Acadiensis/Volume 1/Number 2/An Acadian Artist

R. JAMES NOEL SCOVIL, the subject of this sketch, the only child of the late James Scovil, was born in St. John, N. B., on Christmas day, 1878, and is therefore in his 23rd year.

From his early boyhood, young Scovil always displayed great aptitude for sketching from life and other forms of artistic work. Many a rap over the knuckles he doubtless received in his school-boy days for a well drawn caricature of the school-master, or for spending the time, which should have been devoted to other work, in drawing faces and figures upon his slate, or within the covers of his schoolbooks.

If masters could but recognize and encourage the peculiar aptitudes which their various pupils usually, in a greater or lesser degree, possess, and direct their course of training accordingly, how many valuable hours might be well spent, which otherwise are frittered away, or spent in acquiring a fund of knowledge which is not destined to be of any practical value to the pupil in after life.

With the exception of about twenty lessons, received at various times from two of our local artists, Mr. Scovil received no actual art education until early in the year 1899, when he presented himself at one of the studios of the Julian Academy in Paris. His account of what he saw and experienced, of student life in Paris, at the studios, the cafes, and his associates among the three or four hundred fellow pupils at the academy, is most interesting. The writer much regrets that want of space prevents more than a very brief reference to his Paris life.

L' Academic Julian is made up of several schools or classes, with a large staff of professors, who visit each of ​the different studios in turn, criticising the work of the pupils, offering here a hint, there a suggestion, usually very brief in character; too much so, as a rule, to suit the tastes of those of the students who are ambitious in regard to their work.

The Ateliers, as they are called, for male pupils, are usually in different buildings from those used by the female students.

At No. 31 Rue du Dragon is situate the particular studio in which Mr. Scovil worked; and upon taking up his work he was obliged, as is there customary, to pay his footing. This consists usually of a contribution of about fifteen francs, which is either spent instanter upon "wine" for the delectation of his co workers, or put aside towards one of those delightful periodical Bohemian outings so dear to the heart of the Paris student.

At the various studios a number of models present themselves on Monday morning of each week. They disrobe, and each in turn stands in a state of nudity for a few moments upon the dias. As each of the models present themselves, the students, who so desire, hold up their hand in token of approval. The model receiving the largest number of votes is selected as the subject for the week's work.

Posing is by no means an easy task, as the hours are from 8 to 12 a. m. and from 1 to 5 p. m. with fifteen minutes' rest in each hour.

Two professors visit the studio on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and to the student to whom is adjudged the best criticism, is awarded the honor of choice of position for the following week.

One of these studios often affords an interesting sight. The students group themselves according to their particular choice; on the dias the model, all around a human hive striving to catch the various modulations of figure and expression, of light and shade; on the wall the palette

J. Noel Scovil.

​scrapings of successive generations of pupils; above, awaiting the often much longed-for purchaser, a number of finished sketches; here an old curtain, dingy and time-worn, which has been used as a back-ground for many a sitter; there a dusty cast or a lay figure.

Most of the studios are to be found in the Latin Quartier, and here abound those little cafes before alluded to. On a summer evening small tables are spread, out of doors upon the broad sidewalks, and the students meet, enjoy their usually frugal meals, sip their coffee, smoke their cigarettes, discuss the vicissitudes of life, admire the pretty 'demoiselle as she passes demurely by, or perchance dream of some sketch which will win the Grand Prix de Rome, and lay the foundation for future greatness.

For the American male student a magnificent club has been fitted up in one of the old palaces of the Napoleons, by Mr. John Wanamaker, of New York. It was at this club, in the winter of 1897–8, that the writer was present, by invitation, at a dinner given by the students on New Year's evening. The large dining hall was brightly lighted, plates were laid for about 150 persons. The American ambassador and several other guests of honor were present. About the halls were hung some of the choicest specimens of the winter's work.

Just across the table from the writer sat a colored man, spare in face and figure, with a thin, straggling beard, and features that spoke not of high living. At his right sat an American lady who voluntarily occupied that seat, several of his fellow students having declined to sit beside a negro; at his left, the son of an American millionaire, also there from choice, at my right, the sister of the lady who sat opposite. After the bill of fare, the wine was passed around, then one or two formal toasts, and amid loud applause, the toast of the evening was announced, "The winner of the 'Grand Prix.'"

​Quietly and without ostentation the colored man arose, bowed to the Chairman, to the right and left, and after the applause had subsided, thanked those present, in a few simple words, and without evident embarrassment, for the kind manner in which the toast had been received.

The student services on Sunday evenings, semi-social, semi-religious, usually held in one of the largest studios, are another striking feature of American student life in Paris. Here lemonade and gospel hymns with a rousing chorus, Bible reading, cake and ice-cream, sacred solos and quartettes by some of the best professional singers in Paris are strangely commingled.

Rooms suitable for students, and of the cheapest class, may be obtained in the Latin Quartier for about $6.00 a month; while table board for those who live moderately at a cafe, costs from eighty cents to one dollar a day. Students who are not above doing their own cooking may subsist upon about half that amount.

Since his return to St. John, Mr. Scovil has been employed upon the staff of the St. John Gazette, and although laboring under disadvantages, has produced some good work.

Of the three examples of his skill which we reproduce by permission in this number of Acadiensis, Nos. 1 and 2 were drawn in Paris, namely, the figure of the girl, and the Head Piece, with some figures from life such as one sees almost any day upon the streets of that city. No. 3 is a cariacature of some of the young men who habitually frequented the stage door of the St. John Opera House during the recent visit of the Valentine Opera Company to this city.

In this last example the drawing is particularly good, and gives evidence of much promise. One of the staff of the Brooklyn Eagle, to whom the writer recently exhibited the original drawing, commented upon its excellence, with this remark, "That young man ought to be up here."

​Among Acadians who are embued with a love of their country, the tendency of our young men of ability to drift into the larger cities of the neighbouring republic would seem to be a phase of life much to be deplored.

The recent death of his step-father, and other consequent events, however, will probably compel Mr. Scovil to make a stronger effort to work his way upward in the world, and the significant remark of the Brooklyn man, that he ought to be "up here," is not unlikely to be realized. Mr. Scovil has already been offered a position with the Boston Post to do "chalk-plate" work; but this not being to his liking, the offer has not been accepted.

Should Mr. Scovil, who is naturally looking for more remunerative employment than that at which he is at present engaged, decide to try a larger field, this magazine will be deprived of the assistance of one of those workers upon whose talents its publishers hoped, from time to time, to draw for the gratification of its patrons and the betterment of the magazine.

All selfish motives aside, however, we take pleasure in wishing Mr. Scovil that success in life which his talents deserve, but trust that the advancement which must eventually come to him shall be of such a nature as to still permit of his remaining within the borders of Acadia.