182 LIFE OF HORACE BENEDICT DE SAUSSURE 



been admitted to Bourrit's studio, succeeded in anticipating the 

 method of the modern interviewer. 

 He writes : 



' Bourrit's figure is long and thin, his complexion dark as a negro's, 

 his eyes burning and full of genius and life, his mouth marked by a 

 touch of mobility and good nature which inspires confidence such is 

 a rapid sketch of this singular man. 



' His description of the Alps, written, if you will, in too poetical 

 and too exalted a style, is a real masterpiece. Bourrit is less exact 

 than Saussure ; he paints with a broad brush, and often neglects details, 

 but he makes up for this failing by the colour and vivacity of his 

 pictures. Saussure speaks as a philosopher, Bourrit as a poet ; while 

 the former instructs you frigidly, and sometimes sends you to sleep, 

 the latter may bore you by his too frequently repeated exclamations, 

 but his style is fiery, and the perusal of his works excites and draws you 

 on. The talent of Bourrit as an artist is not less distinguished. The 

 style of his composition is characteristic and individual. Many of his 

 pictures, none of which is without merit, have been sold in England 

 and Russia ; his house is hung with those that remain. He lives a 

 quiet and retired life. Although he no longer serves in the cathedral 

 choir, the salary attached to the office has been continued to him, as 

 he has lost the pension he had from France. 



' He has, besides, many eccentricities in his way of living : he 

 sleeps during eight months in the year under a walnut-tree in his 

 garden, with a fur coat in July, and no greatcoat in January. He 

 talks of Mont Blanc with the most exalted enthusiasm, and when 

 leading travellers to the Montenvers, utters appropriate little prayers 

 while climbing the mountain. 



' The companion of his excursions, the faithful Raton, so well 

 known to his readers, has passed away : he carefully preserves his 

 skin : the successor of this cherished companion in his frequent pil- 

 grimages promises to be quite as interesting. 



' For the rest, there is not in the world a character more kind or 

 more obliging than Bourrit. It is true he talks too much of the Alps, 

 and, above all, of himself. But who will not pardon this little weak- 

 ness in a man whose merits are so well known, and who, in the double 

 role of painter and author, is an honour to his country ? ' l 



Beside this impression of a passing visitor we may put the 

 portrait supplied by Bonnet, whose criticisms were always tem- 

 pered by his kindness of heart and desire to be just. 



1 See C. A. Fischer, Ueber Genf und der Genfersee (Berlin, 1796). 



