, 1874-02-14

e!G1 10 weary u tuc fucseQEe OIL Ql9 KlnQ, ant
would be alone with the Great Mother, he car
stroll down to the banks Of the Elbe, and con.
template the quiet place OF tho noisy stream, 81
its waters how by him in broad, strong cur
rent. The tiruber-rafts-with little Iog-huts
built upon them, which it bears dowr
to their destination, guided and in,
habited by men who have cut the
timber from its native forest, and who thu,
finds in tho logs house~roon1, means Of travel.
ing, and merchandise combined-haGe such
ample room on the bosom of the rido rive.
that they give an added motion to ita beauty
without nnarring the sense Of so1itnde Or,
does the wandcrer prefer
NATURE M1REoREp AND rDEAIlztp BY ART
Nnture reflected for him in the magic glass
which shows it's beauties and conccala it's de-
fcctr,-to Nature seen by the unaided light Of his
own eyes, then he can pass from the heat and
brilIiancy Of the outside world to the
cool atmosphere and subdued light Of that gal
}ery, which is an inexheustible source of wealth
to tho art-student.
This was the conrse chosen, On one morning
such as we haSe described, by Rupert Graham
young Painter resident in Dresden, who, stroll
ing first through the other galleries to accustom
his eye to form aud color, rested at length in the
shrine Of the !.
MAp0SHA DI BAN BlsTo,
and worahjped the mighty genius who gave
to the world TINT wondrous picture Of &
beauty b moro o..., than humanity perfect.
cannot bo less than Divine. Ib%e % young Artist artist
gazed at this with sort Of alteration his whole
being concentrated itself in the act OF looking,
until his eyes seemed fixed upon their object as
are the birds on the rattlesuake's o. the
patients on the mesmeriBt's; his senses we're
A- - if
world; the unirerse for him wss that picture
and nothing else, the curtains and walls which
surrounded the painting seemed to fado mYuter1-
ous1y away, and leave it and him suspended ia
some remote mid-air,
In this state of mind. one probably resembling
the so-called trance Of the claitToyaut flor, rs
he never lost sight OF tho picture, but only saw
transformation take place around it, it could
hardly be an ordinary Blumber),
STRANGE VISION
caule to him Accessories and surroundings Of
furniture grew again round the picture, but they
Ho seemed to see it repo:ing upon an easel
raised On sort OF throne in q painters studio.
The chairs and sofas, the cauyases On
the walls, tho Litter Oh the floor,
seemed all strangely familiar to him. and he
was about to look round for the owner Of the
studio.-whcn-O wonder Of wonders lit came
to him, as il BY slow degrees Of light, that the
studio Was his OWN, and that this man, who was
worn out with toll, but exalted rith joy at its
result, Tho looked now With creators love at
the work Of his heart and hands, aud now re-
gardcd it with mysterious awe. as though he
felt that in executing it be had been but the
means for some Divine inspiration--tlis nan
WQs
NONE OTHER THAN HIMSELF;
and, as le recognized the fac, tears Of happi-
ness wclcd into his eyes. He remembered
how long, how patiently, he had worked at
rrn q
tended to throw oil; his soul, all his
strength; hn remembcted ho5t on one dntk day,
when his eye aud band were weary, and his heart
began to sink with the deep despair Of reaction
Of ioyous sunlight lad etreamcd in at the
window. breaking through the Pail Of clouds,
spreading around him and his canyaa, Wrapping
them in . celestial glory, and, Tar more than
this. piercing With it's warm beams to his chilled
heart, bringing. as it seemed to his very soul, q
new birth OF perception and power,
a DIVINE BREATH OF GENES.
He had turned cold and pale all over for
homent and stood dumb as one who has seen q
vision Of moro than mortal power; then, With
ourst Of happiness, his strength and his hope
lad returned to him, and from that moment fle
learer to him than bis life Il; it had been to him
Shat wife and children may be to other men +;
t had absorbed all his thought, al his energy.
Did doubt or fear Of any kind oppress him did
he weight Of cure for moment hang On his
I'm and Ietard its desire to work,-he had but
o look up at the picture, and it seemed to him
Is if
HEAVEN ITSELF
hone down in content, and gaze him cousage to
york on.
And he had worked on increasingly, ly,-roight even
AVE worked too long perhaps, and injured the
picture by too much elaboration, but that the
ame sort Of feeling which he had always re-
,arded as mysterious inspiration had come to
lin bgain and struck him motlonless for q
minute; and then looking at tho picture, he
md now hls work Was complete: it stood in
erfect glory on bis eaeel: at times he could !
nth difficulty believe that it WAS really there, OF
hat, ii it was, be had had any share in it's pro-
uction; at others he foIt aa If it were
HIS OWN 1SAosT LIFE AND SOUL, |
trauGely changed aud glo1iied, that stood there [
,efore him. There it was, however. and there |
Fas be, expecting visits from some Of the great |
casters OF painting aud criticism, Of pencil and !
eu, who ruled tho taete at the d@y for he had |
een anxious that 60 great work should be seen |
5 soon as possible, not for the sake OF bis own |
1zue, for he had quite forgotten himself as an |
ldiyidual and lived only in tho picture, but for
10 sake OF art aud artists; aud under this con-
iciion be had sent out cards Of invitation soon
3 he could. As be stood pondering. thinking |
18th delight Of the wonder and the admiration
lat would steal into the faces Of those who t
GREAT cRY OF 1or
lat would go up from the world Of art when
ley saw such treasure, there came knock st
10 door, and he WAS recalled to himself by the
oice Of great pointer addressing him BY name
Id bidding him good morning. 49," said this
sntlenaan ia cheerful, busy tone, "t1e pic
Ire is finished" Let's have look at it." And.
he spoke, be advanced and contemplated the
,nras from the most favorable light Tho |
:tist watched his face in happy expectation
ID, in place OF the sudden wonder and joy that
> hoped to see spread over it, be perceived
strange expression OF doubt and dissatsfac-
on como over the features. The eyebrows as-
uded for q moment, while the mouth rounded
self in complaccnt superiority then the brow
lckered into a f1own Of discomfort, the head
look to and fro in pity, and The oracle spoke.
great advance in your drawing" said he;
really very correct on the whole: but-but
1at could possess sou to choose such sub
ct? Anything
so VAGUE, so SENTIMENTAL,
never saw. There's q want Of any tangible
Gaming in the whole thing: lis b pretty
CUP IN sono ways; and II you'd taken
o main idea Of the composition for o |
nily portrait. it would hare done very #en.
It the color, my dear fel1ow-t1e color! It |
oks as it you'd been afraid Of your palette
ose pale, sicklY hues will never stand the test
time aud that eafIron robe on the left And
ese cherubs, or whatever they are-yagne-
r. vague-1o definition about them, no strong ]
es, aud no strong co1ors. No, no, my dcar
ahAm, il you'll take my adyice-which really |
&c you IS friend, for I take an interest il |
q, and believe you viii do good work some day
7ou'u