The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-10

same age, they soon discovered many
tastes IN common. Nine. lie brun had
a slIvery voice and frequently sang
duets with the queen, when the latter
was weary OF sitting for her numerous
portraits. Marie AntOinette soon be-
came truly fond OF the unassualing,
simply dressed little artist, who. in
turn. felt the most romantic affection
Tor her royal patron, whom she de-
clared TO walk better than any wo-
man in France, holding her head up
right with a majesty which denoted the
sovereign in the midst Of her court.
without this majestic bearing detract-
ing IN the least from the sweetness and
grace OF her " hole aspect
Nine lie Bruins friendship with roy
atty naturally subjected her during the
revolution 20 many terrifying expert
ences- Sulphur was thrown into her
cellar, and OminiOus murmurings and
nst-shakings plainly limited that if she
would escape the scan0ld she must
leave France at once. Her husband.
being fortunately absent, she took 100
louis, which she had just received for
portrait, and in the disguise OF a
working woman arrived pennuess IN
Rome.
Here her busy brush reapad for her
the same golden harvest that she had
garnered in Paris. Orders for portraits
or distinguished foreigners poured in
upon her, not least among which was
one from the pope, Plus VI. When
NINE. lie Brun learned, however, that
she must be yelled while painting his
holiness, she doubted her-ability under
such trying circumstances to do Justice
to the subject, and therefore declined
the honor. Besides many other famous
portraits, she painted two noteworthy
ones OF Lady Hamilton, one as a. bac-
chante repOsing on the seashore. an
Other as a sybil-ine pictures Of
beautiful subject, which, as works OF
art, aIterward sold in London for many
times their original value. In Rome She
also met Angelica Kaufman. with
whom she was most favorably i'm
pressed.
Leaving the Eternal City, the artist
exile Travelled over Europe. every
where received with distinction, and
admitted into the membership of the
academies Of Parma. Rome, Bologna.
Berlin, Geneva, St. Petersburg. .ROuen
and Paris
In Prussia she painted a portrait Of
the much beloved Queen Louise In
Brussels she had painted Q7S3) the ia
nous portrait Of herself in a straw hat
after Rubens' much admired "Chapeau
de Paille, which gained her admission
TO the French academy
In Russia a palace was placed at her
disposal, and here she painted many
portraits Of the royal family. The En-
press Catherine the Great also engaged
a portrait Of herself. but was stricken
with apOplexy before the day appoint
ed for her sitting
England was not behind the rest OF
the continent in comforting bonors
upon Nine. lie Brun, whose portraits
Sir Joshua Reynolds declared "as fine
as those OF any painter, not excepting
Van Dyck." GeOrgiana, the witty and
beautiful duchess Of Devonshire. Mrs
SiddOns, Herschel and his gifted sister.
and the Prince Of Wales, afterward
George ", also showed her great
honor.
In spite of all the distinction and
wealth heaped upon her she was never
truly happy. although invariably
cheerful She who was reported 10 be
so rich that she lit her fire with hank
notes and fed II with alOes wood was
in reality always poor. dressing most
simply in the muslin gown and ker-
chief populGriZed by her portraits. be-
cause OF the immense sums which she
constantly sent home 20 support her
husband, mother or daughter. In Rus
STA she managed TO save during the
first month Of her stay 5000 francs
but the banker with whom she depos-
tied them failed and she lost all. Later
on 1900 francs were stolen from her.
Her greatest grief, however, was the
unfortunate marriage of her only
daughter, to whose educa ton she had
devoted so much time and money. This
child had always been a great comfort
10 her mother, because Of her sweet
disposition, but az the age Of Il she
conceived a romantic affection for an
impecunious secretary. When Nine.
lie Brun assured her that the man
was merely attracted by her beauty
and was without talent, fortune or
family" the daughter became so III
that her mother was forced TO con-
sent giving her as a marriage portion
the result Of her st. Petersburg earn
ings. Within five years this daughter
ceased to care for her husband, refused