THE LAST YEARS 387 



History at Clermont-Ferrand, an offer which he naturally post- 

 poned to his prospects at Paris. 



After another twelve months ' Fra^ois de Neufchateau de 

 1' Academic Francaise,' then Minister of the Interior, in a pompous 

 letter offered to put de Saussure on a Pension List for the paltry 

 sum of 200 livres (about 8) a month ! It would appear that a 

 nominal Professorship at Lausanne, the duties of which he was 

 incapable of fulfilling, was attached to this tardy gift, which never 

 took effect. 



At this date the only oil portrait of de Saussure in existence 

 was one painted by the Danish painter Juel some eighteen years 

 earlier. In 1796 the Society of Arts expressed a desire to possess 

 before it was too late a portrait of its founder, and after some 

 persuasion de Saussure was persuaded to sit to Saint-Ours, the 

 celebrated portrait painter of the day. 



Madame de Saussure describes the many discussions that 

 took place as to the accessories. De Saussure insisted on Mont 

 Blanc being brought in. He wanted to be painted in the act of 

 climbing the mountain, or at any rate gazing at it. The painter 

 objected it would be difficult to manage, and suggested the snows 

 might be shown through the window of de Saussure's study. Every 

 one, Madame de Saussure complains, brought forward a different 

 idea. The result was a compromise. De Saussure is represented 

 sitting under a pine tree with his geologist's hammer in his hand 

 and a theodolite beside him, while a very conventional Mont Blanc 

 towers in the background. In the finished picture, which has been 

 frequently reproduced, the painter's skill has tried in vain to 

 conceal the ravages of illness, the eyes, always described as 

 prominent, have become painfully bulging, while the expression 

 lacks animation. The sketch on the other hand has an air of 

 absolute fidelity, and is a lifelike if pathetic memorial of the great 

 naturalist in his latter days. 1 



The official correspondence relative to the commission has 

 been preserved in the annals of the Society of Arts. A deputation 

 of its members visited! Saint -Ours' studio and expressed their 

 satisfaction with the likeness and the composition, and the 

 Society subsequently ordered its secretary to convey to the painter 



1 Now in the collection of Dr. Maillart-Gosse of Geneva, who kindly allows 

 me to reproduce it as the frontispiece to this volume. 



