DERNIÈRES NOUVELLES. - On ne peut concourir pour les Prix de Rome passé vingt cinq ans. - Ça ne te vas pas à toi qui parle d'aller à Rome depuis 1835.

Trustman, Benjamin A., Trustman, Julia M. · 1863

A man reads the age restrictions for those interested in applying for the Prix de Rome; his friend teases him, saying that he is too old to enter the competition. According to Provost this restaurant could be the Café Baudequin located on Boulevard des Batignolles in Paris. Many artists like Zola, Cézanne etc. were frequent guests there. Apart from the proof prints for the printer there are not assumed to exist any "sur blanc" prints of this lithograph. Yet we found two American museums with "sur blanc" prints of this lithograph in their collection. A LA BRASSERIE (in the pub), a series of 4 prints which appeared in the CHARIVARI between December 30, 1863 and January 21, 1864. This series can be seen as an addition to the series LES CHINOIS DE PARIS. Observe the beautiful and relaxed atmosphere in this smoke-filled pub. PRIX DE ROME. The most famous art competition for students was the PRIX DE ROME (Rome prize). The winner was awarded a fellowship to study at the French Academy's school at the Villa Medici in Rome for up to five years. To compete, an artist had to be of French nationality, male, under 30 years of age, and single. He had to have met the entrance requirements of the École des Beaux Arts and have the support of a well-known art teacher. The competition was grueling, involving several stages before the final one, in which ten competitors were sequestred in studios for 72 days to paint their final history paintings. The winner was essentially assured a successful professional career. There existed also a Prix de Rome for music and theater. By governmental decree of 1862, the Théâtre Lyrique should produce at least one three-act opera by a Prix de Rome winner whose work had not yet been performed in Paris. George Bizet was asked to write a full-length operatic work and wrote "Les pêcheurs de perles" (The Pearl Fishers). One of the illustrious winners of the Prix de Rome was Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) who won the prestigious competition in 1830.