the ways of men(人们的手段)-第22章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
animals。 The role which honest 〃Bourico〃 fills so well abroad is played on
this side of the Atlantic by the American husband。
I mean no disrespect to my married compatriots； on the contrary； I
admire them as I do all docile； unselfish beings。 It is well for our women；
however； that their lords； like the little Oriental donkeys； ignore their
strength； and are content to toil on to the end of their days； expecting
neither praise nor thanks in return。
69
… Page 70…
THE WAYS OF MEN
CHAPTER 14 … 〃CAROLUS〃
IN the early seventies a group of students … dissatisfied with the cut…
and…dried instruction of the Paris art school and attracted by certain
qualities of color and technique in the work of a young Frenchman from
the city of Lille； who was just beginning to attract the attention of
connoisseurs … went in a body to his studio with the request that he would
oversee their work and direct their studies。 The artist thus chosen was
Carolus…Duran。 Oddly enough； a majority of the youths who sought him
out and made him their master were Americans。
The first modest workroom on the Boulevard Montparnasse was soon
too small to hold the pupils who crowded under this newly raised banner；
and a move was made to more commodious quarters near the master's
private studio。 Sargent； Dannat； Harrison； Beckwith； Hinckley； and many
others whom it is needless to mention here； will … if these lines come under
their notice … doubtless recall with a thrill of pleasure the roomy one…
storied structure in the rue Notre…Dame des Champs where we established
our ATELIER D'ELEVES； a self…supporting cooperative concern； each
student contributing ten francs a month toward rent； fire； and models；
〃Carolus〃 … the name by which this master is universally known abroad …
not only refusing all compensation； according to the immutable custom of
French painters of distinction； but； as we discovered later； contributing too
often from his own pocket to help out the MASSIER at the end of a
difficult season； or smooth the path of some improvident pupil。
Those were cloudless； enchanted days we passed in the tumbled down
old atelier： an ardent springtime of life when the future beckons gayly and
no doubts of success obscure the horizon。 Our young master's enthusiasm
fired his circle of pupils； who； as each succeeding year brought him
increasing fame； revelled in a reflected glory with the generous admiration
of youth； in which there is neither calculation nor shadow of envy。
A portrait of Madame de Portalais； exhibited about this time； drew all
art…loving Paris around the new celebrity's canvas。 Shortly after； the
government purchased a painting （of our master's beautiful wife）； now
known as LA FEMME AU GANT； for the Luxembourg Gallery。
70
… Page 71…
THE WAYS OF MEN
It is difficult to overestimate the impetus that a master's successes
impart to the progress of his pupils。 My first studious year in Paris had
been passed in the shadow of an elderly painter； who was comfortably
dozing on the laurels of thirty years before。 The change from that sleepy
environment to the vivid enthusiasm and dash of Carolus…Duran's studio
was like stepping out of a musty cloister into the warmth and movement of
a market…place。
Here； be it said in passing； lies perhaps the secret of the dry rot that too
often settles on our American art schools。 We； for some unknown reason；
do not take the work of native painters seriously； nor encourage them in
proportion to their merit。 In consequence they retain but a feeble hold
upon their pupils。
Carolus； handsome； young； successful； courted； was an ideal leader for
a band of ambitious； high…strung youths； repaying their devotion with an
untiring interest and lifting clever and dull alike on the strong wings of his
genius。 His visits to the studio； on which his friend Henner often
accompanied him； were frequent and prolonged； certain Tuesdays being
especially appreciated by us； as they were set apart for his criticism of
original compositions。
When our sketches （the subject for which had been given out in
advance） were arranged； and we had seated ourselves in a big half…circle
on the floor； Carolus would install himself on a tall stool； the one seat the
studio boasted； and chat A PROPOS of the works before him on
composition； on classic art； on the theories of color and clair…obscur。
Brilliant talks； inlaid with much wit and incisive criticism； the memory of
which must linger in the minds of all who were fortunate enough to hear
them。 Nor was it to the studio alone that our master's interest followed us。
He would drop in at the Louvre； when we were copying there； and after
some pleasant words of advice and encouragement； lead us off for a stroll
through the galleries； interrupted by stations before his favorite
masterpieces。
So important has he always considered a constant study of
Renaissance art that recently； when about to commence his TRIUMPH OF
BACCHUS； Carolus copied one of Rubens's larger canvases with all the
71
… Page 72…
THE WAYS OF MEN
naivete of a beginner。
An occasion soon presented itself for us to learn another side of our
trade by working with our master on a ceiling ordered of him by the state
for the Palace of the Luxembourg。 The vast studios which the city of Paris
provides on occasions of this kind； with a liberality that should make our
home corporations reflect； are situated out beyond the Exhibition buildings；
in a curious； unfrequented quarter； ignored alike by Parisians and tourists；
where the city stores compromising statues and the valuable debris of her
many revolutions。 There； among throneless Napoleons and riderless
bronze steeds； we toiled for over six months side by side with our master；
on gigantic APOTHEOSIS OF MARIE DE MEDICIS； serving in turn as
painter and painted； and leaving the imprint of our hands and the reflection
of our faces scattered about the composition。 Day after day； when work
was over； we would hoist the big canvas by means of a system of ropes
and pulleys； from a perpendicular to the horizontal position it was to
occupy permanently； and then sit straining our necks and discussing the
progress of the work until the tardy spring twilight warned us to depart。
The year 1877 brought Carolus…Duran the MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR；
a crowning recompense that set the atelier mad with delight。 We
immediately organized a great （but economical） banquet to commemorate
the event； over which our master presided； with much modesty；
considering the amount of incense we burned before him； and the speeches
we made。 One of our number even burst into some very bad French verses；
asserting that the painters of the world in general fell back before him …
。 。 。 EPOUVANTES … CRAIGNANT EGALEMENT SA BROSSE ET
SON EPEE。
This allusion to his proficiency
