True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-10-13
OHIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER B, 1858,


th ought occurred TO him that the damp
walls and humid air Of the chapel were
sapping The life from whichhe had hoped
so much.
You shall have a change, Antonio,
indeed you SHALL" said the father in
softer tone than he had used before
"Next week--nny tomorrow perhaps"
The child's large, melancholy looking
eyes sparkled he thought that his father
was going 10 propose going home for
season, until this terrible weather was
over. The next words struck chill TO
his homesick heart. Tomorrow q per-
haps, you will commence your studies at
the Vatican. lam impatient to have you
begin to follow Raphael"
Dearest father" said the boy sadly,
I" I am afraid / shall never realize your
hopes Of becoming great painter. love
the art sometimes, but al others | get so
weary Of the details If could but be.
come & painter without this wearisome
study But, father, do not frown SO. l
am not thinking Of giving it up, but only
warning you that ] shsll after all do no
great things in my profession"
You will not disappoint tie, Antonio
if you are but true to YOURSELF" said his
father. II will give you time to recruit
a little, before you commence at the Va
tican. You shall not study there to NOR
row, hut only GO there as visitor.-
Does that suit you!
A faint smile and nod were The boys
ans wer.
"a fresh breeze on my forehead, a
good run in the open air, and my mothers
nice food, would do me more good" he
said 10 himself, Blu, he knew that his
father would call him childish for think
ing of food or play; and SO the weary
lad reached his home in one Of the hum.
blest quarters of Rome. and threw himself
on the bed, where he slept heavily, until
his father aroused him at early dawn
Then hasty and scanty repast, and he
followed his father along the streets on
bis way 10 the YatiUau. Horo the boy 70
real and mate love Of art made him forget
himself and his WEAKNESS, before the in-
imitable paintings Of Raphael His fa'
ther saw his entranced look, as he stood
before those beautiful creations, and he
+ whispered 10 himself, The boy will be
painter yet"
Antonio Raphael Mengo was born in
Bohemia in 1928. His father, Danish
artist. settled in Dresden after the birth
of this child. When the boy was mere
infant, the father decided that he should
, be distinguished painter, laying plans
10 that effect even before he knew he
would possess an ordinary capacity. His
Joy was unbounded when the little crea'
ture began to exhibit the most lively
sense of the beautiful; and at the age o.
r six years he began TO instruct him in oil,
miniature, and enamel painting.
The fathers grand error was in not al
lowing Antonio to be child. In his yea
for his favorite art, he forgot that !h {
physical nature needs culture and relaxa
lion, and tina! to be truly intellectual as
man, the child must first become a heal
thy animal But, like most enthusiasts
' he rode his hobby too far; and, although
: : Antonio readily became all his fathe
: wished, yet the memory Of bis overtaske'
youth embiuered his life, and the priva
!, lioas which he endured in pursuit Of ar
;, naturally lessened his enjoyment Of it.
Three years passed away, however
and Antonio returned to Dresden 500
after his relurn, when he was not quit
seventeen, Augustus appointed him coul
), painter. He had now become enlhusia:
J iically attached to his art. At the age
= = twenty he executed painting of the Hol
. Family, which eliciled great admiration
:, This was the crowning excellence Of n
youthful compositions and he was apPoir
II ted principal court painter, probably upo
y u Che strength of this piece. 1t was exec'
:" :. ted at Rome, for he now began TO fe'
!, y that he could paint better under The insp
" " ration Of Italian scenes, than on the bank
- as of the Elbe, forgetting the home sickne'
=. " and the heart sickness that deepened Il
- - sonbre twilight Of The Sistine Chapel.
a. a. In one Of his walks in the outskirts
"a Rome, he saw a beautiful peasant gil
~ " whom he wished much TO secure as
70 model for one Of his figures in the Ho
- Family, which painting he was about
commence. She was surrounded by
= troop of boys and girls, evidently, fro
"a the resemblance, her own brothers al
sisters. They were teasing her 10 si
ng for them to dance and The sweet lovi
o look which she bent upon them as g
~ complied with their request was I
'sI charming for Antonio TO resist. H
OF vuice--snch voice is only heard in liza
ad completed the charm, II need not
'h' adedd that Antonio found his way aga
$; and again to the spot, in order to impr'
he his mind with her image, hoping to
able to transfer her image to the canv;
1y without troubling her to sit to him.
asst found II difficult, however to do justice
w. her face, and he set off one morning
" ask her to come once at least 10 his stud
,er to enable him to make the alIeratil
10Y which i. needed, to satisfy his sense
lily her beauty.
hat II was Q sylvan place that Of Allegr
The abode. Her father q vine dresser,
q