The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette from Fort Wayne, Indiana • Page 13

UNDAY, MOPNINO, DECEMBER H'Wli. THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAII'GAZETTE. 13 "1 I I '1 I )' Rare Works of Old Masters Here; Display the Nativity C1 mMBBxkV" aVBxr, jl a 4 leu i LaewBBs THK "NATIVITY OF OUR LORD. ARTIST UNKNOWN. il.jU Birth of Christ and Adoration of tho Wise Mon Told in Paintings at Bishop's House.

BT HOMER GORDON DAVISSON The loan exhibition of paintings recently held In the public library must have been a revelation to moat of the visitors. The existence In our midst of works of art of such merit and variety wes probably unknown to most of us These pictures were without exception modern works, some half dozen of them having been exhibited In this year's Farla and Munich salons. It la the plan of the Art School to assemble In the near future a collection of old masters, from the collections In this and other cities of the tMei It Is hoped that these old works will prove as Interesting and Instructive to the general public as the modern ones. In this exhibition of old roasters will be some doxen canvases which Bishop Alerdlng has very generously offered from his private collection. Owned In Bavaria by an el derly priest they show undoubted an tlqulty and merit.

The ancient passed them to a youthful member of his order on the later's departure for the New World. In the course of time this young priest became bishop of the dlocess of Fort Wayne as Bishop TJwenger. After the good bishop passed away the canvases were relegated to the garret and It was left for Bishop Alerdlng to have them restored and shown to the world at the St Louis exposition Their condition necessitated their being transferred by tedious process to new canvases The dirt and varnish of ages was re I' i i moved without In the least Injuring the artist's brushwork underneath One of them, Salome with tho head of John the Baptist, has been pronounced, a Titian and so far as I am able to discern Is a splendid example of that great Venetian master, who excelled all others of Italian school as a col. orlat These pictures are of course of re llgloua subjects, some three of them pertain to the birth of Christ and are of Interest to us particularly at this season It Is perhaps difficult for the modern mind to grasp the Importance of painting in teaching the truths of religion during the dark ages and the period of the early Renaissance. Before the days of the printing press books were expensive and few could read them, while everyone could, understand the universal language of painting.

In many of1 the churches of Italy the story of the entire Bible was told In frescoes on the walla, One of the most magnificent examples of this form of expression Is the Bysantine Church of St Mark's in Venice, done In mosaics. But one of the earliest examples of painting Is the frescoe work by Giotto In the little Chapel of the Arena In Padua, series of thirty eight paintings embraces th story of the miraculous promise Vof the blrtll of the Virgin to the ascension of Christ and the descent of the i Holy Splirtt not only did they tnJlue'noe'ithei KBKBmjujNGui bbE9bbbxbbxbbxbbxbbxbbxsbV tff 'Jt ''M j'trjHsHsBHBxi flimirf ii ffA ii." j. SWvJHf IdukVxwxwxwxwxwxeVsB HBBLjVsusxJSr' PJsZjc wxeBBxevVi rWj iBlP! 7 BawJ iyeVBavBxeBBxei BBxBBxBBTKBBBxeBPlKBEr "ivkbxeBLKBBxBBxBa IbkwxwxwxwxwxSvV vK9aVJHJHJBEsJJHJHJHJtay sfisjMIBjKVxxxxxxl SJxvJaVjaVrVJMk'i SAPJxvJxvJLvJxvJxvJPKLiltf' aPJxvJxvJxvJxvJxvJxvJ SSTSTSTSTJSSTSjnTSipsjBBHBjpBHBr fi flksVxwxwxwxwxwxwxeVxis THE EPIPrtAbJY OF OUR LORD. ARtUT UNKNOWN. THE NATIVITY OF OUR LOUD.

BY ENRICO BEBER, UM. efforts of the artists of the next two hundred years but to day mural painters seek the little chapel to derive Inspiration for their work. Living In the time when art was in Its infancy, the thirteenth century's latter half, this Is one of the few names In history, which having become great while Its bearer lived has sustained no loss of greatness through subsequent generations. In some particulars, his art lias never been surpassed He gave the first Impetus to modern painting which culminated In the golden period of the High Renals In the Immortal work of Da Vinci Michelangelo, Raphael rind Titian. It Would be Interesting to trace the development of Italian painting from the time of Giotto until culmination In the High Renaissance In the fifteenth century; the advance that was made in the Imitation of nature, grad ually becoming, not imaginary but real, the laws of perspective were discovered and turned to practical ac count by Faulo Uecello.

