Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-01-07
THE STUDENT OF VALENCIA.
A TALE.


In the studio of an artist at Valencia, in Spain,
about the year 1850, surrounded by the designs of
his MASTER worked or dreamed, from day to day. his
pupil Francisco D Ribalta. giving himself up to idle
musing rather than to the inspiration fhis art.
At times stimulated by the stern rebuke biting
tire of his MASTER he seized his brush and dashed off
strokes of such gsto and power as showed that per-
severance rather than genius wanting to give
him name in his profession sometimes those very
rebukes provoked him to obstinacy, his eyes flashed
and his compressed brows showed an inward stirring
of the vndictive spirit but oftener he nigh be
lost in delicious reveries, gazing covertly on the
likeness of girl whose slight and airy figure was
contrasted by the terrible beauty of pariarchs and
martyrs, saints and angels, which stood out strong
In the chiaro-oscuro which characterized the altar
pieces around. The picture was frequently re-
moved for convenience from place TO place in the "a
partment, to give room to others. Sometimes it
was thrown quite in the shade, where only CLEAN
Of one of the lustrors eyes beamel upon the young
artist; sometimes the finely turned shoulder projec
ted from behind the heavy form of Judas, or the
dark curs rose above the feathered wing of cupid;
and at length, one morning when Ribalta entered
the studio he perceived it uncermonousy turned to
the wall and the artists foot placed against it as he
stood sketching saints heal. Various were the
manGuvres of the youth to restore this gem of his
love to spot where he could gaze without obstruc
ton on its transcendent loneliness. Restless and dis
satisfied he threw his colors awhile with careless
prousion, ana then set gazing stessy on his pallet
until the hues were lost as in prism.
'.To work, ider, to work., said the cid man, IN
tone Of authority.
Ribalta might have answered unadviscdly, but
slight tap at the door, and the airy figure of Isabel
the artists daughter arrested him. AS she entered
the concentrated light was shed on her like glory
while blush, a sullusion if the vermion of the
student had been showered on her neck and face rush
ed her, and then subsidized into chastcned rose
tnts,as she recovered herself from her low and grace
full salutaton. Having completed her GRAND TO her
father, she discovered her likeness in its dishcnored
condition.
s.My father, is it thus you treat your poor Isabel =
said she smiling as the old man withdrew his foot
from the position it had occupied.
STOPPING down, she removed the picture and throw
ing her left the tor, with fold OF her veil
Eighty brushed away the dust that had gathered over
it, The act brought her own head in contact with
The picture, the sunny eyes of which glanced through
her curs. An exclamation of admiration burst from
she lips of the student The artist who had lain one
of his powerful touches the eyebrow of his saint
appropriated the compliment and nodded complacently
but the stroke which was TO 60 down to posterity
was lost on Ribalta; his eyes riveted on the
living picture before him with look which made
her speedily withdraw, another daylight glow man
ting on her cheek
The rough tone of his master reused the youth
from reyerie, if that can be caleda revere where
thought is concentrated on sole object. The
deep gaze which had followed Isabel until her floating
garments disappeared, reverted to the picture with
thrilling joy that he might dwell unrebuked on its
passive charms The love of the beautiful had long
been broodng his sou but the turbid waters of
passionate youth had hardly yet shown leaf prom
ise 1t was for Isabel TO be driven to find that sign
and equallze his character. She alone occupied
his thoughts, whether moving in modest grace with
averted eyesor whether her silent image turned those
Deamlng orbs on his. Study was forgotten, or but
reverted 10 as glass where he might trace her
charms In some new modification
In this state of feeling the artist assigned to him
the shading of fair-browed cupid The pupil blind
the god before him, and dreaming only of the dark
curls of Isabel drew the like raven tresscs over the