The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-08
French Fair
Exhibit Real
Art Triumph
War Failed to Prevent the
Sending of Masterpiece
to San Francisco.

TINE French pavilion at tho
I'anama-pacifc International
Exposition at San Francisco
tnkos q prominent position because of
It's unique artistic and cultura. merits.
Right IN the midst Of its struggle for
existence. vixen apparently every one
Of Is energies was required for tho
supreme efforts II was making to
maintain intact its ancient national,
prestige. France. instead Of content
ing Itself with a fairly good. mediocre
showing. has achieved "A masterpiece.
The pavilion is an exact reproduce on
OF the famous Legion Of Honor Build
Ing designed in 1886 Ivy the architect
Rousseau for that Prince de Sam
whose head was one Of the first to roll
into the basket of the guil.otine. 1t Is
80 precise n recreation that the mould
ings ~ the has reliefs and the capitals
of the Cortnthian columns and other
parts of the bu ding in Paris have
been presented nv France to the Uni
yersity of Callforria's architectural
department. after having been used
In the construction Of the pavilion.
In the courtyard. Immediately be-
fore the main entrance. stands Roiins 3
Thinker" one OF the worlds mastcr-
pieces VI art. At present. In its per-
haps somhre yet calm appearance of
brooiing and mcditat on. IL seems
symholloal ~ tho serious yet upper
turred hearing Of the French in the
present cris :. As you enter the build
Ing from the courtyard through this
central entrance you come face to face
again with another and more direc,
symbol Of French character-the
statue # Armed France" the France
Of military genius and glory. executed
BY \ fred Boucher before the present
war.
The first of the distinctively ma
Conal artistic achievements is the
showing OF GObelin tapestries. ancient
and modern. The second $ hardly in
ferior in interest. being the world
famed china OF Sevres. Founded by
Louis NV, and since Their maitained
by the French Government, tho Looms
OF Gobelin supply the decorations for
the pa.accs of France and d
those tapestries with which the French
Government honors its distinguished
royal VISITORS or guests. While 4 is
true that tapestries were woven n,
Gohelln prior To the patronage OF
Louis NV, it was nevertheless under
tnat King that the looms became dedi-
Gated exclusively to work of his char.
acter' The materia.. is wool and silk
Inc tapestries are woven to-day in the
same fashion as in the beginning.
Modern.ty has merely developed. no,
Done away with. this most ancient
arr. IL takes from a year to a, year
ana a ha!f TO produce a square yard IF
tnis exquisite stun. and every work.
man is an authentic artist.
Inc pieces spread upon the walls
OF the main salon are by lie Brun. tho
great director II the looms under
LOUIS NV. They represent the bs.-
ties OF Alexander the Grea.. Tn.
tapestry IN the entrance. over tie stair
way, Is by Cormon. one OF the most
eminent modern French artists. IL
depicts a scene from the career of the
Due du Barry, and was made for the
town hall Of B9urges. \ feature of
this royalty magnificent display of Tn,
G"he..n tapestry which is OF ~peculiar
Interest to Americans is the exhibit OF
ire designs which were not finally car
~ AspblS y i ' W I1tu lie
desired to have a set Of tapestries thin.
shoiid portray modern battles. Among
the designs which were to rave been
worked out upon tho looms were p..-
lures of the battles OF Yorktown AMI
birthstone H.ll,' probably meant
Tor Bunker Hin
The second main artistic cuntrihu-
Ton, the Sevres china. Is grouped neal
the entrance. The china works o.
sevros Is one more instance of til.
patronage @. a king. Louis XVI. com =
mandcd its establishment in order =,
compete with the work of the Ger
mars al Dresden. Tie Sevrts works
are at 81. cloud, that region SO favored
BY American visitors TO France.
From gigantic vases des'pned "a
Decorate the staircase ~ lordly man
sions, dow to the most exquisite IL
lie m for the boudoir and GOV
oring a great range Of objects. this
Display ~ Scvres ware Is a revelation
Of applied art. The famous Sevre-
blue, the equally celebrated and unique
biscuit white, are exempliied in n
WIDE variety. The impreSs of indiVil-