Improvements were made In the t)pes of forms, ant atomtcal correctness and physical beauty by Massaclo and examples of antique sculpture were discovered and a careful study made of them hy An dre Mantagne The true principals of coloring were cnxrled out by the Bellini at Venice and the love of spiritual beauty was embodied In the works of Fra Angellco, Feruglno and Fra Bar tolammeo, Fra Angellco, a very pious monk, residing In the monastery or an Marco at Florence was the last and greatest of the symbolic religious painters. There Is a spell about his work which cannot be accounted for on critical grounds; his Madonnas are a vlsabte Inoarnatlon of the spirit of holiness He worked only for the. love the brelhern, not for temporal gain. Ills simplicity, goodness, purity, are the foundations of an appeal to the hearts of all generations and his genius most clearly showed Itself In the painting of angels These are known to all the world by numerous reproductions of every description, hundreds of them having Just been sent In the form of post cards which may be found In almost any shop in Fort Wayne, After the time of Fra Angellco, the painters devoted part of their time to secular subjects, but it was from the church that they were chiefly cm ployed and their greatest masterpieces were of religious subjects. Leonardo da Vlncl.

who Is Just In prominence, on account of the loss from the Louvre of his portrait of Mona Lisa left hut few works, but such as are now remaining are almost wlthqut exception of a religious character. What was his greatest painting, the "Last Supper' on the wails ol a ruorisAery In Milan is known to ail, thrcftxgh engravings while his "Virgin lof the Rocks" Is one of the gems of the National Gallery In London and a replica of it is In the Louvre Michelangelo. The Vault of the Slstlne Chanel painted by Michelangelo la probably the most powerful religious paintings ever executed. Genesis, from the creation to the deluge Is treated with a grandeur that will probably nevor be surpassed There are nearly four hundred figures, several of them eighteen feet lrt height. It Is almost hard to believe that this artist who was a sculptor, without experience as a painter, could, unaided, produce this masterpiece In less than four years.

It mure than equals the entire output of any other Italian painter. Corregglo of Parma did some wonderful frescoes lit the cathedral of that city, but he la perhaps best known to us by his altar pieces now In the Dresden gallery. His "Holy Night" in which the Illumination of the picture seems to emanate from the Christ child Is a splendid exarrvle. One of the last of the painters of the Italian school, before Its decline was Tltlun, an examriu ofw'iore work Is In Bishop Alerdlng collection Urlike the other great artists of his period who were sculptors and archltect i as well as painters, Titian confined his efforts to the tatter mode of expression. He vaa a painter In the true 'sense Mr.

Davisson Writes of tho Art of Whioh These Valuable Examples Are Exponent The First Christmas in Art. of the word, the work of some of his famous ontempomnes scarcely litlng more than tinted drawings Titian lived a long and busy life executing paintings of almost all palntable subjects, and died of the plague at the ago of ninety nine. He was prlmmlly a portrait painter In the gallery at Edinburgh, Scotland, there Is a splendid little landscape quite modern In appearance, but his moat Important painting, the "Assumption of the Virgin" In the Academy at Venice, Is one of the most celebrated pictures in the world. Fainting, north of the Alps, devoloped about a century later than In It differs very greatly trom the Italian work In many Important particulars, one of which Is the site of the pictures. This Is due to a extent to the styles of architecture In the two countries.

In Italy, which Is sunny country, window openings of small fixe sufficed, leaving large wall spaces while the gothlo churches In the north had Immensii windows, with scarcely any wall spsces for decorating. Thus It came about that the artists In the north confined their efforts to alutr iftece and other easel pictures Another difference between the work of the north and the south Is due to the source of inspiration. In the north there were no remains of classic sculpture such as was found in Italy, so the painters had tu go directly to nature for their inspiration, and we And the work from the first more realistic than In the south The first northern painters of note were the brothers Van Eyck. who have left us the altar piece known as "The Adoration of the Lnmb" In the cattle dral at Ghent These brothers have the distinction of having been tne In ventors of oil palntlpg Jan Van Eyck, the younger of the two left several Important works, minutely finished and Jewel like on color A religious painter of very great note waa Hans Memllng ef Bruges. Several of his paintings are still to be found In the Hospital of Saint John in that city.

He Is known aa the "Fra Angellco of the North Minuteness of finish, and delioaty and softness of coloring are his characteristics. In the gallery at Munich there Is a remark able painting by him In which the whole story of the birth of Christ la depicted in a series of groups of figures, while at Turin, a similar one represents scenes from the pasilon. The great Rubens was the painter of many religious subjects, the best known of which Is hlsvepecent from the cross," In the cathedral at Antwerp and his "Last Judgment," In Munich, where he has portrayed his friend among the redeemed while among the damned he his enemies. With the exception of Rembrandt the Dutch school did not produce any potable painter of Biblical subjects, but In hi they have one of the greatest of all time. One of the most beautiful forms ol modern artistic expression are the man ger scenes which are placed in the churches of Italy and Bavaria, at Christ mas time.

These are small figures and architecture sculptured In wood painted and draped, and placed upon a miniature stage with painted background and proper lighting. Some of them are worka of art of the very highest order and portray the Christmas story more vlvlaly 'than doxen sermons. (thriJVf'he DeutBorr, Sah IeasVieBseBsLv llBliSBIlSeaAseBiHHHnl Vl b1111.11Hbb9b1vm i iTjfcsDBxeHaaisr eV lssBsVliBr jftat 'xeBsBBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBsBs IL 'W I ilssVefaWHBBseBsfl I A' all the Manger paintings car plexton and eyes. Her face Is full bf Spanish painters who made a masterly Ki5 Jjvi' W7 JBBfckSMraSfc 34lxm.J sweetness Innocence. She Is be study of the Manger and the Immac fcmM i I ing guarded by a band of angels, and ulat Conception.

