. "His father, though he worked hard in the fields was an artist at heart, alive to the beauties of nature. ??? Normandy peasants ??? are like Scottish country folks, for though generally poor ???they are frequently very well trained and deeply read.??? And at eighteen, when his father, seeing the lad???s talent, consented to his going to Cherbourg to learn to paint, Jean Fran??ois could read his Bib" . . .