. But If your Majesty will change clothes
I'M only charge my small price, which Il 1000
"""WcL unused the King. trying to look very
serious That's a ycry, big sum, 5000 francs,
Whv my dear Xorn, III tell YOU what I'll do
think shall have 10 change clothes.
The King retired to his privat" apartments
for a short whil", and, Nhrn he appeared AGAIN
vntn citi2ou. The portrait WAS finished in
eleven or lively" sitting, Tor Iorn works very
quickly. To keen III" King entertained dur
ING those TRYING hours a member Of his suite.
thD Court Councillor Bo"ttlg'r, read aloud 10
him out Of she ~" volumes "l poeirN which Ming
oscar has published. Every now and then
tho Id Councillor paused as II n%v"rnw"d by
The beauty al the poetry and III" Kings poetry
Is f Eg, 'r ,6a, Iii3 %a, T" w N"G TT ira'l he would oy-
claim. 1t is. indeed. II lin" worthy OF a m"u-
arch and a poet -
B,cttigrry" the kirg would suggest, looking
pleased IN spite 81 nj" efforts 10 appear indi-
irr,nt. ON one uf these occasions the incor-
rg bile painter suddenly looked ny from his
Whats ,hat," no broke in. who wrote
Nj. Zorn." the Councillor "Sp Istulated n
hnrrur.,tricken voice. this j. Iii Maiesty's
own poetry | am reading
We'll. well. we'll, did your Majesty really
write that the painter remarked, uuabaShcd.
That j. rather ME-, | must SAY
Whothcr thn I'D King took the remark aS a
commitment la q rough form ur regarded II a
the uttrrauor of u spoiled child, hr only smiled
and did not rrId'.