The Infant is shown lt1RjK; ritmMWSsBMStMlkm I I TsBieaTslBBBiBMHiBieBMBsfaxieBMMIBWVts7M portrays in. jniani in tne Alan what fair angels. They are gaslng at resting on a pallet or straw, and the i BWWfft MWiTAWMFM MsfMI I seBseHsBlseHBseBlBseBseBseBsekseBseBHBHBAVlS A er motnfr bndlnc ever him the baby with' childish wonderment mother la taking him up to look at fWWijll A wh" th "fh hln" from ni eonsum her new born darling. A light II iLWiIPW Tsfl. I KSHKBBItBpKrXmfwJaSmuJmi 1 lumlned face on hers.

Joseph Is In mat skill In handling a difficult sub lumlnea his faoe and.lt Is reflected on HVf jAMm. tSSBBfi i background guarding his holy ject with Joy and simplicity. her lowered countenance. She shows JilHBexeaklBKr lSw3H AAiiiur, um uw iuiev wia mn iimwr a number ok Bpanlah painters have exquisite lenaerncss in in way sne sxeBxeBseBseHxeBseVBvSaVit'. lift up his swaddling clothes and In R.lJ'ol wiltBseBseBseBseBseTsTsBseWm MV vMI 0 BSpx eA 7 mm OF all the Manger paintings certainly the most Wonderful Is Correglo's "Holy Night," It portrays the Infant in the Manger.

HIS mother Is bending ever him while the light ahlne from his Illumined face on Joseph Is In ths background guarding his holy family, and the three wise men have com to pay them a visit. The picture shown are modern in. terpretatlon of the sayne Incident. Roll Is.a French painter and he has done few holy pictures. Most of his canvases are battle scenes and peasants with plenty of action.

In his "Nativity" the Manger Is a rough and primitive stall mad of heavy beams with a few heavy rafters placed across th top. Beyond Is a rude cave. In th picture Mary Is seen seated on low hillock and holda her new born babe In her arms. Joseph, worn Isoktng and unkempt, is seated a( her side looking at Kls little one. Their only Other possession Is ao ass seen In one oomer.

In. another are the shepherd standing In the dark gaslng In wonderment as they watch the Infant resting In his mother's arms. A. small study but having no less charm is th "New Born Babe" by B. Plglhelm, a Oerman painter.

The Madonna is seated oh a cloud holding her new bom baby In her arms. He Is so tiny she holds Atna by his swad llng clothes. She Is drtesed to a simple, dark robe and has a aoart thrown ever her head, that falls down a a veil khlndt Sh 1 rare type ot a blond Mtdonn with fair com plexion and eyes. Her face Is full bf sweetness and lnnoeenc. Sh is being guarded by a band of angels, and what fair angels.

They ar gaslng at the baby with' childish wonderment Her the artist has shown consummate skill In handling a difficult subject with Joy and simplicity. A number of Spanish painter have treated this earn subject, the beat, known of these la He la famous for his great studies ot Martyrs, but he fella short In this famous Msdonna. Thar la a stiffness and conventionality seen In this picture of th manger that ar lacking In th Italian paintings ef th manger. The new born Babe Is seen resting on a bed of straw In a conventional position. Mary Is kneeling before Him, with her hair hanging, th yss uplifted and her hands clasped in prayer.

Her faee la sweet snd spiritual looking, but l( lack the Joy of motherhood that Is so prominent a feature In the paintings of the same subject by the great Italian masters. Close to ths crib Is a dead, lamb symbolic of the future Pascal Lamb. To the other side are the three wise men who are kneeling in prayer before the new born Infant. Again this plcturs lacks the charm and grace found in the wis men of the Italians. But thl painting Is remarkable for certain qualities, such aa the grouping ot ths figures, the expression, uf sanctity in th different faces, and the rich tone In which the story Is told.

Carle Maratta Is another ef th Spanish painters who made a masterly study of the Manger and the Immaculate Conception. The Infant Is shewn resting on a pallet of straw, and th mother la taking him up te look at her new born darling, A light Illumines his faoe and, It Is reflected on her lowered countenance. She shows exquisite tenderness In the way she lifts up his swaddling clothe and In her lowered head. Her draperies ar thrown over her head and shoulders. Three lovely angels ar guarding th little one and their face ar filled with gentleness and love.

Though only their heads are seen In all art It would be difficult to find three lovelier angels' heads. The picture is exquisite In its study of lights and ahadows. The light on the faces of the mother Child, and the angels Is In strong contrast with the shadows of the background. Carl Is another of the Garni in painters who has attempted to depict this Important episode In the life of Christ. He la a modern Oerman painter and gives a broad handling to the treatment ef this important theme The landscape plays an Important part In the picture.

Th holy family are resting la the fields, with many hills In the back ground. Mary la seated on a rook hurled In prayer and Joseph stands at her side. An angel with a harp Is kneeling la fron nt Jhero.iJaylrigati anthem of Joy, Every detail, such as th Madonna's golden hair, the anger wings and the delicate braacnea of th trees, handled with) great detail. Of.