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they expect to find an artist squeezed into a gutter。
This gallery； so to speak； was profusely lighted from above； through
enormous panes of glass furnished with those green linen shades by
means of which all artists arrange the light。 A quantity of
caricatures； heads drawn at a stroke； either in color or with the
point of a knife； on walls painted in a dark gray； proved that；
barring a difference in expression； the most distinguished young girls
have as much fun and folly in their minds as men。 A small stove with a
large pipe； which described a fearful zigzag before it reached the
upper regions of the roof； was the necessary and infallible ornament
of the room。 A shelf ran round the walls； on which were models in
plaster； heterogeneously placed； most of them covered with gray dust。
Here and there； above this shelf； a head of Niobe； hanging to a nail；
presented her pose of woe； a Venus smiled； a hand thrust itself
forward like that of a pauper asking alms； a few 〃ecorches；〃 yellowed
by smoke； looked like limbs snatched over…night from a graveyard；
besides these objects； pictures； drawings； lay figures； frames without
paintings； and paintings without frames gave to this irregular
apartment that studio physiognomy which is distinguished for its
singular jumble of ornament and bareness； poverty and riches； care and
neglect。 The vast receptacle of an 〃atelier；〃 where all seems small；
even man； has something of the air of an Opera 〃coulisse〃； here lie
ancient garments； gilded armor； fragments of stuffs； machinery。 And
yet there is something mysteriously grand； like thought； in it； genius
and death are there； Diana and Apollo beside a skull or skeleton；
beauty and destruction； poesy and reality； colors glowing in the
shadows； often a whole drama； motionless and silent。 Strange symbol of
an artist's head！
At the moment when this history begins； a brilliant July sun was
illuminating the studio； and two rays striking athwart it lengthwise；
traced diaphanous gold lines in which the dust was shimmering。 A dozen
easels raised their sharp points like masts in a port。 Several young
girls were animating the scene by the variety of their expressions；
their attitudes； and the differences in their toilets。 The strong
shadows cast by the green serge curtains； arranged according to the
needs of each easel； produced a multitude of contrasts； and the
piquant effects of light and shade。 This group was the prettiest of
all the pictures in the studio。
A fair young girl； very simply dressed； sat at some distance from her
companions； working bravely and seeming to be in dread of some mishap。
No one looked at her； or spoke to her； she was much the prettiest； the
most modest； and； apparently； the least rich among them。 Two principal
groups； distinctly separated from each other； showed the presence of
two sets or cliques； two minds even here； in this studio； where one
might suppose that rank and fortune would be forgotten。
But； however that might be； these young girls； sitting or standing； in
the midst of their color…boxes； playing with their brushes or
preparing them； handling their dazzling palettes； painting； laughing；
talking； singing； absolutely natural； and exhibiting their real
selves； composed a spectacle unknown to man。 One of them； proud；
haughty； capricious； with black hair and beautiful hands； was casting
the flame of her glance here and there at random； another； light…
hearted and gay； a smile upon her lips； with chestnut hair and
delicate white hands； was a typical French virgin； thoughtless； and
without hidden thoughts； living her natural real life； a third was
dreamy； melancholy； pale； bending her head like a drooping flower； her
neighbor； on the contrary； tall； indolent； with Asiatic habits； long
eyes； moist and black； said but little； and reflected； glancing
covertly at the head of Antinous。
Among them； like the 〃jocoso〃 of a Spanish play； full of wit and
epigrammatic sallies； another girl was watching the rest with a
comprehensive glance； making them laugh； and tossing up her head； too
lively and arch not to be pretty。 She appeared to rule the first group
of girls； who were the daughters of bankers； notaries； and merchants；
all rich； but aware of the imperceptible though cutting slights
which another group belonging to the aristocracy put upon them。 The
latter were led by the daughter of one of the King's ushers； a little
creature； as silly as she was vain； proud of being the daughter of a
man with 〃an office at court。〃 She was a girl who always pretended to
understand the remarks of the master at the first word； and seemed to
do her work as a favor to him。 She used an eyeglass； came very much
dressed； and always late； and entreated her companions to speak low。
In this second group were several girls with exquisite figures and
distinguished features； but there was little in their glance or
expression that was simple and candid。 Though their attitudes were
elegant and their movements graceful； their faces lacked frankness； it
was easy to see that they belonged to a world where polite manners
form the character from early youth； and the abuse of social pleasures
destroys sentiment and develops egotism。
But when the whole class was here assembled； childlike heads were seen
among this bevy of young girls； ravishingly pure and virgin； faces
with lips half…opened； through which shone spotless teeth； and on
which a virgin smile was flickering。 The studio then resembled not a
studio； but a group of angels seated on a cloud in ether。
By mid…day； on this occasion； Servin had not appeared。 For some days
past he had spent most of his time in a studio which he kept
elsewhere； where he was giving the last touches to a picture for the
Exposition。 All of a sudden Mademoiselle Amelie Thirion； the leader of
the aristocrats； began to speak in a low voice； and very earnestly； to
her neighbor。 A great silence fell on the group of patricians； and the
commercial party； surprised； were equally silent； trying to discover
the subject of this earnest conference。 The secret of the young ULTRAS
was soon revealed。
Amelie rose； took an easel which stood near hers； carried it to a
distance from the noble group； and placed it close to a board
partition which separated the studio from the extreme end of the
attic； where all broken casts； defaced canvases and the winter supply
of wood were kept。 Amelie's action caused a murmur of surprise； which
did not prevent her from accomplishing the change by rolling hastily
to the side of the easel the stool； the box of colors； and even the
picture by Prudhon； which the absent pupil was copying。 After this
coup d'etat the Right began to work in silence； but the Left
discoursed at length。
〃What will Mademoiselle Piombo say to that？〃 asked a young girl of
Mademoiselle Matilde Roguin； the lively oracle of the banking group。
〃She's not a girl to say anything；〃 was the reply； 〃but fifty