Studio: international art (15.1899)

Charles Cottet

Ceux qui fen Vont Le Repas d''Adieu Celles qui Restent

'au pays de la mer." a triptych (In ike Luxembourg Museum) by Charles cottet

CHARLES COTTET'S "AU his own pure lustre; and one turned towards him
PAYS DE LA MER" AND as t0 tne flame' giving out a generous, comforting
_„TT„ „ TTT/-,T^T^r. heat. The civilised world can never sufficiently
OTHER WORKS. , .....
mourn the great artist it has just lost.
In that new generation of artists the Born at Puy in 1863, Charles Cottet, after two
encouragement of which may well be a years' study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, became
source of pride to the Societe Nationale des Beaux one of Puvis de Chavannes' pupils. One would
Arts, in that group of painters whose aim it is to be hardly suspect it; and herein lies proof at once of
real painters, without a thought of "varnishing the master's large-mindedness, and of the pupil's
days " or Sunday exhibitions, M. Charles Cottet independence and vigorous temperament He also
rightly holds a leading place. He finds himself, be studied under M. Roll, and in 1889 showed two
it said at once, in excellent company, for among his pictures in the Salon desChamps-Elysees—LaBonne
•compatriots are MM. Lucien Simon, Aman-Jean, Vieille and La Salle verte a Camaret. Even then,
Rene Menard, J. E. Blanche, Le Sidaner, Duhem, I am sure, one might have discerned the germ of
^nd La Touche ; and among his foreign compeers, those gifts which M. Cottet possesses to-day ; for he
MM. Albert Baertsoen, Emile Claus, Thaulow, Leon is not one of those artists who bursts suddenly on
Frederic, Frank Brangwyn, and Eugene Vail—to the public gaze with some lucky bit of artistic sen-
name but a few of them. All their various talents sation, which gains a medal, to be for ever quoted
were displayed at the Champ de Mars, for the high after the winner's speedy relapse into mediocrity,
moral personality of the great artist who for seven Thoroughly to understand and fully to appreciate
years was President of the Societe Nationale offered the ability, the beauty, and the honesty of M. Cottet's
encouragement and fine example to every new effort, work one must have studied it, as I am happy to
and attracted to these exhibitions even the most have done, year by year from the days of the first
antipathetic spirits. An artist like Puvis de Cha- Salon of the Champ de Mars in 1870, when he ex-
vannes, with his own mission—and such a mission hibited UAnse de Toulinguet and Un Orage sur la
—to accomplish, might well have been lacking in Meuse, down to the period of his triptych, which
interest as to what others were doing. But he was contains the essence of his work during the past
too conscientious for that. The young artists who nine years—all his work, in fact, to the present
went to him for advice know that better than any- day.

body else. They remember his generosity too, and Examine closely the series of illustrations now

the gracious, kindly words with which he was wont published, chosen with a view to giving a general and

to greet them. There are those who contend that, —as far as possible—complete idea of M. Cottet's

in regard to the material interests of the Society, work, and it will be apparent that his remarkable

M. Carolus Duran will make a better President, gifts stand out with great clearness. One cannot

That is a matter which concerns us little. Puvis be insensible of the deep and moving sentiment of

de Chavannes conferred a lofty prestige on this nature pervading them, or of the intense emotion

.association of artists; he shed upon it a little of they arouse. Beneath the rigid fidelity of his work,
XV. No. 70.—January, 1899. 227