Meissonier, his life and his art . , buthis eye, still deep andpenetrating, looksstraight ahead. All isnot lost, all may yet berecovered, if only thosewho follow him share his faith. i8i^. The BellcropJion. He sits apart, on the cannon known as The Emperors gun. In the background behind him, the Englishsentries. Each time he discussed one of these designs, IMeissonier admired the great organiser no less than the great captain. Tohis cycle of the military epopee, he hoped to add a page of civic glory :the Emperor presiding at the Council of State. He had thoroughlystudied Napoleon; h
Meissonier, his life and his art . , buthis eye, still deep andpenetrating, looksstraight ahead. All isnot lost, all may yet berecovered, if only thosewho follow him share his faith. i8i^. The BellcropJion. He sits apart, on the cannon known as The Emperors gun. In the background behind him, the Englishsentries. Each time he discussed one of these designs, IMeissonier admired the great organiser no less than the great captain. Tohis cycle of the military epopee, he hoped to add a page of civic glory :the Emperor presiding at the Council of State. He had thoroughlystudied Napoleon; he knew all the complexities of his mind, thepassions and weaknesses of his character. He attempted to palliatethem. He could not bear them to be made a slur upon his made Lanfreys book very painful reading to him. He wasirritated by the cackle of patty revelations, too favourably received bypopular malice. I am less severe, he said, because I have lookeddeeper. To appreciate men of such a stamp, one must be of the same. TEN SKETCH FOR 1805. 46 MEISSONIER order, or one must be capable of putting oneself into their vain ! To those on the top of Mont Blanc, and those at thebottom, things, no doubt, look very different! We must not confusepride with greatness. Faults and qualities, vices and virtues, every-thing in the genius, must be measured by genius. History, in itssimplicity, will see him as I do. THE MASTER.—THE MAN It is always interesting to know what an artist has added tohis work in the shape of commentary, more especially when suchcommentary reveals himself, his mind and character, his fashion ofapplying art, and of understanding life. The Conversations go to theroot of these subjects. They initiate us into all the secrets ofMeissoniers labours, and show us not only the genius of the master,but the nature of the man, at once simple and grandiose, proud andshy, impetuous and thoughtful, imperious and gentle, equally zealousin the performanc
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