Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-07-03
TITIAN'S MAGDALEN.

TITIAN'S MAGDALEN.
Titan having been loaded with honors
and riches at the court of Charles V. of
Spain, desired to behold Venice He ask
ed, and obtained leave to quit Madrid, still
preserving the title aud emolumento of
Court Painter
Titan returned to Venice, bearing with
him eleven thousand scudi besides present,
Of such great value. that the Doge, Fran
cisco Venier, SAID TO him, despondingy
What can | do for you, when kings
and enperors have given you such precious
proofs OF their esteem ?"
Allow me. SAID riuan, 4" to finish the
frescoes of the great council chamber gra-
tuitou>iy, aud at my own expense"
You are worthy citizen, as well AS a
great artist" answered the Doge; aud
the Senate viii than YOU Ia the name OF
all Venice for your generous offer"
After the death of the Emperor. Titan
still continued 20 serve his Catholic macs
" IN quality of Court Painter but the In
QUESTION gave the new king SO much TO do,
aud lis ministers we're 50 much occupied IN
burning the heretics, that the great artists
pension remained uapaid, aud Tiuan had
often TO apply to the king himself for the
price of his labor Amongst other pictures
ordered by the king, Titan received com
mission To paint a Aagdalen of the most
auslere description Titan set to work
with the best intentions, but drawn away
by worldly tendency, gave to the ne"
Mag ialen greater dose offacducuon aud
beauty than of compunction aud grief, for
the lovely skin glo~ed beneath his pencil
the hair retained glossy brightness, IA
spite Of the ashes with which It was cover
ed and the ewes beamed With the relulg-
ence of love, through their tears. Ia
word, it was the Magdaien rather before
than after her repentance Az the moment
of giving the last finishing suoke to this
work Tuian perceived that be had depicted
the hneaments of Venus, or some such
Pagan divinity, instead of Magdaleu. -
The picture was certainly not whit
less worthy of praise on that account but
Titan very wisely reflected that Philip u.
would hesitate paying for Dang or a Lee
da, when he had expressly ordered Mag
dalen. lie therefore had recourse TO the
following expedient:
Opposite his studio lived young girl OF
great beauiy--an orphan-who had never
known her parents, aud who had been re-
duced by extreme wretchedness and power
ty, TO the painful trade of serving as a mod
el To artists, at the price of half ducat a
sitting. Grlef, nightly watching aud prl-
vauons of every sort had left Their traces on
Ter worn brow and pale, attenulIed cheek
through all this, an arr of distinction aud
righteousness raised her above the sphere
IN which she lived. Our painter, IN his
moments of relaxation, had often remarked
her. leaning her head languIdly at her WIN
dow, her ewes ba,hed in tears, aud seeming
~ in an ecstacy of grief Tiuan sent foi
her, and proposed TO engage her as mod
ell for the head of his Magdalen, promising
TO pay her four ducats a setting, provided
she remained constantly standing motion
less, aud IN the attitude he should place her
without ever asking moments repose
, however great the fatigue aud PAIN that sh'
{ should suffer The young girl, delighted a
SO munlicent an offer, promised all tina
= vas required Of her, aud the sitting com
menced at once la about half an hour
tired of standing IN the same attitude, sh
humbly begged The great Paister to ALLOW
her moment, rest. Titan pretended no
z TO hear the request aud continued ms worl
% with rcloubcd ardor aud mleuuon. In a
1 bout quaref OF ala hour, there was re
t newed demand on the part OF the yo1u
; glrl, aud renewed silence on the part {
p the artist At length, after an hours star
e ding, the poor g.rl agaIn solicited Tor rest
a but tie ARTIST sui remaining obstinate m hI
. silence, the wretched creature fell 10 tli
: ground almost deprived If sense The
a lltlan, feigung to be IA violent passion
= reproyed her barshly for having failed Ia he
c promise to han, aud Threatened with bl
II terness, 10 send her from his study wilho'
c paying her any of the money agreed upoi
y # she did not Instantly resume the posiuo
d IN which he had placed her The poor al
a fortunate, oyerpowered with hun i.lailon an
!, grief, rose, without saying WORD, and =
e suIned her original attitude, abundant al
y bitter tears silently chasing each other do"
&c her pallid cheeks.
u cit is done I" exclaimed Titan, in tor
e of triumph. There is, at length, the c
IA preston sought !"
is Then, after a few more touches OF h
N pencil, lie ran 10 the young gTl' aud pre-
y sing her IN his arms with palernal iendt
N ness, wiped away her tears, aud placed
f. ON couch.
y "My child" said he, "wIIh your help
re have accomplished eht-d CURE II
therefore just that you should have your 10
in ducats for to-day's sitting aud here is yo
he portion" continued he, placing IN her ha
4, purse full of gold. A" / shall find h'
"a band for you amongst my pupils, and y
ISL viii then no longer require to serve as
es' model in order 10 gain a livelihood"