the fortunes of oliver horn-第62节

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g　white　albatross　that　hung　from　a　wire　in　the　skylight。　Munson；　who　had　rubbed　in　a　background　　of　bitumen　over　a　square　tile；　sat　next　to　Fred；　who　was　picking　out；　with　the　end　of　a　wooden　match；　the　outlines　of　an　army…wagon　sketched　on　a　plate　smeared　with　color。　Simmons　was　looking　over　a　portfolio　that　Watson；　a　new　member；　had　brought　with　him；　filled　with　a　lot　of　his　summer　sketches　made　on　the　Normandy　coast。

One　view　of　the　fish…market　at　Dieppe　caught　Oliver's　　eye。　The　slant　of　light　burnishing　the　roof　of　the　church　to　silver　and　flooding　the　pavement　of　the　open　square；　crowded　with　black　figures；　the　white　caps　of　the　fish…women　indicated　by　crisp　pats　of　the　brush；　pleased　our　painter　immensely。

〃Charming；　old　man；〃　said　Oliver；　turning　to　Watson。　〃How　long　did　it　take　you？〃

〃About　four　hours。〃

〃Looks　like　it；〃　growled　Waller；　reaching　over　Oliver's　shoulder　and　drawing　the　sketch　toward　him。　〃That's　the　gospel　of　'smear；'　Horn；〃　and　he　tossed　it　back。　〃Not　a　figure　in　the　group　has　got　any　drawing　in　it。〃

Waller　had　set　his　face　against　the　new　out…door　school；　and　never　lost　a　chance　to　ridicule　it。

〃That's　not　what　Watson　is　after；〃　exclaimed　Oliver。　　〃The　figures　are　mere　accessories。　The　dominating　　light　is　the　thing；　he's　got　that〃and　he　held　the　sketch　close　to　the　overhead　gas…jets　so　that　the　members　could　see　it　the　better。

〃Dominating　light　be　hanged！　What's　the　use　of　slobbering　puddles　of　paint　over　a　canvas　and　calling　it　plein　air；　or　impressionism；　or　out…of…doors；　or　some　such　rot？　Get　down　to　business　and　DRAW。　When　you　have　done　that　you　can　talk。　It　can't　be　done　in　four　hours；　and　if　some　of　you　fellows　keep　on　the　way　you're　going；　you'll　never　do　it　in　four　years。〃

〃A　four　hours'　sketch　handled　as　Watson　has　this；〃　said　Oliver；　thoughtfully；　〃is　better　than　four　years'　work　on　one　of　your　Hudson　Rivery　things。　The　sun　doesn't　stand　still　long　enough　for　a　man　to　get　more　than　an　expression　of　what　he　seesthat　is　if　he's　after　truth。　The　angle　of　shadow　changes　too　quickly；　and　so　do　the　reflected　lights。〃

〃What's　the　matter　with　the　next　day？〃　burst　out　Waller。　〃Can't　you　take　up　your　sketch　where　you　left　off？　You　talk　as　if　every　great　picture　had　to　be　painted　before　luncheon。〃

〃But　there　is　no　'next　day；'〃　interrupted　Watson。　　〃I　entirely　agree　with　Horn。〃　He　had　been　listening　to　the　discussion　with　silent　interest。　〃No　next　day　like　the　one　on　which　you　began　your　canvas。　　The　sky　is　differentgray；　blue；　or　full　of　fleecy；　sunny　clouds。　Your　shadows　are　more　purple；　or　blue　or　gray；　depending　on　your　sky　overhead；　and　so　are　your　reflections。　If　you　go　on　and　try　to　piece　out　your　sketch；　you　make　an　almanac　of　it　not　a　portrait　of　what　you　saw。　I　can　pick　out　the　Mondays；　Tuesdays；　and　Wednesdays　on　that　kind　of　a　sketch　as　soon　as　I　see　it。　Nature　is　like　a　bird　if　you　want　to　surprise　her；　you　must　let　go　both　barrels　when　she　rises；　if　you　miss　her　at　your　first　shot　you　will　never　have　another　chancenot　at　that　particular　bird。〃

