The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
THE SCULPTURE AT PARIS.
SUPREMACY or FRENCH ARTISTS
SHOWN AT THE EXPOSITION.
yaiguierc's Figure Of La Rochejaqusiain
a Marvel-N Notable works by Both Old
and Young Men The Centennial Exhibit
ton Of Paintings Award Of Medals.

UOu VI Thtuttn hNu"
PArla. July i4-As has been said in a pre-
vious letter, the great court Of the Grand Palni'
Is crowded with sculpture. II Is possible to
get n good view 81 all the smaller pieces. hui
the largest ones, which should be looked at from
some distance and from all sides. cannot be &c
we'll seen. Some big groups or iigurdN are
pretty s,ue 10 block the view, II ~ evident
even In a casual survey Of the international
sculpture exhibition that the French are SUI
prone and that their supremacy Is threatened
by no rivals. The United States Ia easily the
next nation to France in sculpture and in time
We may be alongside, eventually ahead perhaps.
but to be ahead would necessitate q marked
decadenoe In French sculpture and IA yet there
are no signs Of it. The art OF sculpture is native
to the soil in France and the great ~sculptors are
the natural SUCCESSORS of the stone carvers
who decorated the cathedrals Of the middle
ages with figures and ornament. The art OF
painting at that time scarcely existed In France
and the modern school dates only from the
Renaissance. Inspired by the work Of the
old masters Of Italy. the artists ~ France trans
planted the cult OF painting into their own
land and II has ever since vigorously ilourished
But sculpture IL a native art and the present
French school is founded In large part on the
work Of early Frenchmen,
BY the deattrof Alexandra Falguisre. which
occurred but a short time ago, French art
haslost one Of It's chief glories. The works that
he sent to the Exposition are IN the great sc,ilp-
ture court and the pedeStals are draped with
Orepe. A plaster cast of an unfinished group
Of two figures has been brought In since the
great sculptor's death and at the base Is laid
O branch Of palm. The two capital works
which represent him are the colossal figure In
bronze OF Cardinal Iavigerie. the missionary
priest OF Africa, whose portrait was painted
by Mr.. Bonnat. Falguiare's conception repre-
sents In its pose and action the church militant
and IL IL stirring and impressive. But the other
work evokes the greater admiration. This Is a
figure In plaster. tinted pale bufI, OF Henri
de In Rochejanuelain. the Vendean hero, the
original in bronze having been erected at Saint
Aubin, In the Vendee 1t Is one OF the marvels
Of the Exposition and certainly may be called
Q masterpiece. II is exceedingly simple In
treatment, modelled without apparent effort
and beautiful in az expression. II Is placed In a
prominent position In the central part Of the
court and go cannot be easily missed To
miss seeing it. II one anne into the Grand Palais
for a look at the exhibition OF fine arts. would
be 10 miss one Of the finest things shown In
Paris for many a year.
Mr. Paul Dubo.s's fine equestrian statue OF
Jeanne d Nc ~ here, as are several Of his busts
IN bronze Nid a marble tomb statue Of the
Due d'Aum1e. There can he no question
Of the great merit OF the Jeanne dare, but
the action OF the figure Is not so happy as It
might be. The statue looks best from in front.
A side view shows that the figure makes a
rather angular series Of lines. The head Is
appraised and the chest, covered with armor,
as Is the entire figure. Is In pronounced for
ward pose. The hips are well back In the
saddle and the legs again come far forward,
being extended with the feet In the stirrups,
The right arm. held out from tho body and
bent. makes two other angles with the sword,
which points upward The expression Of the
face Is rather boyish. In spite Of these features,
which must have been made as they are by
the great artists thoughtful purpose but which
we cannot altogether like. the statue is f1ne In
general effect. and Of course in the style Of the
whole there Is the breath Of great art that We
find In all the work Of Mr. Paul Dubois, The
recumbent marble figure Of the Due d'Aumale
Ia wonderfully beautiful. II deserves only
the most unqualified praise, Remembering
that the figure Is In a Generals uniform with
boots and that there Is no cloak or accessory
drapery whatever. the pure beauty Of this
figure becomes the more q matter for admira-
ton. The tomb statue Of Alexandra Dumas,
fls. by so great a sculptor as MIR. Saint Mar
oeanx. which is also here. and has the advan-
tase Of being clothed in a gown with ample
folds. though fine and reposeful, Is not such
distinguished art az the work Of Mr. Dubois
Mr.. Saint Marceaux's other contributions to
the eleven years exhibition include a group
Of thrcc floating figures. Our Destinies" SOD,
Q very sympathetic bust in marble OF Mrs.
Bant-MarceauH and n bronze bust in the style
Of the Italian Renaissance Of Mr.. Dagnan-
Bouveret 1t Is altogether a fine exhibition.
Me~r> Mercie, Guilaums Barrias and other
famous sculptors are represented by some
Of the finest works they have executed in the
past decade. but We need not particularize.
In tho cave Of the veteran Fremiet. however,
special mention seems but a duty. This re-
markabLr artist is now at the age Of 70 years
a vigorous NJ ever IN his work and shows no
stens Of failing powers. His statue Of II. Mich
AL C2es): his high relief. -Omang-outang stranc-
ling a Savage" t268). and another. Man Of the
Stone Age and Bear, which shows a hunter
who has killed n she bear and IL dragging of
Q half-grown cub by the ears. and his fine re-
cumbent tomb figure Of Madame Dru t?7l),
bear witness to his v%irility and his thoroughly
sculptor-like temperament. Mr., Fremiet IL a
sculptor first Of all and assiduously ~practises
hLs art, In one Of the buildings on the Esplan-
ade des Invalides there is an exhibition by the
MAison More of all of Mr. Fr6miet's work
The large figures and groups are shown IT
reductions. In many m American home IL
his "Crrdo. /" the crusader in chain armor hold
ing his banner Of the faith. but doubtless few
know the nameof the artist who made II. There
ae dozens Of other creations the product Of
his busy brain and skilled hands and all are
0ood, some Of them s,perlatively 40.
Some Of the younger men among the French
ooulptors vie with their famous seniors In the
bsauty and excellence Of their creations. Thus
one Of the most beautiful works OF art In the
court Ia the Juno" t92), a seated nude figure
Of SURPRISING charm. with a peacock at her
side. by Mr.. Antonin Carries. a man OF great
talent who has not yet turned 80. Mr.. Saint
Maroeaux. by the way. IL a man OF middle age
also. Mr.. Dalou. another not much II any
older. makes a very strong exhibition. and 40
do Messrs. Fagel. Gardet. who show groups
0f tigers. lions and panthers; Pech, Puech,
0audsz and a good number Of Others. Most
brilliant and most promising. finally, Is the
showing made by the youngest men Of all.
pupils OF Cavelier. Falguiare, Jounroy, Mercie,
Barrias and other masters equally renowned.
Who preserve the traditions of the French
school and give evidence In their work Of very
remarkable talent and much individuality OF
te~mperaments. Here are Mr.. Hippolyte Ie-
AAhvra rth hta AAlso.n,alr Ill