The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08

devotion to him while he had no great
admiration for their characters-others
he tolerated because they were useful;
while some few received both his re-
spect and affection. Mortier belonged
to the latter class. Napoleon loved the
frank unostentatious and heroic chief
tian.'' '--
To his best friend, therefore, Ma
poleon would be expected to leave his
most beloved treasure and this fact
more than any other speaks of the value
OF the treasure now enjoyed by the
residents of Minneapolis.
Marshal Mortier placed the pictur
in his private library and guarded it
zealously until his death. The efforts
OF wealthy art collectors and agents of
suade him to part with It even ven the tho
fabulous sums We're offered. At his
death he left it by his will to his
nephew, Count de La Grange, a. prom
lnent nobleman Of France.
In the same manner La Grange
guarded the treasure and refused offers
for its purchase. At his death it was
by law sold by the government. The
FRENCH law requires that when per-
son dies without will the estate and
personal property shall be sold at auc-
tion under the direction Of the govern
ment. At this sale the history of any
art relic is investigated by the govern
ment and the facts stamped upon the
sale card under the seal of France If
there is the least doubt as to the gen
uineness of any article, that fact is
stamped under the seal. The history Of
the picture was thorely investigated
and 1t was pronounced genuine. The
sale took place at the famous Hotel
Drouet. the common mart for all prop
erty in probate. Viscount de Beaupleau
was the successful bidder.
Prior to the time that Mr.. Walker
visited France, Viscount de Beaupleau
had refused enormous sums for the pic
ture.
ono one now alive would pay the
price | would ask for it, - he said, g for
in fact it is not for SALE
In 1885 the French government held
an art exhibition at which all the
greatest pictures of the age were to be
shown. All countries were asked to
contribute their best and they respond
engagements approached Viscount Beau
pleau for the loan Of the portrait of
Napoleon, but he refused until he was
informed that the committee had de-
cided to give it the central position and
that it would be safely guarded by the
government.
5. = e1 = - Z >.
This was the first time that the PEG.
pie Of France had had an opportunity
to see what was then called as the only
exact likeness of their former sovereign.
It was the great drawing card Of the
exhibition, for even at that late day
Napoleon was beloved by the people
and anything that had been cherished
by him was reverenced by them.
This little portrait, a bust picture at
that, and only % by 81 inches, was
the talk Of the artists Of the world
while they were in convention at Paris
Even tho the subject had not been
Napoleon, the picture would have been
pronounced great. The technique, the
coloring and the lifelike air Of the
picture would alone have placed it in
the foremost rank Of great works. Or
this picture the artist had put the best
work of his life. There were no EN-
bellishments nor unimportant objects tt
detract attention from the features Of
the great leader.
When Napoleon let it be known thai
he was SO well pleased with the work