The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-06
Antonio Fabres.

Antonio Fabres, the well-known painter
who IL "A native Of Barcelona. began what
was 10 prove a terrible struggle with fate
under a handicap which might we'll have
overwhelmed him At the outset. From his
childhood his parents seemed to take IL
for granted that he was no cleverer than
the rest OF the family.
II was only for this reason. I'm all prob
ability. that he was allowed To become a
student At the Barcelona Fine Art school
at the age of 10.
Ills family was very poor and his at
tendance at the art classes was contin-
ually interrupted. At the most critical
period Of his studies he had to combine
the duties OF sickroom attendant and art
student establishing in this time repu-
tstion for artistic talent and an equally
great reputation for irregular attendance.
Then one fine day it is announced that
the pupils Of the Barcelona school are to
compete for the Prix de Rome for the
best piece of sculpture a prize, given an
nually. of S10 month for two years. en-
sbling the winner To live and study in
Rome
"A pity you have not worked little
harder, Fabres, SAYS his professor 10
him 'you might have gone up for IL and
had as good a chance as any one.
This speech set the pupil thinking. ana
when the time comes mo entcrs his name.
All the preliminary tests no passes win
nying colors Finally. the competitors
are narrowed down 20 FIVE, OF whom he ~
one. The subject for competition ~ th.
Death of Abel. p" life-Si2c. 10 be Compl'S ed
within two months Such a reduction
| will cost money. however: the necessary
| clay has to be bought. model paid. BY
sIperhuman eNertionS the lad scrspes to-
gsther the equivalent OF 81. which. even
in Barcelona will not go FAR. somehow
| or other the clay il procured aud model
I f.sr
| small fee. aud ~ the end of month the
| work In already far advanced. Then
black despair enters the attic ana the
| young sculptor begins to destroy what
| he has done.
| Are YOU mad
II il the voice of the school attendant.
| whom chance has brought there al the
II ought not to tell YOU" adds the man,
| "brt I have seen the work of the other
! four. and not one of them has done any
| thing that can touch this.
! Fabres scceps the augury. and h-fore
| the appointed day his statue ia completed
fresh difficulty now appsls him. 70
| rarrN this heavy mass of clay safely u
| the place where the jury sits VIII neeo
| half a score Of strong men. VINO mu~l
| be paid Tor their labor Long since th'
| little store OF silver coin has taken wine
| and the Young sculptor knows none W
| Rarceions who will advance pesets.
! lie goes out into the street ana nola
] hires eight men. when they are ready
20 begin the work he makes - clear
| brcsst of his position. ~ am ahsoluteiN
4 rtthou money. There is the statue. VI
1 h takes the prize I will pay you: " not
| vot v,iu have worked foT nothing VII
| vou assist me-
| rbe mems hesitation docs not last long
| without another word they set to Work
| NNhat wonder N in rscountne the inciden
| todaN-a quarter Of y century later-sn
| toUto Ishres does 80 With evident emo
| tion. .. -
4 few hours later he Is proclaimed win
| .er of the prizs. In his own family An
| t.nto fs Instantly elected hresd.winner
| FOR the monthly payment meant wesUh
| several of his relatives accompany him u
| Rome aS A. was clear that ne could NJ"
| h. tr,isted alone with 40 much money .-
| The November pearson's Magazine