New-York tribune., 1903-07-15
VICTOR HUGO'S HOUSE.
The Opening of One of the Most In
tereStiRg Museums IN Paris.
Paris, July l, 1903.


graves" Les Feuilles dAutomne' Les Chants
du Crepuscule" Les Rayons ct les Ombres."
and began Les Miserables' and Les Contem-
plations." has been transformed into one of
the most interesting museums of Paris. 1t was
turned over to the city authorities yesterday
by n. Paul Meurice, the poets lifelong friend
and literary executor, and in a few days will be
open 10 the public. Americans coming to Paris
viii find the museum worth a visit. 1t is
interesting not only to the admirers of the
writer, but claims attention model
object lesson in the art of honoring the memory
of a distinguished citizen. The idea has been
carried out thoroughly and in excellent taste.
and elicits marked approval from all who have
seen it, Victor Hugo's House is something be-
tween a museum a library and private dwell
ing. The building itself dates from the year
1908, and the first tenant of the house-whch
now bears the number 26 in the Place des Vos-
ges the old Place Royale-was Marshal de
Lavardin, boon companion of Henry ", who
was seated in the carriage with the King at
the moment Of his assassination by Ravaillac.
Another tenant was the celebrated courtesan
Marion de Lorme fact which inspired Victor
Hugo with the idea of his romantic drama bear
ing the frail beauty's name. The house is built
OF red brick, like the others in the Place des
vosges.
Victor Hugo lived in the second story of his
alent Of 5000 fact that supplied the subject of
cleverly drawn caricature by Daumier which
hangs in the staircase. The sketch represents
a concierge, or JanitOr, receiving a visitor in
quest Of an apartment. What. Do you mean
20 ask 800 francs for fat in the Place des
Vcsges? Why. the price is ridiculously highT'
"Ah," replies the concierge, you must bear in
mind that if you take this apartment you can
see Victor Hugo rise dress and go out at least
hall A Too1Yl
succeeded some months ago in obtaining the
lease Of the whole building. The broad stair
case is lighted by spacious windows and orna-
mented by a finely carved iron balustrade. The
walls OF the stairway are covered with seven
hundred sketches and drawings relating to Vic
tor Hugo. Some of them quiz and make fun of
him There fifty sixty original drawings
20 illustrate his works
The collection of theatrical posters and pro-
grammes covers the period from 1880 to the re-
cent performance at the Theatre Francais
the occasion Of the Victor Hugo centenary. This
is, perhaps, the most complete collection OF the
atTtcal programmes in Paris. One finds here the
programmes of all the first nights of Hugo's
plays. When the first story is reached one finds
q superb sideboard carved by Victor Hugo him
self. who a clever workman with plane and
chisel. At the entrance to the picture gallery
two superb busts of him, one by David
poet at the earliest and the latest period of his
life. In this room are plaster casts of the poets
head made Immediately after death by Dalou.
There are also plaster casts of the poets right
and left hands, taken at different periods of his
life. These hands are being studied by Nine.
Thebes, by Mr. Cheiro and by other prominent
readers Of the lines of the human hand
On the walls the paintings ordered two
years ago by the city of Paris from noted
There is a merry painting representing Don
Cesar de Bazan by Roybet; there is a melan-
choly Fantine by Eugene Carriere, and there is
a clever picture by RaffaelH representing the
people Of Paris marching by the windows of
Victor Hugo's house. IN the Rue Avenue d'Ey-
lau, on the occasion OF the poets anniversary in
1852. Roll has contributed two fine pictures of
the funeral of Victor Hugo One of these de-
picts the coffin and catafalque beneath the Arc
de Triomphe during the night preceding the
funeral lighted by torches and gas lamps COW
cred with crepe One of the most successful
decorations is the scene of the trial of Jean
Vatican, painted by Dewambez. Jean Paul
Laurens depicts the death of Pierre Baudin as
the deputy of the people of Paris as he fell dead
on an omnibus transformed into a breastwork
the scene so graphically described by Victor
Hugo in 'L'Histore dun Crime" Besnard's
painting Of the first representation of "Ernani''
ruary %, 1890 is considered the strongest work
Of this artist. The moment chosen is Just be-
fore the rise of the curtain. 1t was the great
battle Of the ''romanticists,' Of whom Victor
hugo was the champion. The persons in the
orchestra stalls nearly all portraits One
sees Theophile Gautier standing back to the
stage, and hurting epithets at the public. His
famous red waistcoat gives splendid color note
10 the picture. Fantin Latour's canvas repre-
senting a satyr, is another vivid bit of coloring
So also is Notre Dame de Paris wherein Luc
Olivier Merson exhibits the Paris mob as
sembled at the Place de Greve and insulting
Quasimodo, in the hands of the executioners,
while Esmerada, accompanied by her white
goat mounts the steps and offers q mug of
water TO the wretched man about be be-
headed Willette has painted a remarkably
spirited picture of Gavroche gathering car
tridses from the pouches OF dead soldiers and
filling his basket with the precious ammunition
for his friends behind the barricades Roche
crosse has painted a battle scene from the
''Burgraves'' in which the armour and weapons
CLEAN fiercely in the light and the venerable
white bearded sovereign gesticulates with fury.
The gallery contains portraits of Victor Hugo
by David dangers, Bastien Lepage and Bonnat
The second story is reserved for sketches and
drawings Among these are fifty water color or
india ink designs, executed by the poet himself
These are well done lead to the convic-
tion that Victor Hugo, if he had so chosen
might have become a great painter. Some of
blacks and whites are conceived along the bold
lines which characterize his poetry His weird
landscapes with impressionist coloring-nade
long before the impressionism of Manet came
into vogue-arc indeed a revelation. 1t is aston