ROMANCE OF A GREAT PAINTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 141, 4 March 1918, Page 6

ROMANCE OF A GREAT PAINTER

DEATH OF FELIX MOSCHELES. The death recently occurred at Tunbridge Wells of Felix Moscheles, tho great portrait painter. Born in London on February 8, 1833, ho was the son of Ignaz Moscheles, the distinguished pianist and composer, and the lifelong friend ot Felix Mendelssohn, after whom his son was named. . Felix Moscheles was educated first at King's College, and was then sent to Hamburg and Karlsruhe. His childhood was spent amid a charmed circle of literary and artistic celebrities, who included Mendelssohn, Joachim, Malibran, Lablachc, and Canto Gabriel Rossetti; and in later years tho list was extended by many of tho most famous characters of the age. In 1816, Ignaz Moscheles was persuaded by Mendelssohn, to migrate to Leipzig to tako over the directorship of the Conservatoire there. Felix was sent to the Bauschule, where he acquired a taste for architecture, and then to the Thomasschule.

At this school he received tuition in drawing from a Ilerr Brauer, whose successful methods determined Moscheles in the choice of art as a profession. After some exciting experiences during (he stormy days of 18-iS he went, in 1850, to Paris to pursue bis nrlistio studies. Hfc arrived in the days of the Republic which followed the flight of Louis Pbilinpe. smd he witnessed the coup d'etat which placed the fugitive on i'he throne as Emperor A lucky arrest brought Moscheles into touch with Mine. Achillo Fould, whose husband was then at the head of affa/rs, and who was a warm friend- of the Moscheles family. Through the good offices of Hiis lad." and hev sister, tha young artist was introduced into Hie best circles of Parisian society, and tho introduction, coupled with his Quartier Latin experiences, eavf him n. unique ii"f[iiai»ta'nce with the French language, life nnd character.

ire studied ai the Atelier filoyrn. wiiere lie made the acquaintance of Dn Maurier, with whom lie struck up a friendship. His iuterp"iir3e.witl> I'm famous "Punch" nrtist lie has amnsimdy described in his "In Bohemia with Du Maurier," which is lavishly illustrated with slap-dn°h sketches from-Du Manner's, pen. In another autobiographical work. "Fragments of an Autobiography" describes how h? obtnirierl his first portrait commission nn the Qnais of Paris: and from that time onward he achieved a well-deserved reputation as a portrait painter. Tn W2 he naintal n fine trait of Mnz7.ini which niter his death h» offend to the Italian nation, hut the offer was refund. Tn 1875 Du Manner inserted in "Punch" a portrait of the artist whieli lHncd him in his vpoi'i'f and ultimately led to his marriage in the gnme veav to Miss Mni-Rpret Kobernheim. Moscheles had already besiin to mler«st himself in the nuostion of international arbitration and universal nonce, a suhiect upon which he hnd an interestin" conversation with CleveInnrl duriu? a visit tn America in the •„;„i.Hpc TTp eivw-' 1 th» Atlantic with Henry Irving and Ell-n Terry, carryinn, a useful introduction from W"fnfovninir, one of his earliest friends nnd a constant visitor at his studio, tie painted Cleveland's portrait, and o ™; or two later produced, x fin" portrait o. Browning also which 1 f-"nd a home at Hie Armour Institute, Chicago.