New-York tribune., 1912-04-21
DAGNAN- -BOUVERET
Impressions of a Recent Visit to
His Studio.
Paris. March 26.


Paris, March 26.
One of the most interesting studios IN
France is that of Dagnan- Bouveret. who
is Just now putting the finishing touches
on his picture the Marguerite au sab
bat" which will be exhibited in the ap-
preaching Salon National. Upon enter
ing the studio one sees standing at the
far end. lighted by the great north win
dow. the Gretchen Of the "Walpurgis
Nacht." Her fair hair falls In heaVy
masses on her naked shoulders. from
which a thin drapery has slipped down.
disclosing the left arm and BOSOM mod
elled with exquisite skill. With ner e
vous pressure of the left hand she seems
TO draw together her slender ralment'
while with the right she clutches the IN
fan: at arms length. Thus the youns
woman holds the child Of her sham'
with its face turned away from the
spectator. while she CaZes before her
almost denentcd with terror and grief
In the lurid glare Of ,h5 flames. hal,
yelled in the drifting smoke the young
and eager face Of Faust Is looking tow
ard her. and close beside him the shad-
owy features Of Merhisto with Their
mocking smile of victory.
You must have had considerable diff
ficulty." said the visitor, TO find model
suitable 10 the subject without going 10
Northern Europe for that fiaXcn hair.
fair complexion and tall stature 1T
was not easy" NJ. Dagnan replied; blu;
] found. perfect sitter for my MAJ
guerte. She is a pupil Of the Conserva
tore studying for the theatre. The
hair Is the very thing ! wanted. and the
, tall figure, but / must give few touches
To the eyes and increase little the ner-
Vous action Of the fingers" The glow
Of light cnveloping the figure reminded
one Of the mystic halo that bathed the
figure Of Christ in the Last Supper-in
an ambient light But the lurid flames
that encircle the form OF Goethe's hero
inc illuminate her with magic fires. The
attention of the beholder is deXterously
directed 10 the distracted Countenance,
the mass OF loose hair and the hands 50
expressive Of hopeless desertion. The
depth of blue violet sky behind the head
and bust gives relief by contrast. bu.
this deep color blends harmonicusly with
blue tinged with green behind the golden
light falling on the figure.
NJ. Dagnan related his experiences
while making studies for this work. He
made a great many small Studies with
minute care. and. as is always the case
with this master he gave the utmos; at
tention to the drawing Of the hands. He
made sketches direct from nature to
give a true impression Of the fires Of the
"Walpurgis Nacht' by causing numbers
of little heaps Of dry grass and plants
10 be lighted in the garden. which he
rapidly noted down while the tongues
Of flame glimmered through the smoke.
He also lighted masses of paper i'm the
CRATE to study the reflected tones and
coloring on his model. That there will
be no discordant note to the praise thai
this picture will certainly meet with
would be to hazard too much. Genuine
art connoisseurs will appreciate the
qualities of this special art" the per-
feet drawing and modelling of the fig
ure and the learned distribution Of light
and shade. There were some admirable
little drawings Of girlish heads. One
charming study,in colored chalks partic-
ularly pleased me. 1t showed youth