The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1868-07-11

malice was fully equal. But he determine,
to bear with fortitude the evils he had draw,
upon himself, and to labor to redeem IT,,
contidence of his patron. But what suhi I
should he select for the work !-it w,s
new perploxity: di1d 'aonths pcsseI in .:
disordercd and unhinged state of mind
which rendered it impossible, for him ~itae,
to conceive or execute any attemp, Ct hi
art.
One day, when Passion Week had JUS
begun, Leonardo WIS walking in the beauti-
ful gardens near Milan. His mind VA.
pondering on the subject of his PAINTING
The spring had already awoke the youne
blossom from their winters sleep, aai The
trees and hedges werg crowned with tie
fresh foliage of the season.
II viii paint the season sacred to or.
/ Lord !" he exclaimed" his last supper with
his descipes-would that my pencil were
equal to the sabject!''
! The sun was just setting as he returned
hoA!e, his mind filled with the yastnrss q
the project. Unconsciously he arrived At
thd cloister of the DoInniCdns; the pealing
notes Of the organ struck upon his ear,
while the lofty roof of the church resoundrI
with the chant of, the monks. The solemn
sound had stiled the tumult of his, breast,
and his heart was flied with gentle aad
deeply religious emdions.
20 Thou" he cried who died tlr the
SITS of the human nature which is soa.iufui
AMI passionate in ne. how shall nv feeble
hand portray Thy glory! How shall paint
that last sorrowful hight when the apostles
gathered around Thee ~
He dwet on the subject, it gradreIly ev-
panded to his mind; lie beheld the !o..-.
table, and the Saviour in the midst oc Hi
eaciples-the last rays of evening sniniu-
on His head-a mild radiance hamins from
his eyes, when he exclaimed, - Verify say
unto you, there is one OF you that shall
betrav mel" -.
And with what leauty did the group
spring to light undeI the pencil Inspired by
such emotion How fresh and VET ng,y soft
the coioring. But twas indeed an arauous
task. Spring had csme around aud two Of
the heads yet rennined unfinished. Oae
was the Saviour's tle Other that of d ndus-
the 9one, because his soul treInbl2d 10 an
proach it with revesential awe - the otter.
because the beautiful purity Of bis own
spirt, shrank in horror from the task Of ere
atillg the fitting conception of that v:sa-e
In vain Leonardo sat before lis easel,
witt, his pencil in his hand anl PRAYED for
Sixl1,e S Inspiration to paint The soFjou, Of the
"o' d"' ii's >>',ee&~as cold ard formal
"hete M was 'le heavenly beresoIeuce that
giv,.css toward the APOSTLE th:+ :, -,
would deny him the glance Of 5iv;n. gor
row, unmixed withanser. which la 60
his betrayer! And the con.r.~...- 80 80
traitor, how wasyLe ever y
-=.2-.-L:,sL Fcu, and the heads ysrre /
yet unfinished. /
Dost thou know the conditions? 20 ey-
claimed the exutina monk" success or
death. so said tho dute, and his word is
never recalled"
Il know them rell," replied Leonardo in
a despairing tone
'.Then hasten N thy work" said the
Dominican-is liteso worthless thar thop
canst not afford = .ub of thy brush to save
it = As well might be mighty discovery of
painting have slushered, if it viii not
do thee this slight sGvco. Come. lend me-
thy brush, tomorrow 1.-THE dav--I will fur !
nis6 thee with head. I'D perhaps i, nav
save thine own," fasuing upon him a
searching glance. with flashing expression
of conscious power and iumph. /
Ha." exclaimed Lhardo, II thank .
thee, good sir prior, for is last offer, thou
hast indeed inspired me-. n
de hastened to the retltery, closed and Il
secured the door and tEneh the res. ,fl :
that day, and the whole situde of that ,al
night sat nlrpa-ts -,syv,r.-r nm. II
The head of Judas was pmpieted before II
the shades of night can don-but that of c
the Saviour still remained There was the n
beautiful oyal-the lccE parted on the Il
forehead-but all else oihe face was Il a
blank. He felt the .as.S ond his power, I
vet his generous spirit " not profane his I.
own ideal, nor degrade b by AL unworthy u
performance. .
The last rays of tie s@4ere sett;rg-he d
turned towards the wess' Andrea" he u
cried, = nows q tbisske&rtny last eztrem- i
ity Of sdssPair-1let my fee reach thee 8
among the shade Of the ps trees of Para !:
disc -
As by rsudden inspi'en confidence Il
took possession of h3sE bind celestial Il
ilneges foated before k;s Rginat,on-the rt
pealing roof seemed torinith hosauHas-
and in the vacant space thsaagina;iun ot a
the painter beheld the q tenance. the b
divine countenance, which had been IN II
vain attempting to portray ?
Once more he seRes Ierush: he has .
only to follow the traits iHess 4 forever u
by that single vision -eleanf his memory. u
How noble, how sublime. NJ much they |;
partake of divinity, is ditd not onlys q
down to the present age. u pll be by ages '
yet unborn.
The next morning LeonI esia not mako 7
his appearances, nor WIS aiNply returned [
10 the application of tue I'd st She door,
It was the day on which e sre was to O
be exhibited, and his seNeiess enemy y
exalsed in the belief that iilI despair he 2
had sought the fate Of the u lhs hai, found a
himself incompetent to dek1 n
At length the hour arriyi ii the Duke )
Sforza. accompanied by .Ir 4cipal Sobil- 8,
ity of Milan, proceeded iHatlto t!e Do n
minican monastery, and gt oiers that the +,
Nrefectcry should be throTpi Ths pie :,
/ ture, which was in frescot'i he wal! ~ {
one end, was conceaied a kH;ain, and :
the artist stood OF one / ID his eyes =
cast down, and an expreIl Eeep dejec- :"
| ton. There was a cotea Eurnuc OF
voices. Curiosity andger Eneclation n
was expressed in every dteaals cat that IS
of the prior's; ON his trifss.,isnnt rs =;
venge The picturerrttssssr.iFHT - z 81 Tvfrs. was :,
unfinished in the most inrter;elture as g.
! he had himself seen it SO Oh 1teccd!ag =,
lday. ii
/ ..Let the curtain be withdraw ,aid tie :, !
duke. Ii
Leonardo moved not. The ae,aotioa :.
Of the artist rendered hin powarls n
Il The, Dominican, unaois 70 esheBd r.,
such feelings, was confirmed n belief 1r
thst the withdrawing of tho eurtyould ~
, be the death warrant OF leona lie :;
hastily seized the string, and " aden 4,
t pull the curtain opened, and the Las p2ar ~ :"
} Of Leonardo dc Vinci stood reveaiei the
5 world.
/ Not sound for a few moments sithe 6,
0 stiffness that prevailed. At iensfhpars irI
of applause were heard. ircreas.sa-he N
$ influence of the giorioes work. te Ter til