The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-18

1..ns y S.. SoiuoSa' ohce Ino proud Peal
In the evening, when he went to his hard
S So at the posade, he counted his money, and
I R", that he had only few marvedis left.
For four days he applied himself to painting
saint Barbaras and angels. On the fifth morn,
ing; having half dozen finished, he went oat
TO dispose OF them, which he had no trouble in
doing; at better price, than he would have re-
osived from the dealers in Seville. After salts
Tying his landlord, there remained o sum sufa-
Gent he thought, to justify resuming his jour
ney;
That afternoon, therefore, found him again
on the road. The country through which ne
passed began to be less picturesque, less pro-
miles he would not pass o sin gle village. but
only now and then an isolated hut, which WAS
more like stable than human habitation.
he.s 10 at the door Of
supper and O bod for tho night He was vel
coined in the kindliest manner by an elderly
Woman, the wife OF goatherd, who pastured
his little flock in the neighborhood. Her man
nef was so winning and notherly, that Esteban
soon felt quite at home, and became unusually
ecommnnioatlve. Daring the modest repast she
talk Of his plans aud hopes and the good old
woman listened with the liveliest INTEREST,
which was evinced by an occasional tear tha
nileo Der eyes, rather than by what she said in
reply. She, too, had had q son, who had gone
70 the great city to sock his fortune but God
had willed that he should fill an early grave
-. Pablo lay in Madrid. and his poor mother
pater-noster over his final resting. place.
Esteban promised her faithfully to hunt out
faolos grave as soon as he arrived in the cap
itai, and to place wreath on it. She thanked
him between her sobs, and seemed inclined to
indulge In melancholy recollections for the re-
malnder of the evening; but Esteban had the
address to turn her thoughts into other chan
nels, When he was little rested and refresh
cd, he told her of Seville, of the beautiful
Alameda. of the Giralda, and of the proud old
palace of the Cabreras. And, as Claudina lis
tened to the vivid descriptions of the youth
she forgot her sorrow and her blighted hopes,
and the mild, kindly mein, which had so
quickly won the heart of Esteban when he
entered her cabin, returned.
May paint you I" he asked, finally.
Paint me y" she did not seem to under
stand.
Yes, paint your portrait here on this can
He showed her some half nished sketches.
She gazed at them with an expression of
won wonder Never had she seen anything SO beau,
how natural the figures looked and then how
they seemed to stand out from the back ground.
How is it possible for you to paint such
beautiful things ~ said she. Its as much
yon make these difficult figures with such ease
And you want to paint me like her, there ?"
pointing to one of the saints. Bot am too
ngly, my son. much too ugly. 1t would he Il
shame to waste your beautiful colors on me-"
It's true you're no longer young" replied
Esteban; but as for being ugly-no, that
you are not! like your face just as it is. and
You shall see-pl make the handsomest pic
ture have ever painted. l will remain with
you one OF two days, and We will begin to-
morrow morning"
Has the reader ever seem in the original or
IN copy, the mild and soulful Mother Maria,
of the Madrid Museum7 The youthful dauSh.
ter stands beside the mother, and listens, with
fall from her lips. Never has painter been
more successful in expressing maternal love
and sellcitude than Bartolome Esteban MuriHo
was in this perb picture.
Well, this Mother Maria is the bos,itah1e
Claudina of La Mancha.
After resting two days, Murillo set out again.
The old lady and her husband Natonael refused
to accept a single cuarto from the guest, and
would have been glad to 1etain him longer
but he was anxious to reach the end of his
Journey. So, on the third morning, he en-
journey.
hope you will some day hear from me-"
said he, at parting. And with O hearty "God
bless you and yolrs!" he started.
The studio of the celebrated painter yelas-
l neg was in the west of the Royal Palace at
Madrid. Like Murillo, Velasquez was native
81 Seville, but, unlike him, he had been school
ID IN his art from his earliest youth by the best
masters. And when he left his native citv To |
profit by the superior advantages the capital |
Afforded, it was not, like Esteban, on foot with |
! Tow marvedis in his pocket-he travelled in |
al eieSSut cnarloIJ drawn by six mules, and |
Was accompanied like o nobleman.
At the age of twenty-four, Velasquez was
'ourt-painter to his majesty Philip ". Six of
ne best rooms in the kings palace were fur
1lshed for his occupancy, and ne was received
With every possible mark of favor. Velasuuez
vas soon ono of the most popular and courted,
10 well as one of the most elegant and accom- J
,lished cavaliers in Madrid. The richest cour-
lers sought his acquaintance, and they all
steemed it an honor to be allowed to spend
N occasional hour alone in his studio.
IL was on hot April afternoon that Esteban
dnrilio walked down the long Gale Mayor to-
Tard the Palacio Real.
1t was not without some trouble that he pre-
allied on the sentinel to allow him to pass. A
nperoillious lackey in rich livery showed him
p the marble steps, with a surly mien, to q
mall but richly furnished anteroom, where
mother somewhat older and less uufriendIy
0rvRnt received him.
Esteban Informed them, in q modest but Dig
ihed tone, of the object of his coming, He
lshed to see Senior Velasquez on business of !
Importance. He came from Seville, Senior We :
'squezS native city, and begged to be an
ounced immediately. II
Felasquez CHANGED to be alone, II WA tho ,
our whsn his usual visitors were wont tn in
llge in a siesta The interchangeable artist 4
one was astlr. =
After an absence of few moments, the =