International studio (20.1903)

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" A YOUNG PEASANT

FROM A DRAWING IN PENCIL BY ALPHONSE LEGROS

impossible conditions. Poverty and sickness pur-
sued him, and creditors too. Then it was that
Whistler, who was leaving for London, gave him
hope of work in England. Legros followed his
friend's advice. On reaching London, whither his
reputation had preceded him, he was warmly
welcomed by two of the noblest figures of the
modern English school, D. G. Rossetti and G. F.
Watts. Thanks to their efforts the voluntary exile,
so sadly misunderstood by his own people, obtained
charge of an engraving class at South Kensington
Museum, which enabled him to keep his head
above water for several years. A little later another
friend, as noble and disinterested as the others,
Sir Edward Poynter, gave up to him, by the most
delicate subterfuge, the post he himself occupied

at the Slade School, University College. This
position Legros held from 1876 to r8Q4.
During this long period his paintings were of
necessity few. He sent practically nothing to the
Paris Salons, except in r88o, when he was repre-
sented by the and in 1882, his
exhibits then being engravings and medals.
Nevertheless, ever since his start in London he
had contrived to keep up a more or less regular
connection with the Parisian exhibitions. Thus,
in r86y, he showed his AA
(Stoning of St. Stephen), which was acquired by
the Luxembourg. Success was coming to him in
his own country now that he was far away !
This picture was afterwards sent to the gallery at
Avranches, where it was unhappily destroyed in a
15