DIAZ DE LA PEkA, •az' de la 'Wily:I', NARMSsE VIRGILLE (1507-76). A French land scape painter, of the Parhison School. De was born in Bordeaux, of Spanish parents. Ili: father having left his family, the lad was supported by his mother's efforts in teaching Spanish and French. She died at Sisvres, near Paris, when he Was ten years old, and Narcisse was adopted by a Protestant clergyman of Bellevue. Ile ram bled through wood and dale. acquiring that love nature whirls math. him a great landseape painter. In one of these rambles Nareisse was bitten by a viper. which neces sitated the amputation of his lle was apprenticed to a porcelain-maker at Si‘vres, an uncle of Duper., Nebo worked there and became his stanch friend. This work. no doubt. helped to develop his wonderful sense of color, but Diaz was too independent a genius to heroine a poreela in-pa inter. While studying painting 1e lived in great poverty in Paris, even has ing to beg. Frtneois sou•hon. an historical painter, was his teacher, but Diaz was much attracted by the works of in the Louvre. and seems al,ro to have been influenced by Leonardo and Prod Lon. But he always went his own Way. and twa, in the main An unexpected sale of "Descent of the Gypsies" for 15110 francs in MG hint to go to Darbison. There he came tinder the intim nee of Rousseau and de voted himself to landscape painting. producing the best of his works. Ile continually exhibited at the Salon. reef icing medals in 14, MG, and and the ('rose of the Legion of Donor in De was very prolific, and as his pictures sold well, he became quite wealthy. Ile was fond
t I life, and in his magnificent studio in Puri. he dispensed great hospitality. Ile died at tleutn11t, November 15. 1576, in consequence of a cold taken at the opera.
Diaz Was a man of unusual gifts, but lie lacked the application and p•r.e%eraia•e e—ential to a genius of the very first order. phis pictures were always bright in color, brilliant in execu tion, and of a striking originality, but his draw ing was often weak. Ills landseape• are usually '•te-.capes,' showing the play of light and shade among tree, lie peoples them with nymphs, cupid-, ltrieutal women i11 1.,:11141y clothes. gstpsies, and the like. Ile loved the sum mer with its bright sunshine. and especially ex celled in depleting rich autumn tints. Ills works ate to he found in all the chief galleries. The greatest number remained in France. lint there are many in the public and private collections of America. Ili: Nvork varies !Intuit in quality, the best having been done after 1835, when he eanie under the influence of Rou••eau. Among his chief works are: 1'); -a Fined" ( 1'i311 "Venus. and Cupid" ( \Valters Collection, in l'.altimore : "A Road in the Forest :" "Hounds in the For est :•' "A. Storm." Consult: Muther, II i•to•y of 41 ode rut 1 'el int( tey London. 1 s96 ; Ilueber, "Diaz," in Van Dyke, Muth eta •rench Musters (New York, 1596l: Thompson, The Ba rbisoir egchool (London. 15911: "Diaz," in artistes eeb'bers.