DURAN, dn'riix'. CAI:ma:8 (Carnes .11' C:1:STE EMILE ( 1837-1. A French por trait painter. lie was horn at Lille, duly 4, IS:37. He studied under Souchon at the Lille Aeademy of Art. and afterwards in Paris. where he devoted himself chiefly to copying the old masters in the Louvre, especially Leonardo and Vulasquez. In ISiil he obtained the Wi•ar prize for painting. and went to Italy and Spain, continuing his study of Velasqu•z. who remained his chief model. While at the Monastery of Saint Francis near Subiaeo. during his stay in Rome, he painted his first im portant work, "The Evening Prayer" (1863). This Wtls followed by "The Assassination" (1866, in the Lille a picture which shows much dramatic power. After this he turned his attention to portraiture and exhibited "The Lady with the (Hove" (1•69), a full-length portrait of his wife in outdoor costume. one of his hest works, and now in the Luxembourg. This was followed by a series of brilliant portraits. In IS73 he opened an atelier, and many Americans sought his instruction. Aiming his pupils have been Low, Sargent, and Beckwith. llis por traits are usually of women and They are essentially modern. lifelike, ivid, and boldly Fainted. Be rich fabrics, and the satin, and laces of his subjects are finely ren dered. In technique, Duran has rarely been sur
passed, but ill interpretation of personality his great pupil, Sargent, goes beyond him. and Duran never nearly his chosen master. elasquez. in subtilty of expression. His other tr irk, include portraits of Mons. Edouard R. and Madame Feydeau: "Lady with a Dog" ( Lille Museum) ; the Seaside:" an equestrian portrait of the actress Mademoiselle Croizette: very much like Velasquez in treat ment: the Countess of Vandal: 31ine. de Emile de Girardin, and Pasteur. He also painted a series of hi-torical and genre subjects, in which the intInence of Veronese and Rubens is ap parent. Among these are the "Bathers," the "Gloria Medici." a decorative composi tion for a veiling in the Louvre: the "Burial of Christ" (18821 : "Dawn." and the "Vision." These works are tine exams less of naturalism. but they lack religious depth and nobility of conception. lle received the medal of honor in 1879, and was made commander of the Legion of Honor in 1889. His sculpture also some skill. Consult: Stranahan, History of French Painting (New York, 1896); and Thither, of Modern Painting (New York, 189(i).