Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-09-29
From Historical Sketches OF the old Painters

gun, LEONARDO was walking iii the beautiful gar
dcns Milan. His mind bordering on
he subject OF his painting. The spring had al
ready awaked the young blossoms from their win
fcr's sleep, and the trees and hedges crown
ed with the fresh foliage of the season II will
paint the scene sacred TO our Lord!" he exclaimed
this last supper with his disciples Would that
my pencil were equal TO the subject"
The sun just setting as he returned nome.
his mind filled with the vastness of the project.
Unconsciousiv, he arrived at the cioister of the
D,mnicans; the pealiug tones of the organ struck
upon his ear, while the lofty root of the church
rcsounded with the chant of the monks The
solemn sound had stiIied the tumult OF his breast,
and his heart filled with gentle and deeply
religious emotions.
| ssOh. thou" he cried, sswho died for the sins of
the human nature, which is sinful and passion
ate in me. how shall my feeble hand portray thy
gIory How shall paint that last sorrowiul night
when the apostles gathered around thee"
! As he dwell, the subject it gradually OK
panIed to his mind he beIleid the long table, and
the Savior in the midst of his cip'es-the last
ravs of evening shining on his head-a mild ra-
dance bcaming from his eyes, when he exclaimed,
"Veriiy say unto you, one of you snail betray
me-"
And with what beauty did the group spring to
light under the pencil inspired by such emotion!
How fresh, and Vet how soft the coiouring! Bat
1t was indeed arious task Spring had come
round, and two of the heads yet remained unfin-
ished--the Saviour's and that OF Judas the
because his soul trembled to approach 1.-THE 9th
or because the beautiful purity of his own spirit
shrank horrour from the task OF portrayIng htly
such yisage.
In vain LEONARDO sat before bis easel, with his
pencil in his hand and PRAYED for divine inspra-
ton 70 paint the Saviour of the world. His touch
was cold and formal Where was the heavenly
bcncvocnce that rradiatei his face-the plying
forciv eness toward the apostle who he knew would
IL, bti1--fh, ,rfance al lyI Xej
with anger, which he cast upon his betrayer? And
the of the traitor, how was he ever TO por
tray it worthIly?
The llst week arrived, and the heads were yet
s.D,st thou know the conditions?'' exclaimed
the cxult!nr monk-.success death; SO said
the duke. and his word is never recalled
81 know them WE'LL" replied LEONARDO, in des-
pairing tone.
ssThen hasten thy work. said the domn /
IAN. sis life worthless that thou canst not at
ord n daub of thy brush to il? As we'll .
night the mighty discovery of painting have
ii 1t viii not do thee this slight ser
ice Come, lend me thy brush-to-norrow is Z
he day will fr.es @ = head and RRer
saarchiur glance, with flashing expression oi
conscious power AMI triumph
.Har' exclaimed LEONARDO, 81 thank thee,
,ood sir prior, for this last oferthon hast indeed
Inspired me-"
:
ID the door and through the rest of that day, and
he whole solitude of that last night, sat almost ,
without internission at the glorious work which >
las imnortazed him. The head of Judas was
ompleted before the shades Of night on; =
N. that OF the Savior still remained. There .
vas the beautiful oyai-ie locks parted on the 4.
all else of the face a blank. :,
lie felt the tasl, bevond his power! vet his gen Z,
rous spirit would not proiane his ideal, nor :
cgrade his art, by unworthy performance.
The last RAYS of the sun were setting; he turn r.
/ toward the west. "Andrea," he cried, snow h
, this hour of nv last extremity of despair, let h
" voice reach thee among the shade of the palm n
ees of paradlse!' o.
As bv sudden inspiration, confidence took L
,ssesson of his mind-celestia! images foated
sfore his maglnation-the peallng root seemed n
rnr with hosannas---and, in the vacant space, Il,
&c imagination of the painter behe!d the countc- ;,
,nce the divine couutenance, which he had been =
vain attempting to portray. of
Oace more he seizes his brush--he has only to h.
How the traits impressed for ever by that single "
sion CLEAN on his memory. Now, indeed, the Al
ork soon compieted.
The mex, morning LEONARDO did not make his w.
pearance. nor any reply returned to the re-
p!icatinn of the prior at the door. 1t was the Oh
V on which the picture was to be exhibited, ana NJ
reToorseIess enemy e1ulted in the belief that, nj
his despair. he had sought the fate of the Judas IN
had found himself incompetent to depict. fe
Atlenoth the hour arrived and the Duke Sforza, co
bv the principal nobility of Milan, sr
,ceeded in state to the Dominican monastery. ",
\ gave orders that the refectory should be or
own open The picture, which upon the IN
II at the end. was concealed by curtain; and n,
, artist stood with his eyes cast down, and an an
preston of deep detection There was con- mr.
ed mlrmur of voices. Curiosity and eager eS-
station were expressed in every countenance of
that of the prior's; on his sat triumphant re- ore
1ce; the picture, he was confident. was unhn- bu
ed in the most important figures, as he had him he
f seen i, so on the preceding dav. wi
Il Let the curtain be withdrawn. said the duke tai
leonardo moved not--the emotion of the artist %,
dcred him powerless. tia
The dominican, unable TO comprehend such m,
limos was confirmed in the belief that the with an,
winr OF the curtain would be the death-war- n-,
I of Iiouardo; he hastily seized the string.
nv a sudden pull the curtain opened. and the
;, S,ppet of LEONARDO da NInci stood revealed HI
he world. sd
lot n sound for few moments broke the still hin
that prevailed; at length murmurs of APP baa
,se were heard increasing, the influence of his
GLORIOUS work fell fuller upon the enthusiast ell
minds of the Italians. to raptures. The duke
- and stood before LEONARDO. swell. noble |
rentiue hast thou atoned for thv fault; | am er
n to forgive thee all. On-on, To glory. to erir
,o~.slity-hieh rewards shall be thine But tior