Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-12-28
VOL. l., NO. 5.....WHOLE NO. 1861.

." thetHSelFeS IN euiOglufnS aud adj
mlratlon the whole of the inhabi-
tants OF Rome were soon invited to
see this legacy of genius. They
all agreed IN saying that since the
time OF Guido REM nothing so
beautiful had appeared the most
enthusiastic went so far as to place
the beautiful Magdalen above all
that Guido had done.
In the thickest Of the crowd who
were praising the work of Scacciati.
Salvador found one day, a man of
strange aspect; he was a middle
aged man, tall and thin, with thin
face ornamented with two red eyes,
with long chin covered with a
bunch of grey hair. This unique
look was framed 10 kind of strinpv
wig, surmounted by high crowned
hat with plume little brown
mantle very scant, garnished with
bright buttons, a Spanish doublet
slashed with blue, a rapier noblv
rusted, clear grey stockings which
showed the knee-pan, and shoes
loaded with pink bows, completed
his costume. This uncommon per-
sonage seemed to be in ecsiacies be-
fore the Magdalen; now raising
himself on the points of his toes,
then dropping down again; moving
his legs forward and back. uttering
suppressed signs, shutting his ewes
until the tears flowed, then opening
them again like telescopes, he de-
voured with his looks the angelic
painting, lispiug, in his sharp fal.
setto:
All, dearest, most blessed All,
most beautiful Mariannap
Salvador, curious to study nearer
this living mummy, made his way
through the crowd aud placed him
self near the unknown, to try and
learn the motive that detained him
before Scacciati's painting. With
ont noticing Salvador, the man
cursed his poverty, that deprived
3 hlm OF the happiness of buying a
, picture which he would have been
2 willing at the price of a million, to
} Withdraw from every prolane gaze
Then he recommended dancing
= about, giving thanks TO the Virgin
J and to all the saints for IT,. death OF
the painter who had executed this
, marvellous work. Salvador thought
that this man had lost his wits.
e Meanwhile, nothing was talked
= of in Rome but this famous Magda
n len and when the hcademicians o
II San-Luca met again to elect candl-
e dates to the vacant places, Salvato
II asked if the author of the master
c piece, which was talked of in tn
! city, was worthy of being admitted
e into the illustrious society. All
o without even excepting the quarrel.
= some Josepin, were unanimous in
deporing the loss of so eminent an
;, artist, but whom, in the bottom OF
/ their hearts, they we're glad to be rid
+ of.
!, They carried hypocricy so far as
| 10 decide that the palm of the acad-
! envy should be awarded to the de-
q parted, and that solmn mass should
be SAID every year in the church of
, San-Luca for the repose of his soul.
/ As soon as this resolution was taken.
Salvador rose in the midss of the
assembly:
: Well, gentlemen exclaimed he,
: console yourselves; the glorious
y prize with which you were about to
d honor the ashes of dead man, YOU
can give into the hands of a living
i one Know that the Magdalen at
# the SavIour's feet, this painting that
e you have praised above all the pro-
ductions of our time, is not the work
:. of Neapolltan painter who died in
e poverty aud obscurity; its author is
n by your side, he is in Rome he is
:, Antonio Scacciati, the surgeon y
The painters of San-Luca looked
at Salvador with establishment. The
e great artist diverted himself awhile
q, with the critical position in which
II he had placed them then he added:
10 Until now, my masters, you have
nj rejected Antonio from your college,
nj on account of his humble profession |;
in for myself, | think that surgeon
ID would be very much in place in the
Of noble Academy of San-l.uca to ad-
just the distorted figures which
ne come from time to time from the
d. hands of some of our painters
to The gentlemen of San-Lnca
IT. quietly swallowed the pill they
H. pretended to render justice to the
he genius of Antonio Scacciati, and
I'd proceeded to his reception with the
ID accustomed ceremonial.
or THIS news was hardly known, ere
Of congratulations were received on
every hand offers of service, and
in orders for great works beseiged An
d tonio's studio. A word from Sal
J. vator had raised him from obscurity.
J. Glory and fortune smiled upon him,
If what could be wanting TO COM
= plele his happiness Great, then,
5 was the surprise of Salvador on see
= ing him enter his house one day,
# monrnful and sad with suffering.
u Master. said Antonio to him,
; sof what use is the rank 10 which
B you have elevated me +; to what
= purpose are these honors, this repu-
f talon which comes TO me, since my
unhapiness does not quit my bed
side DO you know, master, that