International studio (20.1903)

Legros in this wild battalion, whose leader was
Courbet, just as they had enrolled Bonvin, Fantin-
Latour, Bracquemond and Whistler. The ^zz^/zz.s',
which appeared in 1859, tended greatly to strengthen
his growing celebrity. Baudelaire devoted two
long pages of his subtle, rare and exquisite poetry
to this simple, precious masterpiece, which re-
minded him of the " ardent simplicity of the old
pictures." The painting has long been in the
possession of the illustrious English etcher, Sir
F. Seymour Haden.
In 1861 appeared the .ZLr Fhzi? (now reproduced),
belonging to the Dijon gallery, and better known
since its appearance at the Universal Exhibition.
The picture created an outburst of applause on
the one hand, while on the other it formed the

object of the most violent attacks. The women,
" fixed" with a realism, powerful, but calm and
unexaggerated, kneeling or standing at the foot of
a post bearing the image of the Crucifixion, with a
streaked background of red and gold, set in a
vague and misty landscape suggestive of dream-
land : this group, which moves the beholder by
the deep conviction silently animating every face,
young or old, fresh or wrinkled, attracted the
bitterest criticisms. Legros was accused of " re-
viving the scandal of the
and the critics were right in their keen-sighted
hatred when they associated him with Courbet.
Nevertheless, Legros received a " mention."
About this period Legros, who was still living on
the produce of his lessons, made a little trip to
Spain in company of one
of his pupils. The visit
lasted but a fortnight, and
Catalonia was the only
district they traversed.
Thus Legros had no
chance of seeing the art
galleries ; but the impres-
sion he received was such
that for a long time he
lived on his memories,
as may be seen in his
works both painted and
etched; but only in the
Louvre did he make
the acquaintance of the
Spanish masters who had
such an influence on his
imagination.
To this inspiration
may be traced the Zzz/wz.
There is quite a little story
attaching to this work.
It was ill received in the
first place at the Salon of
1863, where it was hung
in a deplorable position;
but in 1868, after having
taken out one of the
figures, Legros sent it in
again to the Salon, where
it won a medal. This
greatly pleased his ironical
spirit.
The year 1863 was the
date of his departure for
London. The Zzz/rz'/z
had been composed under


PORTRAIT IN GOLD POINT OF CHARLES DARWIN BY ALPHONSE LEGROS
fTz; /L' CW/zYVztv? y C. y. -Ery.J

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