MEISSONIER’S MASTERPIECE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 28, 11 July 1891, Page 145

MEISSONIER’S MASTERPIECE.

Meissoniek’s masterpiece, ‘ 1814,’is known as the most expensive painting in the world. It is twenty inches high by thirty inches wide, and was last sold for £34,000. It represents Napoleon I. and his great general staff riding back from the scene of their defeat. It came to be painted in this wise : Monsieur Delhante, a rich business man with a taste for ai t, found Meissonier at work in his study on one of his microscopic canvases.

‘ What does it represent ?’ he asked. * A military subject, tc which I will give the title “ 1814.” ’ * Your subject is very great, and your canvas is very small, M. Meissonier,’ said Delhante. ‘ Why do you not paint a larger picture ?’ ‘ I have laid it in small for two reasons — first, because that is my style of painting ; second, because, to speak openly, I need money. I work slowly, and am able to finish a little picture much sooner than a large one.’ •So you need money ? Well, paint my portrait. What will it cost ?’ • Five thousand dollars.’ Delhante drew out his purse and laid the money on the table. Now, I wish also for myself the picture “1814,”’ he continued, • but on the condition that you do it on a larger canvas.’ Some time later, when the portrait was completed, Meissonier showed his patron the outlines of a new ‘ 1814,’ with the question : ‘ Is that large enough for you ?’ ‘ Just right. What will it cost?’ ‘ Fourteen thousand dollars. ’ ‘ All right; there is half the price.’ The picture was painted, paid for, and delivered, and in 1864 was exhibited in the salon. An Englishman offered £12,000 for it, but Delhante held back. Vanderbilt increased the offer to £16,000, yet failed to secure the picture. Finally M. Bague, a connoisseur, got it for £20,000, ami, after keeping it in his possession for one day, made the famous sale of it to M. Chauchard for £30,000. This was the first time a great painter had seen with his own eyes such a triumph of his art. Those who have approached most closely his success were Munkaczy, with his ‘Christ Before Pilate,’ which sold for £20,000; Millet, with his ‘ Angelas,’for which £22,000 was paid, and Murillo, with his ‘ Ascension,’ £26,000.