Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-07-04
VOLUME v.
Mona li>;l'S Picture.

- BY NJ. ). PRESTON.
Zone Of the masterpieces Of Leonardo a Vnci, til.
portrait Of tho beautiful wife Of Francrsr" del Gl"c
ondo. after being under hts hand for several years
was still declared by him unfinished. This i. fist, tho
most versatile man Of his age scarcely less re-
variable ~ architect engineer. and scholar, than 'E
q painter.
+" How, Mcsscr leonardo! dividing still
Over that canvass? Pray, how many seasons
Have the black olives dropped i'll yondcr garden
Since you put brush to it,"
al calendar not
NV hours Ivy olive-larvcsts bat if true work
BE rcckoncr, Scr Francesca, count tho sum,
Bcscech you. ON the day that began
The altar-piecc for Nunzata's church
You, You came With Mona Liza first; bn: since
Nign to Fl,Ccccht, and the wide canal
That foatcd on my thoughts; and then that trouble
OF the Duke Sfofzas bronze: anu tho designs
For the old anutpmist, and those cartoons
The Flanders mefchnnts harricd mo about;
Besides my Di .Nat,tra; and-what elsc?'
"'Besit'cs.' indeed! There's half hundred moro
Unrcckoncd undertakings. If thus You count,
ia say tho portrait Of my wife had bccn
In yonr to'feya-well, some dozen years;
Aud yet verify think IT'S barely four.
But, look you all this time tho panel waits.
'ris donc-now grant it so-the pictures dono!"
Ii ever done! There's come intangible beauty
Beyond. hcyend, which still fail to reach,
A cvermore fail to hold and fix
Your Mona Lsa's changeful lovelincss.
Why, think Of 1t, my lord Here's natures self
Has totled and wrought these two and twenty years
With subtlest txansmutstions, making her
Your idc, the pride Of Florence, and my despair
Her native sky, Salcrno's violet sky,
Gave TO bcgin) that half Greek dover Of hers,
And every atmosphere that she has breathed
Slncc-all the potent essences that light,
Air, color, perfume, set of mellOWing suns,
Crisp nlorns, rich moons and frMtcd eveningti times
All agencies that happiness and love
Comminglcd bring, all mystic confluence
OF passionate life with her exalted calm, -.
All interfuse Of high intelligence,
AL entertainment Of divinest thought
That cause Saint GATHERINGS obstacles seem pale
Why, these, say. have been SO many masters,
Each perfect in his art, who ON the marble
OF her pure face, with silent ehisellng,
Have wrought these two aud twenty years while
Natures unskilled disciple" =,
"Pray thee, draw breath!
.unsAiIlcd ! Why, man, you dig too many channels
Dividing thus your overmastered powers
To your own discomfort that's all: Iwould
Your skin were portioned midst q dozen men,
To make their fortunes whcrewithal; and then
Less tine would serve my lady's face"
"My lord,
thee
To strive for that thou canst.' So sang once.
l strive for what eau. But yOu-yOu tire,
You jeer, because through brief season or two"
{" -Four mortal years since he began tho pcture!'1
live not attained unto the capture yet
OF that elusive beauty. You've often watched
The wonder of her slnile7 Now, see You here,
'ris only just half caught-not half, you mark.
Next time that Mona Lisa sits Ill work
1t TO finer grace: I'll trap the charm
Somehow. You'll Sec"
II tell you, Leonardo,
The panel waits; I'm tired of seeing the arras
Hang blankly over it. San Marcos fiesta
Falls two days hence, aud on it's eve hold
banquet; and the portrait must be placed
Ere them"
"Psr Bacca! Have it, and YOU will!
Your guests with halfshut eye betwixt their cups,
Will sum up its shortcomings. marvel you fail
To see it is not done. This rosy flesh
Would palpitate else !; this lash betray a trcmor
Under full gaze; These pearls would rise and fall
With every pulsing ripple of tidsd breath
Astrand on the white beaching of her throat.
But let the panel be flied ay, have It home!
And barter for ono night Of short-lived triumph
An immortality of loveiincss
For Mona Lisa +; since, once carried hence,
My brush shall never touch the picture more"