had completely actualized the ideal of the young Parisian artist,
into whose studio we have introduced our readers. The fair original,
whose portrait is before us, was Rose d'Amour, a beautiful actress of
one of the metropolitan theatres, who had just made her debut with
distinguished success. There was quite a romance in her history. Of
unknown parents, she had commenced her career--like the celebrated
Rachel--as a street singer, and was looking forward to no more
brilliant future, when her beauty, genius, and purity of character
attracted the attention of a distinguished newspaper editor, by whose
benevolent generosity she was enabled to prepare herself for the
stage, by two or three years of assiduous study. The success of his
protegee more than repaid the kind patron for his exertions and
expenditure.

A word of Ernest Lavalle, and it shall suffice. He was the son of a
humble vine dresser in one of the agricultural departments of France.
His talent for drawing, early manifested, attracted the notice of his
parish priest, whose earnest representations induced his father to
send the boy to Paris, and give him the advantages afforded by the
capital for students of art. In the great city, Ernest allowed none of
the attractions, by which he was surrounded, to divert him from the
assiduous pursuit of his beloved art. His mornings were passed in the
gallery of the Louvre, his afternoons in private study, and his
evenings at the academy, where he drew from casts and the living
model. The only relaxation he permitted himself, was an occasional
excursion in the picturesque environs of the French capital; and he
always took his sketch book with him, thus making even his pleasure
subservient to his studies. Two prizes obtained, for a drawing and a
picture, secured for him the patronage of the academy, at whose
expense he was sent to Italy, to pursue his studies in the famous
galleries of Rome and Florence. He returned with a mind imbued with
the beauty and majesty of the works of those great masters, whose
glory will outlive the canvas and marble which achieved it,
determined to win for himself a niche in the temple of Fame, or perish
in his laborious efforts to obtain it. At this time he was in his
twenty-second year. A vigorous constitution was his heritage; and his
rounded cheek glowed with the warm color of health. His strictly
classical features were enhanced by the luxuriance of his hair, which
he wore flowing in its na