〃Well；　but　suppose　you　DO　happen　to　have　two　days　alike；〃　insisted　Waller。　〃I　have　seen　thirty　days　on　a　stretch　in　Venice　without　a　cloud。　What　then？〃　The　bird　simile　had　evidently　not　appealed　to　the　great　critic。

〃Then　ten　chances　to　one　you　are　not　the　same　man　you　were　the　day　before；〃　replied　Watson；　calmly；　laying　down　his　pipe。　〃You　have　had　bad　news　from　home　or　your　liver　is　out　of　order；　or　worse　still；　you　have　seen　some　new　subject　which　has　taken　hold　of　you　and　your　first　enthusiasm　has　oozed　away。　If　you　persist　in　going　on　you　will　either　undo　what　you　did　yesterday　or　you　will　trust　to　your　memory　of　what　you　THINK　yesterday　was；　to　finish　your　sketch　by。　The　first　fills　it　full　of　lies　and　the　second　full　of　yourself；　neither　have　anything　to　do　with　nature。　Four　hours；　Waller；　not　a　minute　more。　You'll　come　to　it　before　you　die。〃

〃That　depends　on　what　you　have　got　to　paint　with；〃　snapped　out　Jack　Bedford；　who　was　trying　to　clean　a　dingy…looking　palette　with　a　knife。　〃Whose　dirt…dump　is　this；　anyhow？〃　and　he　held　it　up　to　view。　〃Might　as　well　try　to　get　sunlight　out　of　powdered　brick。　Look　at　that　pile　of　mud；〃　and　he　pointed　to　some　dry　color　near　the　thumb…hole。

〃Which　palette？〃　came　a　voice。

Jack　held　it　up　for　the　inspection　of　the　room。

〃Oh；　that's　Parker　Ridgway's；〃　answered　Fred。　〃He　was　here　the　other　day　and　made　a　half…hour's　sketch　of　a　model　I　had。〃

The　announcement　of　Ridgway's　name　was　greeted　with　shouts　of　laughter。　He　was　a　society　painter　of　the　day；　pupil　of　Winterhalter　and　Meyer　von　Bremen；　and　had　carried　off　more　portraits　and　at　higher　prices　than　all　the　other　men　put　together。

〃Keep　on！　keep　on！　Laugh　away；〃　grumbled　Waller　　squeezing　a　tube　of　Prussian　blue　on　his　palette。　〃When　any　one　of　you　fellows　can　get　4；000　for　a　season's　work　you　can　talk；　until　you　do；　you　can　keep　your　mouths　shut　as　tight　as　Long　Island　clams。〃

〃Who　got　it？〃

〃The　Honorable　Parker　Ridgway；　R。A。；　P。Q。；　and　I　don't　know　but　X。Y。Z。；〃　roared　Waller。

〃I'd　like　to　know　how？〃　asked　Watson；　reaching　over　Fred's　arm　for　the　bottle　of　turpentine。

〃That's　what　he　did；〃　snapped　out　Waller。

〃Did　what？〃

〃Knew　how。〃

〃But　he　doesn't　know　how；〃　cried　Munson　from　across　the　table。　〃I　sat　alongside　of　that　fellow　at　the　Ecole　for　two　years。　He　can't　draw；　and　never　could。　His　flesh　was　beastly；　his　modelling　worse；　and　his　techniquea　botch。　You　can　see　what　color　he　uses；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　palette　Jack　was　trying　to　clean。

〃Granted；　my　boy；〃　said　Waller。　〃I　didn't　say　he　could　PAINT；　I　said　he　knew　how　to　earn　4；000　in　three　months　painting　portraits。〃

〃He　never　painted　a　portrait　worth　four　cents。　Why；　I　knew〃

〃Dry　up；　Munson！〃　interrupted　Jack。　〃Go　on；　Waller；　tell　us　how　he　did　it。〃

〃By　using　some　horse…sense　and　a　little　tact；　getting　　in　with　the　procession　and　bolding　his　cud　up；〃　retorted　Waller；　in　a　solemn　tone。

〃Give　him　room！　Give　him　room！〃　cried　Oliver；　with　a　laugh；　pouring　a　little　dryer　into　his　oil…cup。　He　loved　to　hear　Waller　talk。　〃He　flings　his　words　about　as　if　they　were　chunks　of　coal；〃　he　would　always　　say。

