with the fields dotted with daisies. "Yum Yum" presents
Nathaniel Sichel in a new aspect, with a full length figure of a European
lady in Japanese masquerade. We have already given one artistic version of the conflicting
ancient stories of the death of Orpheus. From the easel of Emile Joseph Millochau
comes an episode of another. He adopts the tale that instead of having been killed by
a thunderbolt from Jove, Orpheus, having refused to worship Dionysus, was by the latter's command
torn to pieces by the Maenades or Bacchantes. The artist shows one of the
repentant Maenades, who has stolen away from her companions and is mourning
over the head of the singer in whose cruel slaughter she assited.
The artist is a native of Paris, and was a pupil of Cabanel and of Feyen Perrin.
Gaston Gerard
is another French painter, but one who adheres more closely to decorative than classical lines.
In his "Voice of Evening" he suggests the hour lulling the
world to sleep with her soft notes of song.
The spirit of the sea, as embodied by Luis Falero in
"Marina," is a young and lovely
woman, crowned with pearls, and wearing a robe of green and gold, the colors of the royal
seaweeds, who wanders on the strand as in a realm of dreams.
The "Undine" of William Kray is a subject whose
suggestion is derived by the artist from the well-known tale of the water-fairy. It was first exhibited
at the Munich Exposition of 1879, and added much to the artist's reputation.
"Flowers' Revenge" comes from an old legend called "The Revenge of the Roses."
According to this tale, a beautiful but cruel woman had a passion for roses. Her exactions devasted
the gardens of the land, until the poor roses, in their despair, appealed to their mistress
Venus for protection, and she granted them the power to destroy life as well as to delight the senses.
Once more only did the cruel beauty ravage the garden beds. Next morning she was
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Chapter 5 Text
Emil Doerstling