Amador Ledger-Dispatch, 27 January 1905 — A LEPAGE PICTURE. [ARTICLE]

A LEPAGE PICTURE.

The Work That Brought the Artist

Public Recognition.

The label on "a certain spring water still In use was designated by Dv Maurler, who was probably not overpaid for it, and a New York artist who has since gained distinction eked out the hardest part of his early struggles by designing advertisements for a commercial house. There have been many more perhaps, but the most conspicuous on record is Bastlen Lepage, who through this very fact was forced into fame. He was pursued by unmerciful disaster through his youth in his efforts to study art. His mother worked In the fields to keep a sickly boy at school. At fifteen he went alone to Paris, starved for seven years, painted without success, but still— painted. He had Just finished a picture to send to the Salon when Paris was besieged, and he rushed with his comrades to the trenches.

On the first day a shell fell into his studio and "destroyed his picture, 'and another shell burst at his feet, wounding him. He was carried home and lay ill and idle for two years. Then he returned to Paris and, reduced to absolute want, painted cheap fans for a living.

One day a manufacturer of some patent medicine ordered a picture from him to illustrate its virtues. Lepage, who was always sincere, gave his best work to this advertisement.' He painted a landscape In the April sunlight. The leaves of tender green quivered in the breeze. A group of beautiful young girls gathered around a fountain from which the elixir of youth sprang in a bubbling stream, i Lepage believed there was real merit in it.

"Let me offer it at the Salon?" he asked his patron.

The manufacturer was delighted. "But first paint a rainbow arching over the fountain," he said, "with the name of my medicine upon.lt"

Lepage refused. - "Then I will not pay you a sou for the picture." ,;

The price of this picture meant bread for months, and the painter had long needed bread. The chance of admission to the salon was small. He hesitated. Then he silenced his hunger and carried the canvas to the salon. It was admitted.

- Its great success insured Lepage public recognition, and his later work gained him a place among the greatest of living artists.