The　great　man　wheeled　his　chair　around　and　faced　the　room。　Oliver's　words　had　sounded　like　a　challenge。

〃Keep　it　up！pound　away；〃　he　cried；　his　face　reddening。　〃I've　watched　Ridgway　ever　since　he　arrived　here　last　spring；　and　I　will　give　you　his　recipe　for　success。　He　didn't　fall　overboard　into　a　second…rate　club　as　soon　as　he　got　here　and　rub　his　brushes　on　his　coat…sleeve　to　look　artistic。　Not　much！　He　had　his　name　put　up　at　the　Union；　got　Croney　to　cut　his　clothes；　and　Leary　to　make　his　hats；　played　croquet　with　the　girls　he　knew；　drove　tandemhis　brother…in…law'sand　dined　out　every　night　in　the　week。　Every　day　or　two　he　would　haul　out　one　of　his　six…foot　canvases；　and　give　it　a　coat　of　bitumen。　Always　　did　this　when　some　club　swell　was　around　who　would　tell　about　it；〃

〃Did　it　with　a　sponge；〃　muttered　Munson。　〃Old　trick　of　his！〃

〃Next　thing　he　did；〃　continued　Waller；　ignoring　Munson's　aside；　〃was　to　refuse　a　thousand…dollar　commission　offered　by　a　vulgar　real…estate　man　to　paint　a　two…hundred…pound　pink…silk　sofa…cushion　of　a　wife　in　a　tight…fitting　waist。　This　spread　like　the　measles。　It　was　the　talk　of　the　club；　of　dinner…tables　and　piazzas；　and　before　sundown　Ridgway's　exclusiveness　　in　taste　and　artistic　instincts　were　established。　Then　he　hunted　up　a　pretty　young　married　woman　occupying　the　dead…centre　of　the　sanctified　social　circle；　went　into　spasms　over　her　beautyso　classic；　such　an　exquisite　outline；　grew　confidential　with　the　husband　at　the　club；　and　begged　permission　to　make　just　a　sketch　only　the　size　of　his　handwanted　it　for　his　head　of　Sappho；　Berlin　Exhibition。　Next　he　rented　a　suite　of　rooms；　crowded　in　a　lot　of　borrowed　tapestries；　brass；　Venetian　chests；　lamps　and　hangings；　　gave　a　teaservants　this　time　in　liveryexhibited　　his　Sappho；　refused　a　big　price　for　it　from　the　husband；　got　orders　instead　for　two　half…lengths；　1；500　each；　finished　them　in　two　weeks；　declined　more　commissions　on　account　of　extreme　fatigue；　　disappeared　with　the　first　frost　and　the　best　cottage　people；　booked　three　more　full…lengths　in　New　York　two　to　be　painted　in　Paris　and　the　other　on　his　return　　in　the　spring；　was　followed　to　the　steamer　by　a　bevy　of　beauties；　half…smothered　in　flowers；　and　　disappeared　in　a　halo　of　artistic　glory　just　4；000　in。〃

Fred　broke　out　into　a　roar；　in　which　the　whole　room　joined。

〃And　you　call　that　art；　do　you？〃　cried　Munson；　laying　down　his　palette。　His　face　was　flushed；　his　eyes　snapping　with　indignation。

〃I　do；　my　babbling　infant；〃　retorted　Waller。　〃I　call　it　the　art　of　making　the　most　of　your　opportunities　　and　putting　your　best　foot　foremost。　That's　a　thing　you　fellows　never　seem　to　understand。　You　want　to　shuffle　around　in　carpet…slippers；　live　in　a　garret；　and　wait　until　some　money…bags　climbs　up　your　crazy　staircases　to　discover　you。　Ridgway　puts。　his　foot　in　a　patent…leather　pump　and　silk　stocking；　and　never　steps　on　a　carpet　that　isn't　two　inches　thick。　Merchants；　engineers；　manufacturers；　and　even　scientists；　　when　they　have　anything　to　sell；　go　where　there　is　somebody　to　buy；　why　s