DOI Heft:
No. 268 (July 1915)
DOI Artikel:Thomson, Croal: The Paris Salon of fifty years ago, [1]
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21213#0113
The Paris Salon of Fifty Years Ago
SKETCH FOR “THE DEATH OF THE STAG”
Corot’s sketch from memory of his great picture,
Environs du Lac de Nemi, in the Salon in 1865, is
extremely interesting. It is a wash drawing, and was
reproduced in “ L’Autographe au Salon” by a
half-tone process; this in the sixties was an under-
taking of great technical difficulty; and, without
being precise, it seems to have been one of the
earliest successful productions of its kind.
Corot’s picture was so much admired that many of
his friends wished him to be awarded the Medaille
d’Honneur, or principal honour of the artistic year.
Many “ ballotages ” took place in the voting, but
ultimately, to the extreme disappointment of Corot’s
admirers, he came out second. In 1874 the same
rejection of Corot occurred, and it was in that year
that Gerome was given the place of honour.
Gerome was a clever draughtsman and a cleverer
art politician. Fifty years ago he was producing
pictures such as The Prisoner of the Nile, The Duel
after the Ball, and other works of this character
which were greatly admired by critics at the time.
BY SIR EDWIN LANDSEER, R.A.
We now look on these as simple illustrations and
not possessing any great artistic qualities except
that of brilliant dexterity.
There is a grudge against Gerome in the direction
indicated. Like all French artists he wanted to
obtain the Medaille d’Honneur of the Salon, and
in 1874 he used all his influence to secure it for
himself. Through powerful wire-pulling by means
of his pupils (for he was at the head of a large and
successful training school) he obtained his ambition.
But my grievance is that his opponent in the
voting, being dear old Camille Corot, who was then in
his eightieth year, Gerome showed no consideration
for the veteran painter. Corot did not live another
twelve months to have a further opportunity to
attain to the highest position French artists can
bestow on their colleagues. But his individual
admirers met and subscribed for a special gold
medal of their own, which the great landscape
painter received very shortly before his death.
Gerome was only fifty-nine at the time and lived
93
SKETCH FOR “THE DEATH OF THE STAG”
Corot’s sketch from memory of his great picture,
Environs du Lac de Nemi, in the Salon in 1865, is
extremely interesting. It is a wash drawing, and was
reproduced in “ L’Autographe au Salon” by a
half-tone process; this in the sixties was an under-
taking of great technical difficulty; and, without
being precise, it seems to have been one of the
earliest successful productions of its kind.
Corot’s picture was so much admired that many of
his friends wished him to be awarded the Medaille
d’Honneur, or principal honour of the artistic year.
Many “ ballotages ” took place in the voting, but
ultimately, to the extreme disappointment of Corot’s
admirers, he came out second. In 1874 the same
rejection of Corot occurred, and it was in that year
that Gerome was given the place of honour.
Gerome was a clever draughtsman and a cleverer
art politician. Fifty years ago he was producing
pictures such as The Prisoner of the Nile, The Duel
after the Ball, and other works of this character
which were greatly admired by critics at the time.
BY SIR EDWIN LANDSEER, R.A.
We now look on these as simple illustrations and
not possessing any great artistic qualities except
that of brilliant dexterity.
There is a grudge against Gerome in the direction
indicated. Like all French artists he wanted to
obtain the Medaille d’Honneur of the Salon, and
in 1874 he used all his influence to secure it for
himself. Through powerful wire-pulling by means
of his pupils (for he was at the head of a large and
successful training school) he obtained his ambition.
But my grievance is that his opponent in the
voting, being dear old Camille Corot, who was then in
his eightieth year, Gerome showed no consideration
for the veteran painter. Corot did not live another
twelve months to have a further opportunity to
attain to the highest position French artists can
bestow on their colleagues. But his individual
admirers met and subscribed for a special gold
medal of their own, which the great landscape
painter received very shortly before his death.
Gerome was only fifty-nine at the time and lived
93