The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-22
LABELLE FRANCE EVER
VICTORIOUS IN ART

WHO are the great war painters?
IA French.
Even from defeat, in 187o-71, they
suatched . triumph for art. What
pictures Of that great struggle have
won International fame? The Eng
lish? The German? No, and no
again. Detaille. de Neuville-thoSe
are names that Immediately come to
MIND when the subject II military
painters is preached.
M~eissonier, too, is at once recalled.
though his military pictures usually
go back to the Napoleonic wars. His
fame us a painter of military subjects
extended far beyond the boundaries
OF France; yes, even into the heart of
Germany. For when the late Will
liam II. Vanderbilt wanted to buy a
military subject the artist Informed
him regretfully that it was owned In
Munich. Nothing daunted, however,
the American bought it by Telegraph,
and one fine morning when MelS-
sonier walked into his studio the can
vas greeted his eyes. II had returned
from its %Sojourn III a hostile country,
but the artist. who va Il warm friend
of MIR. Vanderbilt, was glad TO have
il go IL America.
This anecdote regarding Meis-
sonier is pertinent at this tine be
cause that great painter OF scenes
from the conflict OF 1S70-71. Edouard
Detaille, was graduated from Meis-
sonier's studio. Detailie's gra- d.
father was an army contractor, aud
it vas n emo i'll the family that
the father had at the age of four run
across 81 village street just IL front
OF Napoleon's horse. For playthings
the future artist OF the French army
in peace and war early sought toy
cannon and tin soldiers. The RaItet
autographs OF war scenes. SOM of
which were recently reDrod Icnd in
the Herald, took the place with him
Of pictures in fairy books. His
%fayorite OF St. German. Even in
school he covered the margins of his
books and the pages of his copy books
with drawings OF soldiers.
He was less than 10 years old when
his father through a family friend
sought Meissonier's influence TO gain
studio OF Cabanel. But MeissonieT
on looking over Detaille's sketches
found them OF such pronounced
talent that he promptly too the
youth for pupil himself. Then began
q development SO swift that in a year,
Detaille exhibited his first picture, en-
titled The Interior of Meiss nier's
Studio"
Bought by Princess Mathilde.
The most charming of anecdotes,
because it illustrates so wildly the
French passion for art, is told Of his
second picture. entitled l. Hattie des
Tarnbours' (Drummers Resting). One
OF the models from who the young
artist painted il became so fascinated
by the picture that when it was
finished he offered Detaille all his
savings S0Of. (s160), for 1t. A con
n~oiseur, this model, but also shrew6
at q bargain. He had recognized &
fne thing, he had obtained it, he was
enhanced. But when, on the opening
day of the Salon. Princess Mathilds
offered him 1,50Qf. $4,000 for it II,
sold 1t to her.
All this is appropriate to all exhi
pition or what is perhaps a sum
mary OF the artists ripest work in tn,
galleries Of Messrs. Mani, Joyant &
Co, No. SIS w. Forty-ffth street
There are several pictures by Detaill
in the Metropolitan Museum Of Art
and they are always greatly admired
whether the times be of war or O
peace. But the exhibition in uues
ton consists OF the large series o
superb plates which We're made 10
his monumental work. Types ct Uni
army ever was celebrated by such
painter laureate? Surely none.
is in itself a veritable triumph fC
soldiers to have such a celebrant. N
other country has n series of plate
so numerous and SO splendid. by
paAhtSi 81 great. Every GfSIdFlI
In the series is Il masterpiece of til
art of d~elineating the soldier.
~Unequaled was the training Of tn
artist for this task. A pupil Of Mei
Sonier, who was himself a gre;
painter OF the old French army. D,
taille afterward saw war with his Ow
eyes. Nor did he go directly fro
studio to war. He had prelimina,
experience of q more general cha
acter. They developed and co
Tirmed his technique and made hi
ready for they great careers up
which he waste enter. During tt
preliminary period, brief althous
IT was. he made numerous open q
studies. which already gave a hint
- the clean luminous atmosphere OF
later pictures.
Fought for France.
In the spring OF 1870 he was
Alglers sketChing and painting Ara
in their white b~ernouses. But t