YANN DARGENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 59

YANN DARGENT.

THE STORY OF AN ECCENTRIC FRENCH PAINTER. By Herbert Toitrtel.

In Yann Dargent, the French art world has lost lots of its personalities. Judging from the neglect to Arhich it consigned him, one would say that it Avas indifferent to his value, a\ ere it not that he himself was to a great extent responsible for this neglect. As he greAv older he became a victim to that distressing mania which afflicts so many men of great capacity — he fancied that everyone AA r as united against him. It Avould have been impossible to convince him that the salon Avas not managed by a clique of artists Avho meant to adA-ance their oavii friends and exclude the works of more capable men, through jealousy or from fear of comparison. Consequently, Yann Dargent, Avho might have been one of France's most brilliant painters, retired to Brittany and gave himself up to the work of enriching the churches and cathedrals of his native province. His best results Avere achieved at Landerneau.

A PAINTER OF LEGEND

He Avas not only a painter of pictures for churches. His finest Arere those which dealt Avith the Breton legends, and few of those avlio kneAV his studio Avill forget the endless canvasses Avhich illustrated such subjects. A long array of them comes into my mmd — the " Day of Awakening," the "LaA'andiers de Nuit," and many others, most of Avhich require a knoArledge of the various legends before they can be understood. Others there Avere which are extremely simple in treatment, phases of life and loA r e and. death, all charged Avith some ulterior meaning, all richly touched Avith the sublimity of perfect beauty. What Avill become of these paintings I know not. He must have left a great number behind him, for in later life he Avas not in the least anxious to sell. He painted cA r ery day for tho pure pleasure of folloAving his chosen life-Avork.

His greatest successes and those which brought him the most material reward Avere illustrations in black and white. Three books suggest themselves to me as I Avrite — his edition of " Dante," an edition of Dom Albert's " Life of the Saints," and an English edition of the Bible. Owing to a slight, or a fancied~slight, received from the publishers of the last-mentioned, Yann Dargent always felt some prejudice against the English. This Avas remoA r ed in later years to some extent. His illustrations of Dante are perhaps the best knoAvn and the best. They Avere certainly his oavii favourites.

"That is the best black and white Avork I have cA r er done," he said to me once, Avhen shoAving me his oato copj r . "At the same time, I wish I need never have illustrated a single book ; it is artistic suicide for a man to devote himself too seriously to illustration. He is apt to lose all the strength and freedom of his touch."

A ROMANTIC CAREER,

Yann Dargent's career was romantic. la

early life he had to undergo a very severe training in those peculiar trials Avhich seem to be the lot of most of the children of Art. For seA r eral years he had a bitter struggle Avith poA r erty. Once he Ava\-ered. A lucrative position in connection with some Spanish railways Avas offered him, and he accepted the oiler. But soon the old impulses overcame him, and he returned to Paris and the Jong struggle once again. It ended in his case as it usually ends — Avhen the darkness of the future seemed impenetrable, more than ever impenetrable, most impenetrable. From that time things Avent avcll Avith him, and his life Avas passed tinder pleasant circumstances. He bought a delightful little property on the shores of the Bay of Morlaix, about a mile from Saint Pol de Leon, and tAvo miles from Roscoff. It Aras an ideal spot for an artist. From his studio Avindow he looked across the waters of the Bay of Morlaix to the distant Seven Islands. On the right he could see headlands and cliffs and Anflages in long succession — Curentan, the Chateau de Taureau, and more spots than I can mention or remember. To the left AA'as the coast-line for a short distance, and then the open sea. In these solitudes, amidst his avenues, he lived the life of an anchorite. He was attended by one old man, who also looked after his property and his gardens. He lived simply, ate simply, and dressed simply. His favourite companion Avas his pipe, and his favourite occupation his Arork. His recreations were reading and an occasional stroll. He Avas a wonderfully hardy man, and for many years he used to go out in a peculiar canoe which he had caused to be built. On more than one occasion he nearly lost his life amidst the rocks and current? on that coast, Adhere squalls often rise suddenly. Another of his recreations Avas bathing in the open sea. Even as recently as last year he Aralked so Avell that after a day's tramp I am sure he was no more fatigued th&n I Avas, and I Avas probably his junior by 50 years.

THE PAINTER AT HOME.

I met him at a time when I Avas staying in RoFcoff, Avith ever}*- intention of living there permanently. I Avas taken by a friend of his to visit him. As we approached I saAv a house almost hidden under luxuriant ivy and more than half-concealed by splendid trees and bushes. We passed across a little gangAvay, knocked at a door, and a A~oice from within bade us enter. A little man, in felt slippers, Avith a clay pipe in his hand, and a sort of sombrero hat on his head, came to meet us. It atos Yann Dargent. For two hours Aye remained there, and I Avas able to form an idea of his extraordinary character. He Avas then, as I haA~e eA*er found him, one of the kindest, strongest, most humorous, most thoughtful, and yet most fanciful of men. When 1 say fanciful, I allude to his curious suspicions. I did not meet him again for some time. When I did the meeting Avas curious. The only thing under heaven or abo A re earth Avhich he Avould notice or discuss Avas my Norfolk jacket. He expatiated on the excellence of this Avith emphasis, and said that it Avas one of the troubles of his life that no French tailor could understand how to make him such a jacket Avith such a hand. From that time I saAv him frequently until last May, when he Avas engaged upon some paintings for the Paris Exhibition this year. He Avas a delightful talker, and AA"hen in the mood he Avould diA*e into his reminiscences and bring back many things about men who were famous and about incidents Avhich were notable.