The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-23

writing the letter, it all came back to
me"
It may be added that it all went into
the little sketch-the remembrance. and
the power. and the pathos
NJ. VerestChagin spoke specially of Cen
eral Lawton. and with a little dramatic
touch told the story of the famous white
helmet that crowned the head of that
tall cavalry leader.
They told him it would be a mark for
the enemy" he said. and he laughed at
them. but in the end he was shot dead
So" An expressive gesture completed the
sentence.
At Zapotc Bridge.
Here is q picture of the battle at
ZapOte bridge. That was d very remark
able battle, because the artillery were
such a short distance away. And here is
picture Of Napoleon outside the walls
of the Kremlin.''
1t was a lurid thing, with red glow over
all. and the figure of the Little Corporal
standing implacable, inioxible. mysteri
Gus, in the midst of the ruin of cen
turtles. After all. there is nothing like
Napoleon as a subject for battle niece
Il have also" went on NJ. Verest-
chagin, pictures of Napoleon and his
soldiers in the snow. outside the city Of
Moscow, and in many other scenes.
What do you consider the greatest of
your pictures2" asked the reporter. but
with some inkling of what the answer
would be.
"Ah"' laughed NJ verestchasin. you
do not ask father which of his children
he likes best"
Have you planned the picture of the
battle Of Santiago"
Here again was a point on which the
painter had nothing to say
The Artists secret.
The plan. the idea-that is in my
head. l have it all clear But that is my
secret"
This is not your first visit to Wash
ington?"
"Oh, no, I was here ten-twclye years
ago. And may come back here to paint
my picture. ! snail perhaps exhibit some
of my paintings here also"
Among the paintings likely to be ex-
hibited here in that event are the pic
lures having Napoleon for their subject.
and several of the studies and pictures
painted during the artists recent stay in
Manila.
president Roosevelt" he said. had
promised me the opportunity OF making
studies of some of the soldiers. If stay
here in Washington to paint my picture
| may be here for quite a long time"
CITIES Dnss;.
The talk then drifted to Russia, that
unique combination of hot and cold, west
and east, among the nations of the world
Moscow is a beautiful city" said NJ
Nerestchagin. Not as clean. perhaps. as
st. Petersburg, which is more an inter
national city-but it has much more color.
1t is more distnctively Russian Russia
is not always cold. We have summers
that are very hot-as you do-and winters
that are very cold-as you do
NJ. Herestchagin is keenly observant of
everything that is most characteristic in
American life. and shows the adaptability
and cosmopolitan spirit peculiar to the
Russian, and also to the man who has
Travelled in many lands. He is familiar
with the life and atmosphere of the
tropics. and to the wholly new task OF
picturing a typically American scene he
Will bring that curious power of disso-
ciating himself from experience and
prejudice which is one of the birthrights
of the true artist.
NJ. Verestchagin's name Is pronounced
very much as 1t Is spelled The slight
foreign accent which gives II its Russian
flavor is precisel. the thing which the
American is not likely to get without
hearing it.