Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-17
THE MASTERS
ART PALETTES
IN COLLECTION
By FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Washington, d. c., April t.
Palettes of number Of famous
artists of the nineteenth century
collected by the late George A,
Lucas of Baltimore, are on display
at the Cocoran Art gallery here.
Two little oblons pieces of WOOD.
besmeared with dark daubs Oh
paint, are souvenirs of Camille
Corot, the celebrated French paint
er of landscapes. Visitors to the
collection linger before these WOOD
en- plaques imagining how Corot
must have chosen from them the
colors for some Of his famous
woodland scenes. They are told
that one of these palettes--the one
with a little red seal bearing Corots
signature in one corner-Was an
outstanding feature of interest at a
French salon exhibition some years
ago. After Corots death a friend
reverently took this palette to mis-
studio, along with Corot's pipe ana
one of his picturesque red anu
white Normandy caps worn on
sketching trips.
Constant Troyon, who is now. re-
garded as the painter who has best
cows and has painted
them with the most sympathy, is
also represented by a palette in the
Lucas collection. Daubigny, Jules
Breton, and Charles Boughton are
among the other well known paint,
ers whose palettes were presented
to the American connoisseur.
1t is an unusual collection A
painters palettes ordinarily are
cherished by his family or thrown
away as mere discarded tools OF no
Importance or value. Yet a palette
is the most personal belonging OF
an artist. 1t is perhaps too much
to say that the character of the
artist may be read in the paint nc
smears on his palette, but artists
say that the palette of Corot or
Millet is a lesson in the man
method of working. One old artist
advised a pupil: IF you would pc
come a great painter study assld-
uously the palettes of those VINO
have gone before you"
The layman looking at ~ pal
cites, some oblong and some oval
but all more or less alike to hlm'
sees only the outstanding dltter-
ences. He is attracted by the large
palette Of DelacroiX on which AZ
blobs of color are laid in neat rows.
This was an old style way OF laying
a palette, he is told. Most of the
artists apparently reveled in more
emotional use of color. Their pal
cites were presented to the collect
or practically as the artists lelt
them after some piece of work. eX-
cept that in a number of cases the
painter cleaned off a space in the
center and dashed off a sketch.
Artists in Carcfree Mood.
These studies add greatly TO
the interest and value of the pal
cites. They represent the artist
in a carerree mood with no thought
of painting to please the public or
to make a sale. One artist sketch ..
ed in fresh colors a fawn and kid
dancing gaily. Another painted
the head of a Persian cat looking
out realistically from its back
ground of notified color. Still an
other painted a dim landscape in
soft. dark colors fading into the
blurred frame of paints.
But among them all, Corots un-
decorated palette is the greatest
attraction. Now, when his work
brings fabulous sums and when his
palette is treasured as priceless
souvenir, it is difficult to imagine
that this French painter was for
years unappreciated by the arr
world. At the salons his pictures
were badly hung so that the light
was either too glazing or too dim
for the picture to attract any at
tention. Once the artist tried
standing in front of his neglected
work-a landscape that would
draw crowds at any exhibition now
He reasoned that if some one APP
peared to be interested in the pic
ture, others would be attracted tc
come and look at it. Finally q
honeymoon couple strolled up.
The groom SAID: THAT is not
bad. I think there is something ir
that" And Corots heart leapec
with appreciation.
And the bride. whom Corot de-
scribed as the softest and gentles
little person. drew him away witt
shudder and said: ut Is fright
full. Come on" And Corot ends
the story: "And ] said to myself
Art thou satisfied? Thou has
heard the opinion or the public.
Troyon. too, the master painter
of cows, was unappreciated in his
day. One star says that when q