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IN general, when one speaks to or of an artist, and wishes to express the spirit he throws into a sunburnt face, a phrase becomes almost sacramental, and is evidently believed the most cunning of inventions. It is uttered usually with the eyes closed, and a mere trace of malice on the mouth ; for instance, some one says, ' Oh ! I would not give one of my old slippers for one of your models!'
The artist stops there, usually speaking with bitter sweetness, not knowing exactly how to con- tinue, that is to say, whether to defend his own creatures or to condemn them with the others. But at the same time, flattered rather than offended by the imputation of insmtciance which becomes indirectly attached to him, he finds nothing-better to do than to be silent and smile.
Now, as in all cases the answer seems to me unkind, permit me to introduce to you one or more models — as you please — honestly, that is to say, without making any apology for them, or making lamentation for them, and above all without slip- ping, by the way, into any dangerous deviation.
So much for a beginning — I must say that it appears to me a mistake to suppose that with the first painter is born the first model. That necessity of copying reality faithfully must have come with the first likeness is clear. But I can never believe that the Byzantines have had models, nor any of
