The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-05-10
From the Saturday Courier.
THE UNKNOWN ARTIST.


From the Saturday Courier.
THE UNKNOWN ARTIST.
ny T. MAYNE REID.
One day as the celebrated Rubens, accompanied
BY his pupils, Van Dyke, Van Thalden, Jaiques
and Van Zulden, were strong through the sub
urbs of Madrid they found themselves in the neigh
borhood Of very mean-looking Convent Having
entered the building, they observed with surprise
the poverty OF the establishment, and also the aus
terity and humiliation to which the poor monk.
submitted themselves. In the midst of this mean
ness and poverty, however, the eyes Of the grea
artist fell upon small painting, that gave evidence
Of the most sublime talent on the part of It's author
The painting represented the death OF a monk
Rubens called his pupils to his side, and pointed
out the work that had SO excited his admiration
They were all equally struck with the genius which
the unknown artist had displayed.
'And who can be the author of this work. in
quired Van Dyke, the favorite pupil of the great
master.
name had evidently been written below the
painting, but afterward carefully erased. Van
Zulden pointed to this, but none of the artists
could decpher the blotted inscription.
After some consultation. Rubens sent pressing
request TO the prior of the Convent to grant him a
short interview, to which the latter acceded In
a few minutes he made his appearance, clothed in
the humblest garb of his order. and inquired meek
y the wishes of the strangers
"Pardon me father" said Rubens, 81 have ta-
ken the liberty OF sending for you to inquire the
name Of him who produced this remarkable paint
ing'"
"He is not now in the world" was his answer
"Deadw exclaimed Rubens; ''dead and no one
has known him till now-no one has announced
his name, so that it might become immortal name
by the side of which my own would sink into OBJ
scurity, notwithstanding" added the artist with
noble pride, Notwithstanding that am Paul
Rubens"
At hearing this name, the countenance of the
prior became strangely illuminated with the fire of
enthusiasm, and he fixed his eyes upon Rubens
with look that spoke more than mere curiosity.
But his enthusiasm seemed gradually to die away.
He lowered his eyes upon the gro und. and crossing
HE dIHo-udt dt llle III eHllOn oil
the great artists name, had been lifted toward
Heaven-on his breast, he slowly repeated
"The painter is not now in the world
"But his name, worthy father, his name:" cried
Rubens; tell it to me that may reveal it to the
universe and proclaim for it the Immortality which
it so well merits"
And Van Dyke, Jaiques, Van Zuden, all added
their voices to that Of their master, and earnestly
entreated the prior to name the author of the pic
ture. The monk trembled from head to foot while
cold sweat passed over his lean and sallow cheeks
his lips became contracted, and his whole frame
assumed the convulsve semblance of one who was
about to reveal some dreadful secret.
"The name! the name!' impatienty repeated
Rubens and the Others.
The prior, with deep solemnIty in his voice
and manner commenced
"Listeu to me senores; you have misunderstood
me. l have said to you that the author OF this |
painting is not IN the world-but did not mean
that he is dead"
"Ha! he lives, them say does he ve' Shew
him to us, that we may honor him.
"He does live but has renounced all things that
pertain 10 the vain pursuits of the earth. He is
in cloister, and is monk"
ga monk mio PADRE monk Tell me in what
convent that may 60 TO him and bring him thence.
When God has given such genius as this, it is not
fit that it should be buried in cloister. God has
sent him upon sublime mission; it is necessary
that he should fulfil it. Tell me, holy prior, what
convent, so that may rescue him from its solitude
and reveal to him the glory that awaits him. Tell
it me, and the Pope, who esteems me, will hear
my request and grant it,
81 will not tell you his name, nor the convent
to which he belongs, answered the prior, resolute
y.
"T'he Pope will command it for u.s." replied
Rubens, despairingly.
"Hearken to me- senoresr ~ said the monk; shear
me, in the name of Heaven! Do you think that
this man, before abandoning the world to end his
days in the solitude of closter, did not sufficient
ly prepare himself to wreste with such temptation
as you would now offeri-that the bitter dsap-
pointment, the cruel ~rongsiwhch he has suffered
that the joys and glories Of earth are nought but
vanity9 He has, and your entreaties can avail
nothing. His determination ia sealed to die in the
TO which an unkind and wicked world r
has driven him. and not all the foolish glory of that
world can lure him back. Children, you speak
is in vain!"
"But, holy father, that which he renouDces is
NAnd what is immortality IN name, when COM
parsfwith the eternity Of the soul'"