THE GREAT BATTLE PAINTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 188, 31 July 1876, Page 4

THE GREAT BATTLE PAINTER

Horace Vernet was born in Paris in 1789. His father was also an artist, and distinguished for the same speciality which his son followed, namely, the painting of battle-pieces of large dimensions. After arriving at the age of twenty, Horace Vernet made rapid strides towards fame until he was justly esteemed the first artist ot school, either ancient or modera. Ife was created a chevalier of the Legiou of Honor hy Napoleon iv 1814, au officer I of the Legion of Honor by Charles X., in 1825, a member of the Institute in I 1826, and wus made a Director of the Aca lemy at Rome in 1828. Among bis famous works, ail of which are of > very large dimensions, are a series of battle-pieces painted by order of Louis Phillipe, and now to ba seen at the Constantino Gallery at Versailles. His j>aiutiDgß rendered raosi familiar by

means of engravings, are " The Trumpeters," ««The Barriere de CHchy," " Battle of Tolosa," » Soldier of Waterloo," &c. At the Exposition of 1855, a jury of painters of various nations awarded him the grand medal of honor. 1 He has been dead about twelve years, but still lives in the hearts of the French people, and especially among all lovers of the grand and beautiful in art. His reputation, however, is not looal, it is universal, and it is no exag- j geration to say that he was the greatest j painter of warlike scenes that ever lived. One day when Vcrnet waa about twenty-three years of age, he was passing through a certain street in Paris when he saw a poor family being turned out of doors for the non-payment of j rent, " How much is the debt?" asked the painter of tbe distressed widow surrounded by her children. "Fifty francs," was the reply. But Vernet had only about ten francs in his pallet, and indeed was never very well supplied with money. He bade the people w.ait for his return, and stepping into a neighboring establishment purchased a piece of card-board eighteen inches square; a pencil, and a bit of India ink hB bad in his pocket. A few bold strokes, a few graceful Bhadings, o touch here and there, occupied him less than thirty minutes, when he had represented the storming of a redoubt by French infantry, with all the fire and energy which won him such deserved fame. In the corner he Bcrawled the date, and "by Horace Vernet," Hastening to the distressed family, he handed the sketch to the mother. " They will pay you three hundred francs for that at the nearest art store," he said. V Hasten, my good I woman, settle your rent, and put tbe j balance in your pocket." That identi- | cal sketch, now almost priceless, is in possession of the Government, and preserved in the Luxemburg Palace among other treasures of art. Vernet was always distinguished for his ardent sympathy with freedom; his adopted motto being " Where liberty is there is my country.'' As a proof of bis independence of character it is recorded that when Louis Napoleon desired him to alter a picture of a military review, leaving out a certain general who was obnoxious to the French Emperor, Vernet refused to do it. "I ara a painter of history, sire," was his noble reply, " and I wili not violate the truth."