The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-19

| and possible extinction by educating
the public thru bringing it face to
| face with the work of masters of the
! most glorious period of French art.
| That of men whose names are in
delibly written in the worlds book of
| fame.
! By letting the people see the cor
rect and masterful drawing, the ex-
/ quisite composition and the sane yet
beautiful coloring found in the works
of Ingres. Prud'hon. David, LIE Brun
and other artists of the Eighteenth
and early Nineteenth, Centuries it is
hoped that a demand may be created
for saner and more truthful work.
When the people are once made to
appreciate real truth and beauty they
will reject the bizarre stuff which a
great part OF the $4,000 artists of
Paris are turning out in a feverish
race with one another, in their mad
pursuit of money and notoriety. And
hoped, compel the production of good
work.
Last year the original works of
Ingres were gathered together and ex-
hibited. and this year it is Prud'hon
who is brought to the peoples atteu-
ton.
A collection of 800 of Prud'hon's
drawings and paintings has been
gathered and classified by the emil
nent authority, NJ. Henry Lapauze,
and is being exhibited in the Petit
Palais, off the Champs Elysees.
Among the most beautiful Of
Prud' hons works are his drawings
done in chalk on blue paper $50 soft
so mysterious. and which always ap-
pear as tho seen under moonlight
Arts and Decoration for August con-
tains an article on this exhibition,
which article is illustrated by a num-
Der of fine reproductions of these
chalk drawings.
Pierre Prud'hon was born at CIuny,
France, in 1853. He was the third
son of a stone mason. The monks of
Cluny undertook the boys education.
The paintings that adorned the mon
astery aroused in him a desire to be-
come an artist, and thru the aid of the
archbishop of Macon he was placed
with Devosges, director of the art
school at Dijon.
In 1878 Prud'hon went to Paris
armed with a letter of introduction
to Willie, the celebrated engraver, and
three years later he obtained the tri-
ennial prize of the states of Burgundy,
which allowed him to go to Rome.
While in Rome he became an init
mate friend of the sculptor. Canova.
In 1887 he returned to Paris where
for time he led a precarious ex-
istance painting portraits and max
ing designs for booksellers, for furni-
ture makers and for jewelry and art
objects. The illustrations which he pro-
duced for a work published by Didot,
brought him notice, and his reputa-
ton was farther extended by decora-
tions done for the Hotel de Landry, a
ceiling painting of Truth am Wisdom
for Versailles, and of Diana and Jupi-
ter for the gallery of Antiques in the
Louvre.
In 1908 he exhibited Crime Pur-
sued by Vengeance" and Justice"
both of which had been commissioned
for the assize courts, and Psyche
Carried off by Zephyrs.' These re-
markable compositions brought
Prud'hon the Legion of Honor, and
many orders for work. assuring him
permanent prosperity. In 1916 he
entered the institute.
His marriage was unfortunate and
his domestic life most unhappy. He
was consoled to some extent by an
intimate friendship with his charming
pupil, Mile. Mayer. Mile. Mayors
tragic suicide in 1921 brought ruin
to his home. and two years later
Prud' hon followed her to the grave.
Prud'hon is classed among the
eighteenth century painters, because
tho classic in foundation, his work is
tinctured by that spirit of sentiment
tality so noticeable in the work of
Vatican and other painters of that
century, a quality quite absent in the
work of early nineteenth century
French artiStS