HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL NOTICE OF PETER-PAUL PRUD'HON. Prud'hon was an ingenious painter, of a gentle disposition, and possessing an excellent heart, and from the constant griel's which he experienced, it appeared as if nature had endowed him with a happy genius as a counter-balance for the ills he was to suffer. Pierre-Paul Prud'hon was born at Cluny, on the 6th of april 1760; he was the thirteenth child of a mason who died soon after he was born, without leaving any thing to support the family; but he received instruction from the monks, who gave it gratis at the abbay of Cluny. The taste of young Prud'hon soon began to show itself in many ways; alternately as artist, sculptor, and painter. His exercise book was covered with sketches made with the pen; with his knife and some soap he cut figures, and with herbs and flowers he made colours. These happy dispositions were remarked by a M. Moreau, bishop of Mâcon, who patronised and sent him to study under M. Desvoges at Dijon. His progress was rapid, but a new and irreparable misfortune awaited him. He possessed a heart of great sensibility, and having obtained the affections of an object little worthy of his attention, he considered, contrary to the advice of all those who interested themselves in his talent and fortune, that he was bound to marry her, though he foresaw the inconveniences of such an alliance, which embittered the best years of his life. II HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL NOTICE Although married, Prud'hon felt the necessity of continuing his studies he arrived at Paris in 1780. It is curious to observe the remark of M. Joursanvault, one of his patrons, who wrote for him a letter of introduction to a M. Wille. « He has received from nature that fire and genious which makes him seize an idea in an instant; he possesses a great facility of execution, and wonderful address. Three years after this he competed for the prize given by the states of Burgundy to study at Rome. He worked indefatigably; but from the lodge adjoining his own, he heard a brother artist lamenting the insufficiency of his means; his heart was moved, and, without considering the injury that might accrue to himself, he finished the picture of his rival, who obtained the prize. This young man, struck with the generosity of Prud'hon, and feeling that he was about to enjoy an honour that he little merited, declared to whom he owed his success, and the reward was accorded to him who really gained it. Prud'hon has been condemned for not studying antiquity whilst at Rome, and more particularly for not having imitated it in his performances; but to this reproach he answered, I neither can nor will see with the eyes of others, their glasses do not suit me; I observe nature and endeavour to imitate her. Is it not fettering talents to give one common pa-' tron to all the productions of the fine arts? » At this period Prud'hon became acquainted with Canova, and a strong friendship united them during the remainder of their lives; both of them in the same year. Notwithstanding their intimacy Prud'hon, contrary to the wish of his friend, left Italy and came back to his own country. Upon his return to Paris, in 1789, he lived poor and unknown; he there painted miniatures, and executed some drawings, which began to make his reputation; his Ceres and Love reduced to reason will be remembered: the whole of these OF PETER-PAUL PRUDHON. III were engraved by Capia. Prud'hon was beginning to derive benefit from his exertions, when his wife, who had hitherto lived with her family, came to reside with him at Paris; she quickly dissipated the little he had earned, and gave him in compensation three children, which greatly added to his embarrassments. In 1794, Prud'hon travelled into Franche-Comté, and took a great number of portraits, for which he was well paid; he also performed for the elder M. Didot the vignettes of Daphnis and Chloé; then succeeded those for the works of GentilBernard. At this time he became acquainted with M. Frochot, prefect of the Seine, who, patronising him, enabled him to live with greater comfort in his family. He now attained a prize as an encouragement, and a work-room at the Louvre; he also executed for the salle des Gardes at Saint Cloud a ceiling where is represented, Truth descending from the heavens conducted by Wisdom. These various performances were quickly followed by others, which might have enabled him to live happy, had his family affairs been properly conducted; but he could not disengage himself from that which gave him so much uneasiness in the neglect of what he considered his duty. During eighteen years Prud'hon had supported his misfortunes without complaint, but his mind did not suffer the less, and a growing melancholy would have carried him to the tomb, had not his friends interfered, and hastened a separation which at last might allow him some little repose. The solitude in which Prud'hon lived for several years restored tranquility to his mind; but his heart was formed for love, and a new attachment produced new griefs. The exhibition of 1808 caused Prud'hon to enjoy honours he had long merited : he there exhibited the beautiful picture which had been exhibited, by order of the prefect, for the audience chamber of the court of assises: Crime pursued by Jus IV HISTORICAL AND CRITICAL NOTICE of, ETC. tice and celestial Vengance, also Psyche carried away by Zephyr. These two pictures, each possessing a very different character, were equally admired, and obtained for their author the decoration of the Legion of Honour. In 1812, he executed the picture of Zephyre balancing himself upon the waters. The merit of this work was not contested. Prud'hon was elected a member of the Institute in 1816.These honours had no effect upon the native modesty of his character, and he would have finished his life tranquilly, but for the melancholy event which happened in 1821, and deprived him of her whom he tenderly loved, and from whom he had received unremitting attention and kindness for eighteen years. Overwhelmed by grief, his friend and pupil, M. Boisfremont, > tore him from the sad seclusion to which he considered himself condemned; but, again falling into melancholy, he only found consolation in working at the picture mademoiselle Mayer sketched : The dying father in the bosom of indigence surrounded by his unhappy family. In finishing this picture his object was to raise a monument to the memory of her he had loved and lost. Prud'hon died shortly after, on February 16, 1823. The sorrows he had experienced, during his whole life, made him meet death without regret; and in writing to his daughter he thus exclaims : « How heavy are the chains of life: alone upon the earth what is it detains me? death has destroyed all. She who ought to have survived me is no more... May death, for which I anxiously wait, soon arrive to give me that peace to which I anxiously aspire ?... He was buried at Père Lachaise, in a piece of ground he had purchased close to the grave of mademoiselle Mayer. » Prud'hon painted eighteen pictures, drew a great number of vignettes, and engraved in aqua-fortis Phrosine and Melidor for the Aminta of Tasso; he lithographied, the Unhappy Family, several indifferent copies of which are extant. |