The Monmouth inquirer., 1925-01-22
pEsrKoY HElR owN plcruRga
Cases Where Artists and sculptors
Sacrifice Masterpieces.

Sacrifice Masterpieces.
Many artists have destroyed their
pictures aud statues, 50 that only
their best work should live after
them. When Hogarth was almost at
the height Of his fame he painted an
interior which was Somewhat severe
ly criticised sg friend. The artist
acknowledged the business OF tie critic
cism. and when his flanS friend h2d
feft the studio be toag a eaarp knife,
deliberately c;t the canvass in two,
and threw the pieces into the coal
scuttle There they were found the
following day by one OF the maids,
who took the pieces home Some
time afterwerd the story OF the ruin-
ed picture reached the ears of a rela-
tive of Bogarfh's, who thereapon went
to the maid and asked her to sell him
TIE pieces. She agreed to do SO, but
when she went to look for them one
half had vanished. search was made
and Inquiries instituted, bat with no
result, and the relative had to be con-
teat with half of the picture, which
is now in the possession OF Hogarth's
descendants in Aberdeen Hogarth
was but one of many artists who have,
in a tit of discomfort destroyed their
own works. M. Jules Flanmeron, In
an interesting article on the life OF
the late sculptor, Gerome, tells how
the great artist had been working for
many weeks on an ideal group symbol
king the birth of Spring, and had al
most completed the clay model. when
he suddenly became convinced that
bis treatment Of the subject was
wrong one, and with one blow Of his
clenched hand he reduced the grace
full group to mere mass of Inert
clay
Charsran, the famous French por-
trai painter, once destroyed a picture
for which he was to receive, when
completed, the sum of $1,000. Tne
portrait was that of an American lady
famous for her beauty. When the pic
ture was nearing completion the nus
band of the lady called at M. Char
trans studio in Paris and requested
to be shown the portrait. After LOOK
ing at it for few moments he de-
clared that it was very beautiful
aainting and that the coloring was
superb, but that it no more resembled
his wife than it did the Empress OF
China. Charran merely bowed, laid
down his brush, and then, taking out
his penknife, deliberately slashed the
picture into ribbons before the eyes
OF his astonished visitor and showed
him to the door The sequel to the
story came out later when it became
Known that the millionaire husband
hsd visited The studio for the express
: urpese OF getting the artist to make
& reduction II bis price.
Put perhaps the most dramatic case
OF an artist Goslrcying his own work
occurred in New York when Gutzon
Borglum. the wesl-known sculptor.
rose. early one morning and made his
way to Belmont Chapel Of the Ca
thedral -ofs SC. John the Divine, on
AIorningsids Heights, and broke TO
pieces his two statues, colossal in their
representing the Angel OF
the Annunciation and the Angel OF
the Resurrection. The cause OF this
remarkable act was due to the sculptor
having been severely criticised tor
and executing these statues
as beautiful women. When seen after
ward by the excited reporters he SAL
that he felt like q murderer, but that
it was the only thing he could do UNI
der the circumstances. Mr.. Borglum
took away with him the heads Of the
NO angels and one foot, which ne in