The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-04-25
Seleft Storp.
THE ITALIAN PAINTER.
A Story of a Roman Artist.
BY LIEUTENANT MURRAY.

who had made himself name in Rome,
by the exercise of extraordinary genius,
in the pursuit of his dearly beloved art,
and whose pictures were noted for their
strange fidelity and wonderful truth
fulness to nature, was waited upon in
his studio by an agent of the Pope,
who ordered the artist to paint, imme-
diately,a picture of the erucifxion, as
large as life, to be placed in the cathe-
dral. Feeling honored by the commits
sion, the artist was less melted to per-
form the task by the prineely sum that
was offered as a compensation, than by
desire to improve so unusual an op-
portunity to render himself, if success
full, famous and honored.
After careful study of the subject,
the drawings were made, the canvass
stretched in frame, and other necessary
preliminaries were attended to. Day
after day he labored at his work with
never-ceasing assiduity; so intent in
deed was he upon the subject, that it
was the theme even of his dreams, and
he returned at break of day each morn
ing to his palette and brush, with fe-
vered brow and trembling hand. He
scarcely partook. of food at all; mo-
nomania seemed to have seized upon
him, and he could think of nothing, see
nothing, but the work in which his
whole soul was engaged.
One day, after sitting long and silent
ly, regarding his unfinished work with
an expression of disappointment, and
now, for the first time, doubling his
own ability as to being able to complete
his picture, either so as to satisfy him
self or his noble patron, he felt almost
like giving up in despair. 1t was the
expression of the face that chiefly an
noyed and puzzled him.. He could
family conceive of what was wanting.
but with all his ingenuity he could not
produce it-all his efforts were futile:
| he was detected, discouraged. misera-
BILE. While he was thus occupied. strlv-
ing to devise some means whereby to
! gain fresh inspiration, suddenly he was
aroused by knock at his door. which
he opened, and discovered street beg
gar.
The artist started back with an un'
feigned exclamation of surprise. He
/, was confounded, for in the features o.
the medicant he beheld the very erpres
sion and face he granted! 1t seemed a
though Providence had sent the begga
: at that precise moment to answer hi
want-to supply the necessary insplra
ton that would enable him to complct
the work.
"What would you with me?" aske
the painter, regaining his breath.
stAlms, master, alms!'
"You are really poor and needy?
continued the artist.
ssMaster, Lam starving!'
81 will feed you, come in" said tn
painter kindly.
seBut my children?''
of ssShan be taken care of, too, if 20
will serve me as / direct.
o; IL will do anything
"Then sit down, and will tell yo
90 what 1 shall require of you"
. "What, here?''
- eyes, it is here that I shall want yc
to serve me-" answered the artist.
"But first give me food for my wi
j and Children" said the beggar.
ssTrue, that must first be attende
he to. Here is gold"
O, master, it is too much. l da
not take so large sunni
r, "Take it, and away. Meet me he
at daybreak tomorrow"
IL will be here at the hour" repli'
the mendicant, hurrying away.
A new life was infused into the brea
of the artist. He regarded his pictu
ui with renewed interest, and filled in sor
portions of detail with dashing han
> humming the while gay air, as he
T. ternately gave few touches, and tn
retreating from the canvass, regard
carefully the effect produced. lie !
OF tired to his couch, and for the first til
OF since his picture was commenced,
,%e. % slept soundly. 1a ii.
KS With the morning light came t
ny beggar once more, faithful to his pro-
Is ise, and refreshed by sleep and joy
an a, having fed his hungry ones athome.
~ was welcomed with an earnestness tn
're he could not account for in his huml
10 powers of mind. His face was ev
an more as the painter desired it shor
lk- be, than it had seemed on the previo
me day; it had just that calm, self-sac
on fcing and peaceful expression that
an artist had so struggled to produce
'r- the canvass. Explaining to the man
m, part his purpose, they set about ere
Is ing wooden cross, in an appfopri'
tn tn light, to which, when at last complet
Die the beggar was bound by cords, ha
and foot, after the precise manner Il
Christ was pinioned on Calvary.
'od The artist impatiently seized
ing brush; he had secured the very arrans
OF ment he required, and the assistar
thus rendered by the bound mendica