Millet died in Eighteen Hundred Seventy-five.

It was only during the last ten years of his life that he felt
financially free, and even then he was far from passing rich. After his
death his fame increased, and pictures he had sold for twenty dollars,
soon changed hands for as many hundred.

Englishmen say that America grew Millet-mad, and it may be true that our
admiration tipped a bit to t' other side; yet the fabulous prices were
not always paid by Americans--the rich men of earth vied with each other
for the possession of a "Millet."

The "Gleaners" was bought by the French Government for three hundred
thousand francs, and is now in the Louvre "in perpetuity." This sum paid
for this one picture represents a larger amount of money than passed
through the hands of Millet during his entire life; and yet it is not
one-half what another "Millet" brought. The "Angelus" was sold for the
sum of eight hundred thousand francs--a larger amount than was ever
before paid for a single canvas.

It is idle to say that no picture is worth such a sum. Anything is worth
what some one else will pay for it.

The number of "Millets," it may be explained, is limited, and with men in
America who have incomes of ten million dollars or more a year, no sane
man dare prophesy what price the "Sower" may yet command.

Millet himself, were he here, would be aghast at the prices paid for his
work, and he would turn, too, with disfavor from the lavish adulation
bestowed upon his name.