131 THK ARTS work side by side with the masculine students ; but the concours are held for both sexes competing together, and there seems Httle doubt that it is a better plan for the serious older woman artist to join the bigger classes, where men and women work side by side, and where far wider and more varied criticism is obtainable than in the more restricted atmosphere of the art classes devoted to women's work alone. Different professors visit the studios twice a week, when criticisms are made, and much valuable advice given. Exhibitions also are held each month, at which both the men's and the girls' work are shown, and medals and diplomas are awarded. Very many well-known artists in Paris take private pupils, but comparatively few students avail themselves of the advantages of working constantly under the direct eye of the master, preferring for the most part the wider life of the schools. A TINY APPARTEMENT The more enterprising spirits amongst the girl students old enough to be capable of judging for themselves, after a few weeks spent at a pension, will sometimes club together in couples to take a tiny apparte- ment — probably up in the roof — consisting of a big studio with a couple of tiny cupboard- like bedrooms attached. One may sometimes be found which comprises a wee bathroom and kitchen at a slightly additional cost. The price of such an appartement, with the necessary furniture, runs from £i 12s. 6d. to £^ a month, but in an appartement at eight shillings a week there would only be bare room for one occupant. The girl art student soon becomes a good cook, and many a dainty supper dish will she turn out with the help of a tiny stove or chafing dish, manipulated in a corner of the studio for the benefit of a stray guest. Then the concierge of the flats in which her studio is situated is usually only too willing to add from five to fifteen francs a month to her income by calling the occupants, sweep- ing out the studio when necessary, lighting the fire each morning in winter and bringing up hot water, ^nd perchance a steaming bowl of bread-and-milk or a tray of cafe an lait and new rolls for petit dejeuner. For those who do not care to cater for themselves, or who grudge the time thus spent away from their work, the excellent cafes ' and creameries in the Boulevard Raspail, which runs through the heart of studio land, offer a pleasant and economical alternative. Each cafe has a pleasant dining-room indoors for use in bad weather, and some of these have interesting souvenirs of artist customers. One famous cafe of the Quartier has its walls entirely decorated with scenes from the history of the " Queen of Hearts," whilst it also , boasts of a delightful menu- card designed by a clever patron, depicting the excellence of the service, wines, and food in a highly amusing manner. To the enthusiastic picture lover the art treasures of Pari.s — and especially of the Louvre — will prove an inexhaustible mine of pure enjoyment and a constant source of inspiration during leisure hours. On certain days during the week students are allowed to work there and to copy any special master- piece which takes their fancy — from the " Primitives " of the Early Italian school to the dainty and frivolous Lancrets and Watteaus. Then, in the spring, no fewer than three separate salons — the Salon des Artistes Internationaux, the Salon des Beaux Arts, and the Salon des Independants — which between them contain examples of the artistic output of every imaginable school of painting, open wide their doors to myriads of picture gazers daily for the sum of a franc per head. The beauties of the city itself, with its clear, sunshiny atmosphere, and splendidly proportioned buildings, beautiful statuary, and avenues of fine chestnut trees, serve as a source of constant inspiration to an artistic nature. Examples of all that is best in modem art are to be found at the Luxembourg, which corresponds to our Tate Gallery. The treasures comprise a splendid collection of modern sculpture, and some of the military masterpieces of Detaille. His most wonderful conception of the winged horse and flying horseman, however, is perhaps his picture in the Paris Pantheon. Pleasure is cheaply attainable in Paris, and for the music lover the Opera House and the Opera Comique afford every opportunity of gratifying their tastes. Here some of the finest artists in the world can be heard at a quarter of the price charged for seats at Covent Garden. HOLIDAY JAUNTS Then, again, many a day of pure delight may be enjoyed by forming a little party of girl-student friends to go down the Seine in one of the delightful river steamboats. For a few pence one can travel by water to St. Cloud, where the delightful and beautifully kept gardens of the old palace still remain to form a national pleasure ground. Another delightful day's excursion is to the Palace of Versailles, with its marvellous collection of pictures, or to Petit Trianon, which is close beside it. Here one can reconstruct a vision of Marie Antoinette in her happy youthful days, when she and her maids-of-honour played at being dairymaids or making hay with light-hearted abandon. The markets of Paris, too, are a joy, and household shopping becomes a pleasure, for the market-woman delights in bargaining with the English "mademoiselle." With much gesticulation, she will sell a hafldful of cherries and a dozen strawberries for a few pence — to provide a varied dessert " just for one I " This series dealing zvitk Art Schools will be con- tinued in Part 2 <?/■£ VERY Woman's Encyclopaedia
