ART AND ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 52

ART AND ARTISTS.

• . * Tbe Queen has- a fine collection of paricatures from all the comic papers of the last 60 years. All the best drawings bave been gent to her, and the collection has often been the cause of much merriment.

• . • Melssouier was proud of his shapely and delicate hands, He sold that bis-fingers were so sensitive that he could, with his eyes shutplay on tbe exact amount of colour that he wanted on a given spot if somebody placed the point of a brush upon it.

• . ■ The Japanese artist omits three-fourths Of the landscape altogether. Ol light and shade he knows- nothing or nei' to nothing ; he barely indicates water-forms ; -to the beauty of the clouds he is blind-; the depths of foliage have no attraction for him, and tbe charm of massed leafage be ignores: — Atbetiffium. • . • In connection with- Sir John Millaiß'S succeeding 1 to the presidentship of the Royal Academy, a correspondent' recalls an anecdote current some years ago to the effect that once-Mr Millaie called ona phrenologißt and was advised' that he was " wholly devoid of any qualification- for- pursuits requiring imagination*."

• . • A good-natured action of the , young Czar at the recent bazaar atr the Winter Palace has excited much comment in St. Petersburg. On- one day of the- feter all the children of the schools of the capital were admitted to see the beautiful works of art destined to be' raffled for their benefit, and. each scholar received' a lottery ticket as apresent. Now it happened tbatrone of these fcicketswan a lucky ntrmbsr, and drew a most valuable prize, the picture- of "Charity," by the French' artist, Berthier. And the-happy-winner was a small girl belonging to> one of the poorest' families in tbe city 1' The* Czar bad 1 greatly admired' this picture, and' made- inquiry as> to who had won it ;■ and. when he-beard ttiat 1 it bad fallen to tbe share of this poor girl in humble life his- Majesty,. by a felicitous inspiration, offered to huj ib. It was ! valued' at about 20,000fr— say £800 in English money; The prize' winnerthankfully; accepted bis Majesty's offer, -and the money m&% paid" down by him on the spot.