The brave corporal has received a mortal wound, and takes his last
farewell of a young comrade.
How many a scene like this has been witnessed on the battle-field. How
many of the strong and the powerful among mankind, have the
murder-working engines of war brought to a premature death.
Belangé’s figures are true to nature; there is nothing startling in
them; nor anything of the conventional mannerism of the studio, which
throws so much coldness into ordinary compositions. “It will be seen,”
says the French critic, “that M. Belangé will take the place of Vernet
and Charlet, if those gentlemen are content to rest on their laurels, or
become indifferent to the art which they have so worthily exercised.”
[Illustration: A SOLDIER’S FAREWELL.]