The Washington times., 1906-07-08

sculptor, will commence early this week
his preliminary work IN designing the
decorations for the Municipal Building
This contract, which amounts to some
s24. 600 was awarded 40 Mr. de Nesti and
the contractor. William II. Bairstow.
In the decorations some twenty figures
nine feet high. will be used. and the
work win, as soon as commenced. be
pursued without unnecessary Interrupt
ton.
While II will be difficult in this city
to secure good models for some Of the
work no pains viii be spared TO keep
the decorative features contemplated IN
a proper relation 10 the fine home now
| In progress of construction for the city
officials Superstition does not seem to
enter very largely into the arrangements
of these two young men. to whom this
| important contract has been intrusted
as the large studio or worshop where the
plaster models for this work Will be pre-
, pared. IS TO be located IN the rear OF 1913
Thirteenth street. Mr. de Nesti will re-
main IA the city all the summer. as the
/ condition Of the work before him VIII
require his constant attention for some
time 10 come.
Jules Breton's Death.
The death of Jules Preton. on July s.
has removed from the list OF French
artists one OF It's most notable painters.
Born May l. 1927. at Courrieres CPas-de-
! Calais his early life was spent among
! the simple people OF France. from whose
/ quiet lives he derived tho inspirat on
which found expression through the ME
! dunn Of his art Unlike Millet. B-eton
evidenced a joyousness IN his work
1 which was wanting in the sOmber types
/ Of peasantry. selected by Millet for his
/ pictures. While Breton painted pes.s
| ant types. his peasants lacked that mark
] OF poverty and depression OF their sur
! roundings which gave 10 the studies Of
Millet a feeling that the poor were be-
| ing kept by their environments outside
/ Of the opportunities Of Improvement.
While the parents of Breton were poor
| his progress in his ART studies does not
/ appear 10 have been handicapped. and
/ at an early age he secured recognition.
/ His work was recognized by a medal Of
/ the third class in the salon of 1850, a
| second class medal was awarded TO
/ him in 1857. and in 1853 he received
medal Of the irst class. From his first
| success in 1885. he steadily advanced IN
the line OF art achievement until he had
l
/ country could bestow upon him. Dec
GRATED with the ribbon Of the Legion OF
I Honor. promoted TO the position OF an
officer. and a commander. he was not
! without honor IN his own country. A
/ large number Of his pictures were pUr-
I chased by the French government and
were given prominent place in the Lux
embOurg.
In the work of Breton there IS al
ways found a profound sentiment OF
rustic beauty. His peasants were never
/ OF the vulgar type little removed from
la condition Of slavery. Labor vas by
/ him pictured with dignity and sanctity,
/ Like many other painters, his work
| passed through different methods Of
| technique. but in this change the idea
/ OF beauty remained the dominant char
: acteristic. While in later years he
painted with a greater breadth, and
seemed 10 be able to present upon his
canvas mere Of the beauty OF sugges-
tion, this change only emphasized
greater power OF expression. rather
than q change OF ideals None could
discover IN his work d hidden thought
which would tend 70 a feeling OF pity
for the days OF toll which he so ably
pictured, The happiness Of labor found
in him an ardent advocate. In all OF
his work can be found a sweetness OF
thought. a poetic sentiment, which
placed Breton among the list of the
most popular painters of France.
For more than fifty years he labored
industrioC- y. His works have been ap-
preciated not only in France, but have
secured a worldwide recognition. Their
human interest has appealed 10 the
popular taste in all countries, and the
many reproductions OF his famous paint
ings have made his work well known
not only among art lovers, but among
that wider circle OF those who appre-
ciate the class OF work that appeals 10
the heart
Art Photo Exhibition.
Tho Photographers Association OF
America. the national society with which
the State associations are afhliated. is
now engaged in the preparation OF an
exhibition OF d hundred choice examples