The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-14
MuriilO's Love Story.
THE BEAUTIFUL FACE WHICH HE REPRO
DUCED IN ALL THE GREAT PAINTERS MA
DONNAS,

DONNAS.
Turning over the pages Of the cart Treas
ures of Germany" one finds, among other
good things, very romantic and readable ac-
count of Murillo's courtship. II will be re-
membeIed that Murillo has been called ''the
painter of conceptions" We are told las
much by the number ofrepresentations he has
left as by anything else) that he was very
fond OF painting the Immacplate Conception
the strange mystery of the woman clothed
with the sun, with the moon underhe- feet, and
upon her head crown of stars. Almost IN
variably one face appears IN these conceptions
the face of a virgin wonderfully sweet
where one studies it; the eyes cast down, and
yet revealing their loveliness; the face oval !:
the lips small and t3nder in their expression.
aid yet over all look of superiority, of di-
vine re 5erve, that forbids too familiar an in
terest in her lovely being. In order to under
s'and to whom this face belongs and the rea-
son OF its frequent repetition, 1t will be nee
essaly to clip page from Murillo's lille.
About The time that Muriilo began to paint
in his own studio, there lived in hi, native
town Of Seville an Andalu ian lady of high
rank and wealth. This lady was not over
eighteen years OF age, was a cultivated and
ardent admirer OF art, and had taken de-
cided fancy to Mnrio and his pictures. The
artist himself was poor, timid. comparatively
unknown, and yet Keeling eveu then the pow
er that lay undeyelOpeo in him. That he
loved the Donna Beatrix de Cabrera e Soto
mayor aIdently is not to be wondered at
when we consider that her figure was fine
aid send ;r. aud that her eyes were large,
dark blue, almost violet, with that Spanish
fire III them that can fash out condensed
sunshine, or entrance by the loveliness of
fathomless depths; with long dark lashes, a
Clear white forehead and C eeks kissed to
a lovely bloom by the soft zephyrs OF
Spain: rich flow of dark brown harris it
to be wonde. ed at that Mur o abjectly SUI
rendered his tirnid heart to this A dalusian
be ,utyp She was his patron. She aided his
studies; she sat for his madonnas; she loved
him, too, but she never let this conflict with
hi advancement. He was young; he b ad
70 reliance in h 'mself; he must go out into
the world beyond the narrow limits OF Seville
and study higher ant, until he could com
mand all his genius; and so, when the time
came. she insisted that he should go, not
withstanding he pleaded ith tears in his
eyes that he might stay near her. Murrillv's
reluctance to go to England was more than
half OccasOned by the fact that an old ac
quaintauce OF his, Pedro de Moya, an artist
OF renown, mad recently returned from Van
Eyke's studio to Seville, had taken up bis
abide there in one Of the palaces, and had
fallen desperately in love with the beautiful
Beatrx de Cabrera.
But Murio went and studied hard, and be
came famous. and returned with honors and
commissions, and married his lovely patron,
the Lady de Cabrera. And now does it an
pear strange that one face appears in many of
his virgins; that the face is a lovely face. a
Spanish face, the face of sweet Girl, whose
every feature, whether it be co o. repelling,
VI lender and winning, is known to him by
ctual experience?