DOI issue:
No. 174 (September, 1907)
DOI article:Khnopff, Fernand: Alexandre Struys, a Belgian painter
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20775#0324
Alexandre Struys
Certainly " things were going badly," as the each began an important work; and while .:e
saying is. future painter of The Siren was finishing his Fiat
" It was at this juncture," writes M. E. de Taeye, Lux, a big symbolical representation of Christ,
in " Les Artistes Beiges Contemporains," " that Struys for his part was giving the final touches to
Struys proposed to Van Beers to set out for his Perhaps ?—a poor violinist in his garret, for
London, after having completed a series of pictures whom Van Beers himself had served as model."
which would be certain, in that great cosmopolitan This picture, exhibited in 1873, was verv favour-
city, to transmute themselves into a respectable ably noticed. There was, indeed, more than mere
number of pounds sterling! promise in the work ; the figure of the poor
" Unfortunately, ' Bohemia' proposes and reality violinist, tormented with thoughts of his future,
disposes. Doubtless the two friends were noticed was masterly in treatment. This was Struys's real
in London, where their big hats, a la Rubens, and debut, and henceforth he was classed among the
their wide cloaks flapping in the wind made some young Antwerp painters " of whom great things
sensation ; but in spite of that the picture-dealers were to ba expected."
to whom they addressed themselves did not manage A quarrel finally separated Struys and Van Beers ;
to sell their famous works. The situation of the for some time, however, this separation had been
good citizens of Antwerp became critical when foreseen, the natures of the two men being too dif-
their funds, slender enough at the outset, were ferent for perfect sympathy to exist between them,
reduced to a few silver coins.
They thought of returning to
their own country; but how was
that plan to be brought off?
" They now set to work simul-
taneously, one starting from the
right and the other from the left,
on a colossal canvas representing 1
a magnificent view in Switzer- jilBl
land. Somebody had told them
that the English public liked
this hackneyed style of picture, I
and they had gone off instantly MiAuoa
to a photograph shop to choose
their 'site'! The work pro- WPt>.Jm
gressed swimmingly, and the
two friends had every reason to
feel satisfied. They had hashed
up a splendid Swiss landscape;
no doubt somewhat flattered; ]^Uvf/>_^yflHH^^^H
exaggerated in colour, perhaps;
but gorgeous to behold. Nothing
was omitted: neither classic '<
mountains, nor beautiful sky,
nor limpid little lakes! Having
both signed this chef - d'ceuvre
the two friends repaired to their
picture - dealer, who congratu-
lated them, and offered them
,£30 on the spot! Can you !
doubt that the offer was eagerly
accepted ? At last they had
money! At last they could j
think of leaving England !
"Once back in their own <— ' '-— " ■ ' 1 '
studio, "Sander" and "Jan" " le gagnk-pain " by a. struys
286
Certainly " things were going badly," as the each began an important work; and while .:e
saying is. future painter of The Siren was finishing his Fiat
" It was at this juncture," writes M. E. de Taeye, Lux, a big symbolical representation of Christ,
in " Les Artistes Beiges Contemporains," " that Struys for his part was giving the final touches to
Struys proposed to Van Beers to set out for his Perhaps ?—a poor violinist in his garret, for
London, after having completed a series of pictures whom Van Beers himself had served as model."
which would be certain, in that great cosmopolitan This picture, exhibited in 1873, was verv favour-
city, to transmute themselves into a respectable ably noticed. There was, indeed, more than mere
number of pounds sterling! promise in the work ; the figure of the poor
" Unfortunately, ' Bohemia' proposes and reality violinist, tormented with thoughts of his future,
disposes. Doubtless the two friends were noticed was masterly in treatment. This was Struys's real
in London, where their big hats, a la Rubens, and debut, and henceforth he was classed among the
their wide cloaks flapping in the wind made some young Antwerp painters " of whom great things
sensation ; but in spite of that the picture-dealers were to ba expected."
to whom they addressed themselves did not manage A quarrel finally separated Struys and Van Beers ;
to sell their famous works. The situation of the for some time, however, this separation had been
good citizens of Antwerp became critical when foreseen, the natures of the two men being too dif-
their funds, slender enough at the outset, were ferent for perfect sympathy to exist between them,
reduced to a few silver coins.
They thought of returning to
their own country; but how was
that plan to be brought off?
" They now set to work simul-
taneously, one starting from the
right and the other from the left,
on a colossal canvas representing 1
a magnificent view in Switzer- jilBl
land. Somebody had told them
that the English public liked
this hackneyed style of picture, I
and they had gone off instantly MiAuoa
to a photograph shop to choose
their 'site'! The work pro- WPt>.Jm
gressed swimmingly, and the
two friends had every reason to
feel satisfied. They had hashed
up a splendid Swiss landscape;
no doubt somewhat flattered; ]^Uvf/>_^yflHH^^^H
exaggerated in colour, perhaps;
but gorgeous to behold. Nothing
was omitted: neither classic '<
mountains, nor beautiful sky,
nor limpid little lakes! Having
both signed this chef - d'ceuvre
the two friends repaired to their
picture - dealer, who congratu-
lated them, and offered them
,£30 on the spot! Can you !
doubt that the offer was eagerly
accepted ? At last they had
money! At last they could j
think of leaving England !
"Once back in their own <— ' '-— " ■ ' 1 '
studio, "Sander" and "Jan" " le gagnk-pain " by a. struys
286